Randy Gregory plays outside linebacker in American football for the National Football League’s Denver Broncos (NFL).
Gregory was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and has since relocated seven times. His father, Ken Gregory, played collegiate football for Northwestern.
While attending Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Indiana, he participated in both basketball and football. Gregory enrolled at Arizona Western College.
The team made it to the NJCAA title game thanks to his 82 tackles, nine sacks, 21 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries as a rookie in 2011. Due to a fractured leg, he was forced to sit out the whole 2012 season as a sophomore.
Gregory was predicted by numerous mock drafts to go high in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft as early as May 2014.
But after testing positive for marijuana during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, he was passed over during the first round of the draft and dropped significantly to the second round before being chosen by the Dallas Cowboys.
Gregory reportedly agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Cowboys during free agency in 2022.
Gregory chose to sign a five-year, $70 million deal with the Denver Broncos instead due to a disagreement in the contract language that permitted the Cowboys to collect any compensation if a player is penalized or suspended. On October 4, 2022, he was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a knee injury in Week 4.
What happened with Randy Gregory?
Gregory reportedly agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Cowboys during free agency in 2022. Gregory chose to sign a five-year, $70 million deal with the Denver Broncos instead due to a disagreement in the contract language that permitted the Cowboys to collect any compensation if a player is penalized or suspended. On October 4, 2022, he was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a knee injury in Week 4.
Why was Gregory suspended?
Gregory has tested positive for marijuana due to substance abuse difficulties, and the NFL frequently punished him, including for all 16 games in the 2017 and 2019 seasons.
In fact, he served bans each year for five years between 2016 and 20. Over a seven-year period for the Dallas Cowboys, he only participated in 50 of a possible 113 regular-season games due to injuries (yes, there were injuries) and disciplinary actions.