Jalen Thompson, a safety for the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals, was born on July 18, 1998. (NFL). He played football for Washington State University.
Thompson was raised in Downey, California, after being born in Paramount, California. When he was a sophomore at La Serna High School, where the Lancers later won the 2013 CIF Southern Section championship, he was chosen honourable mention All-San Gabriel Valley League.
After his sophomore year, he transferred to Downey High School, where he played cornerback and wide receiver and was selected All-CIF and All-San Gabriel Valley League in his junior and senior years.
Thompson joined the 2019 NFL Supplemental Draft after being found ineligible for his final season at Washington State. He was the lone player chosen, and the Arizona Cardinals took him in the fifth round of the supplemental draft. On July 17, 2019, he committed to the Cardinals for a period of four years.
On September 8, 2019, against the Detroit Lions, Thompson made his NFL debut, participating in seven special teams snaps. On October 6, 2019, he got his first career start against the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing with eight tackles in a 26-23 victory.
On November 17, 2019, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers threw a pass that Thompson intercepted in the fourth quarter of a 36-26 defeat. He started nine of the Cardinals’ final 12 games and finished his rookie season with 57 tackles, three passes defended, and an interception in 15 games played.
How Good Is Jalen Thompson?
Together with Pro Bowler Budda Baker, Thompson has emerged as one of the team’s top young defenders. And on Friday, the Cardinals secured Thompson’s place in the defensive core by agreeing to an extension of his contract through the 2025 campaign.