History of Xavien Howard in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: June 9, 2024

Xavien Howard is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Baylor University and was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Howard spent eight seasons with the Dolphins, earning recognition as a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro member. Notably, he led the league in interceptions twice during his tenure with the team.

July 4, 1993: Xavien Howard's Birth

Xavien Howard was born on July 4, 1993. This marks the beginning of his life journey, which would eventually lead him to become a professional football player.

2012: Starting College Football Career at Baylor

In 2012, Xavien Howard began his college football career at Baylor. Over the next few years, he would make significant contributions to the team.

2015: End of College Football Career

By 2015, Xavien Howard had ended his college football career at Baylor, having achieved notable stats including 98 tackles and 10 interceptions.

May 18, 2016: Signed First NFL Contract

On May 18, 2016, Xavien Howard signed a four-year, $6.12 million contract with the Miami Dolphins, marking the formal start of his professional career.

October 6, 2016: Suffered Knee Injury

On October 6, 2016, Xavien Howard suffered a meniscus injury during practice, requiring surgery and causing him to miss nine games.

December 17, 2016: Return from Injury

On December 17, 2016, Xavien Howard returned from his knee injury, collecting three solo tackles and three pass deflections in a victory over the New York Jets.

2016: NFL Scouting Combine and Pro Day

In 2016, Xavien Howard attended the NFL Scouting Combine and Baylor's pro day, where he improved on his combine numbers with scouts from all 32 NFL teams observing.

2016: Drafted by the Miami Dolphins

In 2016, Xavien Howard was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. This was a significant milestone in his career, marking his entry into professional football.

2016: Declared for the NFL Draft

In 2016, after his junior year at Baylor, Xavien Howard declared for the NFL Draft, setting the stage for his professional career.

2016: Selected by Miami Dolphins in NFL Draft

In 2016, the Miami Dolphins selected Xavien Howard in the second round with the 38th overall pick in the NFL Draft. The team traded picks with the Baltimore Ravens to secure him.

January 8, 2017: First Career Playoff Game

On January 8, 2017, Xavien Howard started his first career playoff game, recording five tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception, although the Dolphins were defeated by the Steelers.

December 17, 2017: Season-High Performance and First Sack

On December 17, 2017, Xavien Howard recorded four solo tackles and his first career sack on Tyrod Taylor, although the Dolphins lost to the Buffalo Bills.

2017: Named Starting Cornerback

In 2017, Xavien Howard entered the season as the Dolphins' No. 1 cornerback, starting the season alongside Byron Maxwell. This marked a significant step in his career.

2018: Led the League in Interceptions

In 2018, Xavien Howard led the league in interceptions with seven, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors.

2018: Second-Team All-Pro

In 2018, Xavien Howard was named to the second-team All-Pro, recognizing his standout performance for the season.

May 9, 2019: Signed Record-Breaking Contract Extension

On May 9, 2019, Xavien Howard signed a five-year, $76.5 million contract extension with the Dolphins, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the league.

October 29, 2019: Placed on Injured Reserve

On October 29, 2019, Xavien Howard was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury, ending his season early.

2019: NFL Top 100 Players of 2019

In 2019, Xavien Howard was ranked 55th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019, recognizing his standout performance.

July 28, 2020: Placed on Active/Physically Unable to Perform List

On July 28, 2020, Xavien Howard was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list by the Dolphins at the start of training camp.

August 11, 2020: Moved to Reserve/COVID-19 List

On August 11, 2020, Xavien Howard was moved to the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Dolphins.

August 27, 2020: Activated from Lists

On August 27, 2020, Xavien Howard was activated from both the active/physically unable to perform list and the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Dolphins.

January 8, 2021: First Team All-Pro

On January 8, 2021, Xavien Howard was named as a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career, capping off a standout season.

July 2021: Requested Trade from Dolphins

In July 2021, Xavien Howard announced his request for a trade from the Miami Dolphins, citing feelings of being undervalued and underpaid.

April 1, 2022: New Five-Year Contract

On April 1, 2022, Xavien Howard signed a new five-year contract worth $50.691 million in new money. In the 2022 season, Howard had 45 total tackles (35 solo), one interception, 12 passes defended, and two forced fumbles. He also scored a 16-yard fumble return touchdown in Week 12 and was named to the Pro Bowl.

2022: Pro Bowl and NFL Top 100 Players of 2022

In 2022, Xavien Howard was named to his third Pro Bowl. He was also ranked 56th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022 list. Additionally, during Week 10, he recorded five tackles, a forced fumble, and a 49-yard fumble recovery touchdown in a 22–10 win over the Ravens, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.