| No. 29 – Washington Commanders | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | (1996-09-16) September 16, 1996 (age 27) Deerfield Beach, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Deerfield Beach | ||||||||||
| College: | Florida Atlantic (2017–2019) | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2020 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
James Pierre Jr. (born September 16, 1996) is an American football cornerback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Atlantic Owls and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Pierre attended Deerfield Beach High School. As a senior, he registered 48 tackles, four interceptions and two pass break-ups, helping Deerfield Beach to a 10–2 record. The Miami Herald named him one of the Top 25 seniors in Broward County, while the Sun-Sentinel named him all-county honorable mention. Pierre was considered a three-star prospect and the No. 48 safety in the Class of 2016 by 247Sports.com's composite rankings. He initially committed to Miami (FL) over offers from Louisville, Mississippi State, Tennessee, South Carolina and Wisconsin, but switched his commitment to North Carolina in February 2016. Pierre was denied admission and committed to Syracuse.[1]
Pierre was ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA for his freshman season.[2] He transferred to Florida Atlantic and had 21 tackles and two pass deflections as a freshman in 2017.[3] Pierre posted 55 tackles and nine pass breakups as a sophomore.[4] On November 2, 2019, he made two interceptions in a 35–24 win over Western Kentucky.[5] As a junior in 2019, Pierre recorded 44 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses and three interceptions. He finished his collegiate career with 120 total tackles, 18 pass breakups, 8 1/2 tackles for losses and three interceptions in 39 games. Pierre declared for the NFL Draft following the season.[6]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
183 lb (83 kg) |
31+1⁄4 in (0.79 m) |
8+1⁄2 in (0.22 m) |
4.59 s | 1.61 s | 2.68 s | 7.02 s | 33.5 in (0.85 m) |
10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) | |||
| All values from NFL Combine[7][8] | ||||||||||||
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Pierre signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[9] He was named to the Steelers' initial 53-man roster, the only undrafted free agent to make the team in that fashion in 2020.[10] On September 19, 2021, Pierre made his first career NFL start, filling in due to a groin injury to Joe Haden.[11] Pierre made his first NFL interception in a game against the Denver Broncos on October 10, 2021.[12]
On March 21, 2023, Pierre re–signed with the Steelers.[13]
Pierre signed with the Washington Commanders on March 21, 2024.[14]
Pierre's cousin is two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.[15]
