Dante Fowler

Dante Antwane Fowler Jr. (born August 3, 1994) is an American football defensive end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators and was selected third overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2015 NFL draft. Fowler has also played for the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and Dallas Cowboys.

Early life
Fowler attended Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he was a two-sport star in football and track. Fowler was named an honorable mention to the Sports Illustrated All-American football team following his senior season and was selected to the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game. In track, Fowler competed as a shot putter, recording a top throw of 14.32 meters (47 ft).

College career
As a freshman at the University of Florida in 2012, Fowler moved to the outside linebacker position. Fowler played in all 13 games and started his first game against Missouri. He recorded 30 tackles, including eight for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Fowler was named to numerous freshman all-American teams.

In 2013, Fowler started all 13 games for the Gators and was named a team captain for the two final games of the season. He recorded 50 tackles (10.5 for loss) and 3.5 sacks.

In 2014, Fowler slimmed down from 277 to 261 pounds, in an effort to be a more explosive edge player for the Gators. He recorded 60 tackles (15 for loss), 8.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Fowler was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by the conference's coaches. In his final game, the 2015 Birmingham Bowl against East Carolina, Fowler recorded three sacks during the 28–20 victory.

On November 19, 2014, Fowler tweeted that he would leave the school with Will Muschamp, who announced that he would step down as head coach. Fowler made his intentions to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2015 NFL draft.

2015 season
Fowler was selected third overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2015 NFL draft. On May 8, 2015, he tore his ACL on the first day of mini-camp, ending his rookie season before it even started. Four days later, Fowler signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $23.5 million contract, with a $15.3 million signing bonus.

2016 season
After missing his entire rookie season due to his ACL injury, Fowler made his NFL debut and first NFL start during the season-opening 27–23 loss to the Green Bay Packers, where he had three tackles (one for a loss). In the next game against the San Diego Chargers, Fowler recorded six tackles and two sacks during the 38–14 road loss. During a Week 9 19–14 road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, he had four tackles and 0.5 sacks. During a Week 16 38–17 victory over the Tennessee Titans, Fowler recorded two tackles, two pass deflections, and a sack. In the regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts, he had a tackle, a pass deflection, and 0.5 sacks during the 24–20 road loss.

Fowler finished his first official season with 32 tackles, four sacks, and five pass deflections in 16 games and one start.

2017 season
During the 29–7 season-opening road victory over the Houston Texans, Fowler had a stellar game, recording three tackles, a 53-yard fumble return for his first NFL touchdown near the end of the first half, and a strip-sack on Deshaun Watson late in the third quarter where the ball was recovered by teammate Yannick Ngakoue. Two weeks later against the Baltimore Ravens in London, Fowler had two tackles and a sack in the 44–7 blowout victory. In the next game against the New York Jets, he recorded three tackles and a strip-sack during the 23–20 overtime road loss.

During a Week 5 30–9 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Fowler recorded a tackle and a sack. Two weeks later against the Colts, he had four tackles and 1.5 sacks in the 27–0 shutout road victory. During a Week 11 19–7 road victory over the Cleveland Browns, Fowler recorded a tackle, a sack, and a fumble recovery. During a Week 15 45–7 victory over the Texans, he had two tackles and a sack. In the regular-season finale against the Titans, Fowler recorded two tackles and 0.5 sacks during the 15–10 road loss.

Fowler finished the 2017 season with 21 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 16 games and no starts. The Jaguars finished atop the AFC South with a 10–6 record and qualified for the playoffs. Fowler made his postseason debut during the Wild Card Round against the Buffalo Bills, recording a tackle in the 10–3 victory. In the Divisional Round against the Steelers, he had a tackle and a pass deflection during the 45–42 road victory. During the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, Fowler recorded three tackles and sacked Tom Brady twice in the 24–20 road loss.

2018 season
On May 2, 2018, the Jaguars declined the fifth-year option on Fowler's contract. On July 20, he was suspended for one game due to violating the league's personal conduct policy. The NFLPA later revealed that it had won a grievance filed on Fowler's behalf alleging that the Jaguars had improperly fined Fowler over $700,000 for not attending rehab and medical appointments in Jacksonville during the 2018 offseason. Under the collective bargaining agreement, these appointments should have been voluntary. This incident reportedly led to the firing of Jaguars football operations chief Tom Coughlin.

After being suspended for the season-opener, Fowler made his season debut in the Week 2 31–20 victory over the Patriots, recording a tackle and a strip-sack where he recovered the ball. During a Week 7 20–7 loss to the Texans, Fowler had two tackles and a sack.

2018 season
On October 30, 2018, Fowler was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a compensatory third-round selection (Quincy Williams) in the 2019 NFL draft and a fifth-round selection in the 2020 NFL draft, which ended up being used to select Collin Johnson. Due to a change to the 3–4 defense, Fowler moved to outside linebacker with the Rams.

Fowler made his Rams debut in the Week 9 45–35 road loss to the New Orleans Saints, recording a tackle and a pass deflection. In the next game against the Seahawks, Fowler had four tackles while he also strip-sacked Russell Wilson and recovered the ball during the 36–31 victory. Three weeks later against the Detroit Lions, Fowler recorded five tackles and a sack in the 30–16 road victory.

In 15 games (six starts) on the Jaguars and Rams rosters during the 2018 season, Fowler accumulated 30 tackles, four sacks, a pass deflection, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

The Rams finished atop the NFC West with a 13–3 record and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. In the Divisional Round against the Dallas Cowboys, Fowler recorded two tackles and a sack during the 30–22 victory. During the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints, he had five tackles and 0.5 sacks in the 26–23 overtime road victory to advance to Super Bowl LIII while making a huge play in overtime by hitting Drew Brees that set up an interception by John Johnson III. The Rams played the Patriots in the Super Bowl but lost 13–3, with Fowler recording four tackles.

2019 season
On March 11, 2019, Fowler signed a one-year, $14 million contract extension with the Rams.

During the season-opening 30–27 road victory over the Carolina Panthers, Fowler recorded two tackles and sacked Cam Newton twice. Two weeks later against the Cleveland Browns, Fowler had four tackles and a pass deflection in the 20–13 road victory. During a Week 7 37–10 road victory over the Atlanta Falcons, he had seven tackles, a pass deflection, a forced fumble, and sacked Matt Ryan thrice. In the next game against the Cincinnati Bengals in London, Fowler recorded four tackles and 1.5 sacks during the 24–10 victory. Following a Week 9 bye, the Rams went on the road to face the Steelers. In that game, Fowler had two tackles and recovered a fumbled snap by center Maurkice Pouncey and returned it for a 26-yard touchdown during the 17–12 road loss. Three weeks later against the Arizona Cardinals, Fowler recorded two tackles, two pass deflections, and a sack in the 34–7 road victory. During a Week 14 28–12 victory over the Seahawks, he had four tackles and 1.5 sacks. Two weeks later against the San Francisco 49ers, Fowler recorded six tackles, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection in the 34–31 road loss.

Fowler finished the 2019 season with 58 tackles, 11.5 sacks, six pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 16 games and 14 starts.

2020 season
On March 25, 2020, Fowler signed a three-year, $48 million contract with the Falcons.

During the season-opening 38–25 loss to the Seahawks, Fowler recorded four tackles and 0.5 sacks. In the next game against the Cowboys, he had two tackles and 0.5 sacks during the narrow 40–39 road loss despite the Falcons holding a 20–0 lead in the second quarter. During a narrow Week 7 23–22 loss to the Lions, Fowler recorded three tackles and a sack. In the next game against the Panthers on Thursday Night Football, he had two tackles and a sack during the 25–17 road victory. Fowler was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 14, 2020, and activated on November 25. He returned in Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders and recorded a pass deflection during the 43–6 blowout victory. In the regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fowler had two tackles and a sack during the 44–27 road loss.

Fowler finished the 2020 season with 23 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection in 14 games and 13 starts.

2021 season
During a Week 2 48–27 road loss to the Buccaneers, Fowler had three tackles and a strip sack. In the next game against the New York Giants, he recorded three tackles, a pass deflection, and strip sacked Daniel Jones once during the 17–14 road victory. On October 22, 2021, Fowler was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. On November 13, he was activated in time for the Week 10 matchup against the Cowboys. During a Week 11 25–0 shutout loss to the Patriots, Fowler had five tackles and 0.5 sacks. In the next game against his former team, the Jaguars, Fowler recorded two tackles and strip-sacked Trevor Lawrence once during the 21–14 road victory. Two weeks later against the Panthers, Fowler had three tackles and a sack in the 29–21 road victory.

Fowler finished the 2021 season with 36 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and a pass deflection in 14 games and six starts. He was released on February 16, 2022.

2022 season
On March 18, 2022, Fowler signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

During a Week 2 20–17 victory over the Bengals, Fowler had two tackles, a pass deflection, and strip sacked Joe Burrow once. Two weeks later against the Washington Commanders, Fowler recorded two tackles and a sack in the 25–10 victory. During a Week 6 26–17 road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he had five tackles and a sack. Two weeks later against the Chicago Bears, Fowler recorded five tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection in the 49–29 victory. During a Week 11 40–3 blowout road victory over the Minnesota Vikings, he had two tackles and a sack. During a Week 16 27–13 road victory over the Titans, Fowler recorded two tackles and strip sacked Joshua Dobbs once.

Fowler finished the 2022 season with 27 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections in 17 games and no starts. The Cowboys finished second in the NFC East with a 12–5 record and qualified for the playoffs. In the Wild Card Round against the Buccaneers, Fowler had one tackle during the 31–14 road victory. He recorded no statistics in the 19–12 road loss to the San Francisco 49ers during the Divisional Round.

2023 season
On March 21, 2023, Fowler re-signed with the Cowboys on another one-year contract.

During the season-opening 40–0 shutout victory over the Giants on NBC Sunday Night Football, Fowler had two pass deflections. Three weeks later against the Patriots, he recorded a tackle and strip-sacked Mac Jones once in the 38–3 blowout victory. During a Week 6 20–17 road victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, Fowler had a pass deflection. During a Week 10 49–17 blowout victory over the Giants, he recorded two tackles and a sack. Two weeks later against the Commanders on Thanksgiving, Fowler had a tackle and 0.5 sacks in the 45–10 blowout victory. In the regular-season finale against the Commanders, he recorded two tackles and 1.5 sacks during the 38–10 road victory.

Fowler finished the 2023 season with 13 tackles, four sacks, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 17 games and no starts. The Cowboys finished atop the NFC East with a 12–5 record and qualified for the playoffs. Fowler recorded no statistics in the Cowboys' 48–32 loss to the Packers in the Wild Card Round.

Washington Commanders
On March 15, 2024, Fowler signed a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders.

Personal life
On July 18, 2017, Fowler was arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida for simple battery and committing mischief. Fowler confronted a man who commented about his driving, struck the man, broke his glasses, and threw a bag containing liquor into a lake. He was released from jail the next day on a $650 bond.

On March 1, 2018, Fowler pleaded no contest to battery, criminal mischief, and petty theft. He was fined $2,575, received a year of probation, and was ordered to undergo 75 hours of community service. His younger brother, Donterio, was arrested in July 2021 in connection to a 2016 murder of a Florida International University student.