Jordan Kunaszyk


Jordan Kunaszyk is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He played college football at California.

Early life and high school

Kunaszyk was born in Sacramento, California and grew up in nearby Roseville. He attended Roseville High School, where he played football. Arriving to high school at 5-foot-4 and 130 pounds, he did not make the varsity team until his junior year, by which point he had grown to 6 feet and 175 pounds. In his first year of varsity football, Kunaszyk notched 77 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries and was named second team All-Sierra Foothill League and was named first team all league as a senior after recording 101 tackles, 2.0 sacks, one interception and a forced fumble.

College career

Kunaszyk began his collegiate career at American River College. He was forced to redshirt his true freshman season after breaking his wrist while playing his first snap of the year. The following season he recorded 118 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and three pass breakups and was named first-team All-Big 8 Conference, a Junior College Freshman All-American and the CCCAA NorCal Division Defensive Player of the Year. Following the season he committed to transfer to California for the final three seasons of his NCAA eligibility over offers from Colorado, Iowa State, UNLV and Fresno State.
In his first season with the Bears, Kunaszyk made 51 tackles as a reserve linebacker. As a redshirt junior, he tallied 74 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery despite missing three games to injury. In his final season, Kunaszyk made 148 tackles, four sacks and five forced fumbles with three pass breakups and an interception and was named first team All-Pac-12 Conference and second team All-America by Sports Illustrated.

Professional career

Kunaszyk signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019. He made his NFL debut on September 12, 2019 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing 15 snaps on special teams. Kunaszyk played in nine games with seven total tackles as a rookie.