Jaleel McLaughlin signed with the Denver Broncos in May 2023. Making it to an NFL roster could have been one of the happiest moments of his life. However, McLaughlin never gets too high or too low.
Growing up, McLaughlin faced poverty, homelessness, and numerous challenges. He spent roughly 18 months sleeping in a car when he was young.
Highlights
- Jaleel McLaughlin’s parents separated when he was young, and he started living with his mom.
- During his middle school years, his mother lost her job, and they experienced homelessness, sleeping in a car for a long time.
- He lived with his father for a while when his mother went to Arkansas after losing her job.
- The athlete has three siblings.
Clocking in early is a way of McLaughlin’s dedication and his deep-seated desire to overcome the hardships he experienced in his youth.
“It’s kind of a bundle of everything. Me going through that homelessness, me not having a place to stay, knowing what it looks like at the bottom and not wanting to go back there.”
Jaleel McLaughlin
The Broncos RB added that he wants to be the best to ever do it in this sport and acknowledged that there’s still a lot he’s working toward.
He said,
“I want to help this team get wins,”
Jaleel McLaughlin Grew Up In Poverty
The NFL running back was born on 13 September 2000 in Marshville, North Carolina. He is one of four children born to his mother, Tonya McLaughlin, and father, whose name is unknown.
The athlete’s mother, who was a factory worker, unexpectedly lost her job when he was in middle school. At the time, Tonya had two kids (Jaleel and his younger brother).
After losing her job, Tonya and her kids also lost their place to stay. The athlete’s mom had to find a place to live.
But while searching for it, they lived in their car (Ford Focus), not just for months but for a whole year and a half.
“I was around the sixth or seventh grade, somewhere around there. I can’t remember the exact age, but yeah, we stayed in there for about a year and a half and stuff like that.”
Jaleel McLaughlin told Charlotte Observer
The McLaughlins would park the car at McDonald’s or sometimes at his grandma’s house, where the water and lights were often off.
“I think adversity can make or break you, and I think that made me who I am, honestly.”
After a while, his mom moved to Arkansas. In an interview with Charlotte Observer, the footballer said that, he and his younger brother stayed in Marshville with their father.
Throughout these challenging times, Jaleel leaned on playing sports. He played basketball, football, and track during high school.
The sports didn’t only offer an escape to Jaleel but also to his mom and family.
“Like me playing basketball, football ,and track, no matter what we were going through at home, it made my mom smile. So just being able to make my mom smile and put a smile on her face – of course, I’m going to work as hard as I can to make her forget about the problems.”
Jaleel McLaughlin
Despite his multi-sport talents, Jaleel wasn’t heavily recruited for college. He eventually focused on football, attending Notre Dame College in Ohio in 2018.
He surpassed 2,400 rushing yards and set numerous Division II records in his two seasons.
He then transferred to Division I Youngstown State, where he continued to shine with 3,424 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns over three seasons, including 1,588 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior in 2022.
But his impressive college stats went unnoticed by some NFL scouts and went undrafted last year.
Jaleel later signed with the Broncos. He had to work hard to earn his spot on the roster, but he never hesitated to prove himself.
McLaughlin said he trusts in God and believes that God’s timing is the best timing. He added that he feels God places him in certain situations for a reason.
“I wanted to play at the highest level possible. I don’t know how I’d be happy with myself and happy in life without it, so that’s what I went after and I knew it would happen.”
Jaleel Mclaughlin
Additional Information
- Jaleel McLaughlin signed a three-year contract with the Denver Broncos worth $2,710,000, which includes a $15,000 signing bonus and $55,000 guaranteed.
- His average annual salary is $903,333. In 2024, he will earn a base salary of $915,000, with a cap hit of $920,000 and a dead cap value of $10,000.
- The Denver Broncos running back stands at 5-foot-7 and weighs 187 pounds.
