Sports Illustrated graded Poe as the No. 2 defensive tackle in the draft, behind only Fletcher Cox. Eventually, he was the first defensive lineman off the board, selected eleventh overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. Poe was the highest drafted player from Memphis since Keith Simpson (No. 9 in 1978), and the highest drafted player from Conference USA ever. He was also the third defensive lineman Kansas City selected in the first round within five years, following Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. Chiefs head coach, Romeo Crennel, said he was not worried about Poe's mediocre college statistics, "because he played every down at 350 pounds and he played every position on the line in every game."
Dontari Poe (born August 18, 1990) is an American former football nose tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football at Memphis and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs 11th overall in the 2012 NFL draft. Though primarily a defensive lineman, at 6 ft 3 in and 346 lbs, he is also known for being the largest player to either rush or pass for a touchdown while also having a 100% pass completion percentage, passing TD, and rushing TD. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys.
Poe played for the Memphis Tigers football team of the University of Memphis from 2009 to 2011. As a redshirt freshman in 2009, he played in 11 of 12 games for the Tigers—he did not play against Houston (November 21) due to a death in his family—including six starts at nose tackle, and finished the year with 27 tackles, including 18 solo stops. He led the team in tackles for losses with seven, and tied for the team lead in forced fumbles with three. He also added two quarterback sacks, which tied for third-most. His performance earned him a Conference USA All-Freshman Team selection.
In his sophomore year, Poe became a consistent starter on the defensive line. He was one of six Tigers to start all 12 games in 2010, and ended the year ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 41, and fourth in TFL with 6.5 (for a total loss of 27 yards). In the season opener against Mississippi State, he registered three tackles (all solo stops), all of which limited the Bulldogs to three or fewer yards, including one that was for a loss of four yards. In a game versus UTEP, Poe had a season-high seven tackles, four of which limited the Miners to fewer than three yards. He also managed to sack UTEP quarterback Trevor Vittatoe on a 3rd-and-8 in the first quarter for a loss of five yards. In October at Louisville, Poe registered six tackles (four solo). In recognition of his successful season, Poe earned an All-Conference-USA honorable mention.
On December 23, 2011, Poe announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2012 NFL draft. Soon thereafter, he announced that he signed with agent Jimmy Sexton of Creative Artists Agency. He concluded his college career having played in 35 contests (30 starts), recording 101 tackles (57 unassisted), 21.5 TFL, five sacks, four pass break-ups and four forced fumbles.
With a loan from his agent, Jimmy Sexton, Poe bought his mother a 2012 Cadillac Escalade for her birthday in January 2012. He later also bought her a house in the upscale Collierville suburb of Memphis. He was the only player to kneel for the National Anthem while with the Dallas Cowboys.
In March 2012, Poe's draft stock peaked when he was listed at No. 9 by ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., and No. 6 by Sports Illustrated's Don Banks. "He'll be overdrafted," an unnamed NFL scout told the Times of Trenton, while nevertheless acknowledging that "he's the most athletic over 300-pound man in this draft, or a lot of other drafts." After analysing game tape, Mike Mayock downgraded Poe from No. 1 to No. 4 among defensive tackles, describing him as "a freaky athlete with a good motor" who, however, "needs to get into a good locker room with a mentor in that defensive line group" to develop into a high-quality NFL player. While acknowledging his lack of production in college, Bucky Brooks pointed out "Poe's blue-chip qualities (size, athleticism and strength) and the immense importance of the [nose tackle] position". According to The Sporting News's Russ Lande, Poe's draft stock plummeted in the weeks before the draft, amid concerns over his poor production at Memphis.
Poe was expected to succeed veteran Kelly Gregg at the defensive tackle position in Kansas City's 3–4 defense, although head coach Crennel acknowledged that "it's going to take a while for [Poe] to get adjusted." On the eve of training camp, July 26, 2012, Poe agreed to terms with the Chiefs, signing a four-year deal with a fifth-year team option. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it was reported to be worth about $11 million. Competing with Anthony Toribio and Jerrell Powe for the starting nose tackle spot left void by Gregg, Poe disappointed in training camp. "He needs to work on technique, he needs to work on understanding the system, he needs to get the calls correct all the time. He's got a ways to go," said Crennel.
On April 9, 2020, Poe signed a two-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. He was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp on July 28, 2020. He was moved back to the active roster on August 18, 2020. He was expected to start alongside Gerald McCoy at defensive tackle until he was lost for the season with a quadriceps tear injury. Poe started the first seven games mostly alongside Trysten Hill, while registering 9 tackles and no sacks. He was part of a struggling defense, especially against the run. In the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, he became the first Cowboy to kneel during the national anthem since the start of the movement in 2016.
On March 16, 2017, Poe signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Poe made a bonus of $125,000 after passing his July 26 weigh-in. He started all 16 games, making 39 tackles (4 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 10 quarterback pressures and 2 passes defensed.
On March 15, 2018, Poe signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. In his first season in Carolina, Poe started all 16 games, recording 32 tackles, 6 quarterback pressures and one sack.
In 2019, Poe played in 11 games with 8 starts, before suffering a torn quad in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints. He was placed on injured reserve on November 27, 2019. He finished the season with 19 tackles and four sacks.
The Panthers declined the option on Poe's contract making him a free agent in 2020.