Sheldon Day (born July 1, 1994) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

defensive tackle A defensive tackle (DT) is a position in American football that typically lines up on the line of scrimmage, opposite one of the Guard (American football), offensive guards; however, he may also line up opposite one of the offensive Tackle (gridir ...

for the

Washington Commanders The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Notre Dame Fighting Irish The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are the athletic teams that represent the University of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish participate in 26 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I intercollegiate sports and in the NCAA's Division ...

and was selected by the

Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team ...

in the fourth round of the

2016 NFL draft The 2016 NFL draft was the 81st annual draft of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players. As in 2015, the draft took place at the Auditorium Theatre and Grant Park in Chicago. The draft beg ...

. Day has also played for the

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...

Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team is named after ...

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...

, and

Early life

Day attended Warren Central High School in

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...

. Considered a four-star recruit by '' Rivals.com'', he was rated as the 18th best defensive tackle prospect of his class. On August 4, 2011, he committed to play

at the

University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; ; ND) is a Private university, private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Cathol ...

College career

As a true freshman at Notre Dame in 2012, Day appeared in all 13 games and had 23

tackles Tackle may refer to: * In football: ** Tackle (football move), a play in various forms of football ** Tackle (gridiron football position) A tackle is a playing position in American football. Historically, in the one-platoon system prevalent ...

and two sacks. As a sophomore, he played in 11 games and made eight starts. He recorded 33 tackles and a half sack. As an 11-game starter his junior year, Day had 40 tackles and one sack. Following the end of the season, Day announced that he would return for his senior season, forgoing the

2015 NFL draft The 2015 NFL draft was the 80th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football, football players. It took place in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre and in Grant Park (Chicago), Grant Park ...

. In his senior season, starting all 13 games, Day set a career high in tackles (45), tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (4), earning himself second-team

All-American The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

honors by the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

Professional career

Jacksonville Jaguars

Day was selected by the

in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the

. Day played only 126 snaps during his one and a half seasons for the Jaguars. On November 18, 2017, Day was waived by the Jaguars.

San Francisco 49ers

On November 20, 2017, Day was claimed off waivers by the

. Familiar to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Day was immediately a part of the

defensive line In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line (OL), while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line (D ...

rotation. He served as a reserve and played in six games, netting 12 solo tackles, four assisted tackles, and a sack. Day reached

Super Bowl LIV Super Bowl LIV was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2019 NFL season, 2019 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion 2019 Kansas City Chiefs season, Kansas City ...

with the 49ers, but lost 31–20 to the

Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Established in 1959 ...

Indianapolis Colts

On March 26, 2020, Day signed a one-year contract with the

. He was placed on

injured reserve The injured reserve list ( IR list) is a designation used in North American professional sports leagues for athletes who suffer injuries and become unable to play. The exact name of the list varies by league; it is known as "injured reserve" in ...

on September 6. Day was designated to return from injured reserve on September 30, and began practicing with the team again. He was activated on October 17. Day was waived by the Colts on November 17.

Cleveland Browns

On December 30, 2020, Day was signed to the

practice squad In gridiron football, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. They serve as extra players during the team's practices, often as part of the scou ...

of the

. His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on January 25, 2021. Day re-signed with the Browns on April 14, 2021. The Browns terminated his contract on August 31. Day was re-signed to the Browns' practice squad the next day. Day was elevated to the Browns' active roster on October 16, and reverted to the practice squad two days later. Day was signed to the Browns' active roster on November 9. On April 18, 2022, Day re-signed with the Browns. The Browns terminated his contract on August 16.

Minnesota Vikings

On December 14, 2022, Day was signed to the

practice squad. He was released on January 7, 2023. He signed a reserve/futures contract with the team on January 30. Day was released on August 29, 2023, and signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released on November 8 and re-signed three days later. Day was signed to the active roster on November 21.

Washington Commanders

Day signed with the

' practice squad on August 28, 2024. He was signed to the active roster on October 16. On March 17, 2025, Day re-signed with the Commanders on a one-year contract.

References

External links

Washington Commanders profile

Notre Dame Fighting Irish profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Day, Sheldon 1994 births 21st-century African-American sportsmen 21st-century American sportsmen American football defensive ends American football defensive tackles Cleveland Browns players Indianapolis Colts players Jacksonville Jaguars players Living people Minnesota Vikings players Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players Players of American football from Indianapolis San Francisco 49ers players Washington Commanders players