Darius Fleming

Darius Fleming, born on July 19, 1989, in Chicago, Illinois, established a notable career in both collegiate and professional football. He attended St. Rita High School, where he showcased his athletic abilities in football, contributing to a Class 7A state championship as a junior and a Chicago Prep Bowl city championship as a senior. Recognized as a four-star recruit and ranked among the top outside linebackers nationally, Fleming committed to playing college football at Notre Dame.

At Notre Dame, Fleming played as a defensive end and outside linebacker, accumulating 157 tackles, including 32 for loss, 14.5 sacks, two interceptions, and nine pass deflections over his four-year tenure. This collegiate performance led to his selection by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL draft. His early professional career was impacted by ACL injuries, first in May 2012 and again in July 2013, leading to his release from the 49ers in May 2014.

Fleming subsequently signed with the New England Patriots in May 2014. He contributed to the team’s Super Bowl XLIX championship, primarily playing on special teams and notably recovering a muffed punt during the AFC Championship Game. In a notable off-field event in January 2016, Fleming rescued a woman from a car accident, performing the rescue just two days before playing in a Divisional Playoff Game with stitches in his leg. After his NFL career, Fleming transitioned into the business world, holding roles at LinkedIn and later becoming the Head of Sports Partnerships at Cameo, demonstrating a successful career progression beyond professional sports.