DJ Reader

An 11-year NFL veteran, Reader signed with the New York Giants during the 2026 offseason…He has played in 143 games and made 134 starts…Began his career with the Houston Texans (2016-19) before spending time with the Cincinnati Bengals (2020-23) and Detroit Lions (2024-25)…His career totals include 348 total tackles, 57 quarterback hits, 28 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 9 passes defensed, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble…Also played in 13 postseason games (13 starts) and combined for 37 tackles, 6 quarterback hits, 4 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and 1 pass defensed.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• An 11-year NFL veteran, Reader signed with the New York Giants during the 2026 offseason…He has played in 143 games and made 134 starts…Began his career with the Houston Texans (2016-19) before spending time with the Cincinnati Bengals (2020-23) and Detroit Lions (2024-25)…His career totals include 348 total tackles, 57 quarterback hits, 28 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 9 passes defensed, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble…Also played in 13 postseason games (13 starts) and combined for 37 tackles, 6 quarterback hits, 4 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and 1 pass defensed.
• For the Lions in 2025, started all 17 games and produced 28 tackles and 4 quarterback hits…Among defenders with 200 snaps played, Reader was the most double-teamed player in the NFL according to Next Gen Stats…He was double-teamed on 57.7% of his snaps played.
• In 2024, started all 15 games he played in and totaled 23 tackles, 8 quarterback hits, 4 tackles for loss, a career-high 3.0 sacks and 1 pass defensed.
• For the Bengals in 2023, registered 34 tackles, 7 quarterback hits, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pass defensed and 1 fumble recovery.
• Started all 10 games he played in 2022…Amassed 27 tackles, 5 quarterback hits, a career-high 4 passes defensed, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 tackle for loss and 1 forced fumble.
• Appeared in 15 games (15 starts) for the Bengals in 2021 and totaled 43 tackles, 7 quarterback hits, 3 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks…Also started all four postseason games for the Bengals en route to an appearance in Super Bowl LVI…Produced 12 tackles, 4 quarterback hits, 3 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack.
• 2020 marked Reader's first season in Cincinnati…He started all five games he played in and notched 19 tackles, 2 passes defensed, 1 quarterback hit and 1 tackle for loss.
• For the Texans in 2019, appeared in 15 games (15 starts) and set career highs in tackles (52), quarterback hits (13) and tackles for loss (6)…He added 2.5 sacks.
• In 2018, started all 16 games and registered 33 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hits and 2.0 sacks.
• Played in 14 games (14 starts) in 2017 and finished with 47 tackles, 6 quarterback hits, 3 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack.
• As a rookie in 2016, appeared in all 16 games and made seven starts…Totaled 22 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hits and 1.0 sack.

COLLEGE

• Spent four seasons at Clemson (2012-15) and played in 45 career games…Combined for 73 total tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks.
• As a senior in 2015, played in nine games and combined for 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack.
• In 2014, appeared in 12 games and registered 17 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
• Set career highs with 5.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in 2013…Played in 11 contests and contributed 20 total tackles.
• As a freshman in 2012, played in 13 games and notched a career-high 23 tackles.
• Spent his freshman year at Clemson on the baseball team, where he played first base…Went 0-for-3 with one run, a .500 on-base percentage, two walks and one hit-by-pitch in seven games off the bench…Was hit in the face by one pitch, which he later described as "I've been hit a lot harder."…When recruited to Clemson, head football coach Dabo Swinney told him he could play baseball if he earned a significant role on the team, which is why he only played one season.

PERSONAL

• A native of Greensboro, N.C….Reader was recruited out of high school as a guard and defensive lineman…Lettered four times in football, baseball and basketball…Was the starting center on his high school basketball team.
• Comes from a family of athletes…His mother, Felicia, played softball at North Carolina A&T from 1985-88 and his uncle, Glenn Ford, played football at Tennessee from 1978-80.
• Studied communications at Clemson.
• Has his own foundation, "A Son Never Forgets" which he created to honor his late father to help underserved communities, providing resource rooms stocked with school essentials, hygiene products and awarding scholarships across multiple cities…He was the Detroit Lions 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.

MAIN TRANSACTIONS

• Originally a 5th-round (166th pick overall) draft choice by the Houston Texans in 2016.
• Signed a four-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on 3/18/20.
• Signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Lions on 3/14/24.
• Signed a two-year contract with the New York Giants on 5/7/26.