Zaire Barnes
Barnes with the Western Michigan Broncos in 2021 | |||||||
| No. 46 – New York Giants | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | September 3, 1999 Mundelein, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 232 lb (105 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Carmel Catholic (Mundelein) | ||||||
| College | Western Michigan (2018–2022) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2023: 6th round, 184th overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 12, 2025 | |||||||
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Zaire Barnes (born September 3, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos.
College career
A three-star recruit according to 247Sports,[1] Barnes committed to play college football for the Western Michigan Broncos on June 18, 2017, over offers from Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and Cincinnati.[2][3]
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1+5⁄8 in (1.87 m) |
232 lb (105 kg) |
32 in (0.81 m) |
9 in (0.23 m) |
4.56 s | 1.57 s | 2.63 s | 4.27 s | 7.02 s | 34.0 in (0.86 m) |
10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) |
20 reps | |
| Sources:[4][5] | ||||||||||||
New York Jets
Barnes was selected 184th overall by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft.[6] On May 5, he signed a four-year contract with the Jets.[7] In the 2023 season, he appeared in four games.[8]
Barnes was placed on injured reserve on September 9, 2024.[9]
Barnes was waived by the Jets on August 27, 2025.[10]
New York Giants
On August 29, 2025, Barnes was signed to the New York Giants' practice squad.[11] On October 18, Barnes was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster prior to the Giants’ Week 7 matchup against the Denver Broncos.[12] On November 8, he was signed to the active roster.[13]
Personal life
Barnes is of Filipino and African American descent.[14]
References
- ^ "Zaire Barnes, Carmel Catholic, Athlete". 247Sports. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ "Zaire Barnes 247". 247Sports.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ "Zaire Barnes". WMUSports.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ "Jets select Zaire Barnes with No. 184 pick in 2023 draft". NFL.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Zaire Barnes College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ Wells, MacGregor (April 29, 2023). "2023 NFL Draft: Jets select Zaire Barnes with No. 184 overall pick". GangGreenNation.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ Esden Jr., Paul A. (May 6, 2023). "Jets Lock in Versatile Defender on 4-Year Contract". Heavy.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Zaire Barnes 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ Greenberg, Ethan (September 9, 2024). "Jets Sign OL Jake Hanson, LB Sam Eguavoen to Active Roster, Place LB Zaire Barnes on IR". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ Weir, Susanna (August 27, 2025). "Jets Awarded LB Cam Jones, OT Esa Pole and TE Jelani Woods". NewYorkJets.com.
- ^ Salomone, Dan (August 29, 2025). "Giants re-sign WR Gunner Olszewski, add 2 to practice squad; CB Rico Payton to IR". Giants.com.
- ^ "Giants activate OLB Victor Dimukeje, LB Zaire Barnes, WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey". Giants.com. October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ^ "Giants activate 4 for Sunday; 2 to injured reserve". giants.com. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
- ^ Barnes, Zaire (May 17, 2025). "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
External links
- New York Jets bio
- Western Michigan Broncos bio
- Media related to Zaire Barnes at Wikimedia Commons