DaRon Bland

DaRon Bland (born July 12, 1999) is an American football cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Sacramento State before transferring to Fresno State. In 2023, he set the NFL single-season record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown with five.

Early years
Bland grew up in Modesto, California, and attended Central Catholic High School, during which he also played receiver. He was named the Valley Oak League Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

College career
Bland began his college career at Sacramento State. As a junior, he was named first-team All-Big Sky Conference after recording 43 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and forced fumbles with two interceptions and eight passes broken up. After his senior season was canceled and moved to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Bland entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Bland ultimately committed to transfer to Fresno State. In his only season with the Bulldogs he recorded 45 tackles with five passes defended and two interceptions in 13 games played.

2022 season
Bland was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

Bland recorded his first career interception on October 2, 2022, versus Carson Wentz. Bland would then have two picks against Matt Ryan on December 4, and another on December 24 against the Philadelphia Eagles for his fifth interception of the season.

2023 Season
On September 10, 2023, Bland recorded his first interception of the season. It was a pass from New York Giants quarterback, Daniel Jones to Saquon Barkley. Barkley caught the ball, but fumbled it after getting hit by Trevon Diggs. Bland recovered the ball and returned it for his first career touchdown.

On October 1, Bland recorded two interceptions against Mac Jones while facing the New England Patriots, one of which he converted for six points.

On October 29, Bland returned an interception from Matthew Stafford for a touchdown, making it his third of the year; setting the Cowboys single-season pick-six record previously held by five other players.

On November 19, in a game against the Carolina Panthers, Bland intercepted a pass from Bryce Young and returned it for his fourth interception return for a touchdown of the year, tying the NFL single-season record and the Cowboys career record. Bland was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.

On November 23, during the win over the Washington Commanders, Bland intercepted a pass from Sam Howell and returned it for his fifth interception return for a touchdown of the year, setting the NFL single-season record. Bland was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November.