# Will Compton

**Will Compton** (born 1989) is a former [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) inside linebacker who played nine seasons in the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league), mainly for the Washington Redskins, and who became co-host, with former offensive lineman [Taylor Lewan](https://www.edgepedia.org/taylor-lewan), of the sports podcast *Bussin' With The Boys*.

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position and size | Inside linebacker, 6 feet 1 inch, 235 pounds<sup>[1](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/dphut1zadeucnwcbhlxg.pdf)</sup> |
| Entry to NFL | Undrafted rookie free agent signed by Washington in 2013 out of the University of Nebraska<sup>[1](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/dphut1zadeucnwcbhlxg.pdf)</sup> |
| Teams and seasons | Washington 2013–2017, Tennessee Titans 2018, Las Vegas/Oakland Raiders 2019, Titans 2020, Raiders 2021<sup>[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-compton/stats/)</sup> |
| Career totals | 92 games, 40 starts, 358 combined tackles, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles<sup>[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-compton/stats/)</sup> |
| Best seasons | 2015: 96 combined tackles in 16 games; 2016: 106 combined tackles and a team captaincy<sup>[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-compton/stats/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-former-redskins-lb-will-compton-20504456)</sup> |
| College | Nebraska; 247 career tackles, 12th in school history, two-time All-Big Ten selection<sup>[3](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-former-redskins-lb-will-compton-20504456)</sup> |
| Podcast | *Bussin' With The Boys* with Taylor Lewan since 2019; left Barstool Sports in January 2025<sup>[4](https://barrettmedia.com/2026/03/24/how-taylor-llewan-and-will-compton-turned-bussin-with-the-boys-into-a-sports-media-powerhouse/)</sup> |

## NFL career

**Washington, 2013–2017.** Compton joined the Redskins as an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska in 2013 and spent his first five professional seasons with the club<sup>[1](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/dphut1zadeucnwcbhlxg.pdf)</sup>. He appeared in one game as a rookie, then worked into the lineup over 2014, playing 16 games with 5 starts<sup>[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-compton/stats/)</sup>. He became a full-time starter in 2015 and 2016. In 2015 he played all 16 games with 10 starts and recorded 96 combined tackles, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery<sup>[3](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-former-redskins-lb-will-compton-20504456)</sup>. In 2016 he started 15 games, totaled 106 combined tackles with five passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and an interception, and served as a defensive captain; over the previous three seasons combined he had missed just one game<sup>[3](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-former-redskins-lb-will-compton-20504456)</sup>. His 2017 season was cut short: after nine games with three starts he suffered a separated shoulder early in the year and a Lisfranc sprain later in the season, and he finished the year on injured reserve with 19 tackles, three passes defensed and an interception<sup>[3](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-former-redskins-lb-will-compton-20504456)</sup>.

**Tennessee and the Raiders, 2018–2021.** The Titans signed Compton as an unrestricted free agent in the 2018 offseason to add depth and competition at inside linebacker<sup>[1](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/dphut1zadeucnwcbhlxg.pdf)</sup>. He started at inside linebacker in his first game with the team, at Miami on September 9, and collected four tackles<sup>[1](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/dphut1zadeucnwcbhlxg.pdf)</sup>. He played 12 games with 2 starts that season<sup>[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-compton/stats/)</sup>. He joined the Raiders as a free agent during the 2019 season and played nine games with four starts, recording 41 total tackles<sup>[5](https://www.raiders.com/history/all-time-roster/bios-c/will-compton)</sup>. He returned to the Titans for 12 games in 2020, then finished his career with two appearances for the Raiders in 2021<sup>[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-compton/stats/)</sup>. His final NFL totals were 92 games, 40 starts, 358 combined tackles, one sack, three interceptions and two forced fumbles<sup>[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-compton/stats/)</sup>. He announced his retirement after what he described as nine, arguably ten, years in the league<sup>[6](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/1630801/will-compton/)</sup>.

## Playing style

Compton built his career on communication and coordination rather than athleticism. A Washington Post film review of his 2015 season as the starting inside linebacker found he did a strong job directing the defense, constantly signaling adjustments to the secondary, the defensive line and individual defenders, and that Washington's coverage breakdowns fell sharply with him on the field; his coverage ability was rated solid, though the same review noted he was not particularly athletic and struggled to disengage from blocks in the run game<sup>[7](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/football-insider/wp/2016/01/29/evaluating-will-comptons-performance-as-the-starting-inside-linebacker/)</sup>. Titans media materials described him as an aggressive, sure-tackling inside linebacker who provided veteran leadership<sup>[1](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/dphut1zadeucnwcbhlxg.pdf)</sup>.

## Bussin' With The Boys

Since 2019 Compton has co-hosted *Bussin' With The Boys* with Taylor Lewan, his former Titans teammate, an interview-based show recorded with guests on a bus<sup>[8](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/exclusive-bussin-boys-taylor-lewan-174606019.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[9](https://www.nfl.com/videos/will-compton-shares-how-bussin-with-the-boys-started)</sup>. The show joined [Barstool Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/barstool-sports) early in its run and grew into what the show's hosts describe as one of the most successful independent podcasts in sports media; in January 2025 it left Barstool despite the company's efforts to retain it<sup>[4](https://barrettmedia.com/2026/03/24/how-taylor-llewan-and-will-compton-turned-bussin-with-the-boys-into-a-sports-media-powerhouse/)</sup>. Guests have ranged across sports and beyond: [Travis Kelce](https://www.edgepedia.org/travis-kelce) discussed his Eras Tour appearance on the show<sup>[10](https://as.com/us/tikitakas/travis-kelce-revela-que-subir-al-escenario-del-eras-tour-fue-su-idea-n/)</sup>, and during the 2024 United States presidential campaign Donald Trump sat for an interview on the podcast as part of a broader turn by the campaigns toward long-form podcasts over legacy media<sup>[11](https://apnews.com/article/a5a0870943177ea9320389748fe2fa5c)</sup>. Compton also hosts the podcast *For The Dads*<sup>[12](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-for-the-dads-280208058/)</sup>.

## Personal background

Compton was born in 1989<sup>[13](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/raiders/hji4tmpjjl6lim7pfjro.pdf)</sup>. His listed hometown differs across team records: the Titans' media guide gives Bonne Terre, Missouri, while the Raiders' 2019 bio panel gives Humble, Texas<sup>[1](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/dphut1zadeucnwcbhlxg.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[13](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/raiders/hji4tmpjjl6lim7pfjro.pdf)</sup>.

## References

1. [Will Compton bio, Tennessee Titans media guide (PDF)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/dphut1zadeucnwcbhlxg.pdf)
2. [Will Compton Stats Summary, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-compton/stats/)
3. [Titans Agree to Terms with Former Redskins LB Will Compton, TitansOnline.com](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-former-redskins-lb-will-compton-20504456)
4. [How Taylor Lewan and Will Compton Turned 'Bussin' With the Boys' Into a Sports Media Powerhouse, Barrett Media](https://barrettmedia.com/2026/03/24/how-taylor-llewan-and-will-compton-turned-bussin-with-the-boys-into-a-sports-media-powerhouse/)
5. [Will Compton, All-Time Roster, Raiders.com](https://www.raiders.com/history/all-time-roster/bios-c/will-compton)
6. [Will Compton player page, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/1630801/will-compton/)
7. [Evaluating Will Compton's performance as the starting inside linebacker, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/football-insider/wp/2016/01/29/evaluating-will-comptons-performance-as-the-starting-inside-linebacker/)
8. [How Bussin' with the Boys' Taylor Lewan, Will Compton transitioned from NFL to Bud Light collabs, Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/exclusive-bussin-boys-taylor-lewan-174606019.html)
9. [Will Compton shares how 'Bussin' With The Boys' started, NFL.com video](https://www.nfl.com/videos/will-compton-shares-how-bussin-with-the-boys-started)
10. [Travis Kelce revela que subir al escenario del Eras Tour fue su idea, AS](https://as.com/us/tikitakas/travis-kelce-revela-que-subir-al-escenario-del-eras-tour-fue-su-idea-n/)
11. [By moving to podcasts, Harris and Trump are turning away from legacy media, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/a5a0870943177ea9320389748fe2fa5c)
12. [For The Dads podcast, iHeart](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-for-the-dads-280208058/)
13. [Updated Bios, Defense, Raiders.com (PDF)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/raiders/hji4tmpjjl6lim7pfjro.pdf)

---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Linebackers › Retired modern linebackers*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license
