Name: Daron Bland

Age: 24 years old

Sport: Football (NFL)

NFL Team: Dallas Cowboys

Position: Defensive Back

Jersey Number: #26

College: Sacramento State (2017-2020), Fresno State (2021)

Drafted: Round 5 (pick 167) 2022

Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys

40 yd dash time: 4.46 seconds

Since 1993, Eagle’s defensive back Eric Allen has stood alone as the all-time leader for most pick-sixes in a season. Allen played most of his 14-year career with the Eagles until retiring in 2001. Since his historic season, no one has even come close. Enter, Daron Bland.

Daron Bland grew up in the town of Modesto, California. At a young age, he started playing football. He went to Central Catholic High School where he was named Valley Oak League Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Courtesy of that award, Bland went on to play football for the Sacramento State Hornets for two seasons. After college football was canceled in Sacramento due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bland entered the transferred Fresno State College. After just one year, he was drafted in the 5th round by the Dallas Cowboys.

In the Cowboys’ 33-10 win over the Carolina Panthers, Bryce Young threw a short pass to the wide receiver Johnathan Mingo. For a second it seemed that Mingo would have an easy catch with an open field in front of him, but instead, Daron Bland leaped in front of the football and intercepted it. He tumbled to the ground and then ran down the field, scoring his 4th pick-six of the season and tying the NFL record.

On Thanksgiving Day, in the Cowboy’s 45-10 win, just one game after tying the NFL record, Carson Wentz fell victim to Daron Bland. On 2nd and 10,  Wentz dropped back into the pocket and threw a short pass to his wide receiver, Jahan Dotson. The ball hovered in the air as Daron Bland jumped in front of it to secure his seventh interception of the season and for the fifth time, Daron Bland secured a pick-six, breaking the NFL Record. 

Daron Bland is an example of extreme determination, as he defied all odds, having been drafted in the fifth round, and proved himself to be one of the greatest current defensive backs in the NFL.