History of Derwin James in Timeline
"Derwin Alonzo James Jr. is a safety for the Los Angeles Chargers. Before going pro, he played college football at Florida State University. In 2018, he was drafted into the NFL by the Chargers."
August 3, 1996: Birth
Derwin James Jr. was born on August 3, 1996.
2015: Freshman Season at Florida State
Derwin James began his college football career as a freshman at Florida State University in 2015, initially as a backup but eventually securing a starting position. He played in 12 games and recorded impressive stats including 91 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 4 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
September 13, 2016: Knee Surgery
Derwin James underwent knee surgery to address a lateral meniscus tear and cartilage damage on September 13, 2016, sidelining him for 5 to 7 weeks and cutting his sophomore season short.
December 5, 2017: Announces NFL Draft Decision
Derwin James publicly announced his decision to enter the 2018 NFL Draft via Instagram on December 5, 2017, and as a result, opted out of the 2017 Independence Bowl.
December 7, 2017: Declared for the 2018 NFL Draft
On December 7, 2017, Derwin James announced his decision to forgo his remaining two years of college eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
March 20, 2018: Florida State Pro Day
Derwin James participated in Florida State's pro day on March 20, 2018, choosing to stand on his Combine numbers and focusing on specific drills and positional workouts.
June 1, 2018: Signed with the Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers signed Derwin James to a four-year, $12.38 million contract on June 1, 2018, after selecting him in the first round of the NFL Draft.
September 23, 2018: First Career Interception
Derwin James recorded his first career interception on September 23, 2018, during a game against the Los Angeles Rams, picking off a pass from Jared Goff intended for Gerald Everett in the end zone.
December 18, 2018: Named to First Pro Bowl
Derwin James was selected to his first Pro Bowl on December 18, 2018, marking a significant achievement in his rookie season.
2018: NFL Combine and Pro Day
Derwin James participated in the NFL Combine and his pro day at Florida State University, opting to skip some drills but still impressing scouts with his performance, further cementing his position as a top prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft.
2018: Drafted to the NFL
Derwin James was drafted to the NFL in 2018.
2018: Preparing for the NFL Draft
In 2018, Derwin James prepared for the NFL draft by participating in the NFL Scouting Combine and his pro day at Florida State University, impressing scouts with his performance and solidifying his projection as a first-round pick.
September 1, 2019: Placed on Injured Reserve
Derwin James was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2019, due to a stress fracture in his right foot, which required surgery and a recovery period of up to three months.
November 25, 2019: Designated for Return from Injured Reserve
Derwin James was designated for return from injured reserve on November 25, 2019, and resumed practicing with the Chargers.
November 30, 2019: Activated from Injured Reserve
On November 30, 2019, Derwin James was activated from injured reserve, allowing him to return to the field for the Chargers.
2019: Recognized for Outstanding Rookie Season
In 2019, Derwin James was recognized for his impressive rookie season in the NFL, receiving honors such as being named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and ranking 31st on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.
September 5, 2020: Season-Ending Surgery
Derwin James underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus on September 5, 2020, leading to him being placed on season-ending injured reserve.
December 15, 2020: Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 List
Derwin James was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Chargers on December 15, 2020.
January 7, 2021: Moved Back to Injured Reserve
On January 7, 2021, Derwin James was moved back to injured reserve by the Chargers.
April 30, 2021: Fifth-Year Option Exercised
The Chargers exercised the fifth-year option on Derwin James' contract on April 30, 2021, guaranteeing him a salary of $9.05 million for the 2022 season.
December 22, 2021: Named to Second Pro Bowl
Derwin James earned his second Pro Bowl selection on December 22, 2021, further solidifying his status as one of the league's top safeties.
August 17, 2022: Signs Contract Extension
Derwin James signed a four-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Chargers on August 17, 2022, worth $76.4 million, making him the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
December 21, 2022: Named to Third Pro Bowl
Derwin James was named to his third Pro Bowl on December 21, 2022.
December 26, 2022: Ejected from Game
Derwin James was ejected from a game against the Indianapolis Colts on December 26, 2022, following a helmet-to-helmet hit on wide receiver Ashton Dulin.
2022: Ranked 43rd on NFL Top 100 Players
Derwin James' performance in the 2021 season earned him recognition from his peers, ranking 43rd on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.
2023: Ranked 30th on NFL Top 100 Players
Derwin James was ranked 30th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023 by his peers.