Josaiah Stewart
Josaiah Stewart is an American professional football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. He played college football for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and Michigan Wolverines. Stewart was an all-conference selection in the Sun Belt and Big Ten, winning a 2024 [College Football Playoff National Championship|national championship] with Michigan in 2023. He was selected by the Rams in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early life and high school
Stewart was born on April 26, 2003, the son of Carmen Diaz and Andre Stewart, in the Bronx, New York. He attended Everett High School in Everett, Massachusetts, where he played football and was teammates with Mike Sainristil, Isaiah Likely and Lewis Cine.As a junior, Stewart recorded 30 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and a fumble recovery, while his senior season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stewart was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Coastal Carolina University.
College career
Coastal Carolina
2021
In 2021, Stewart set the single-game program sack record, with four sacks versus 2021 [Georgia Southern Eagles football team|Georgia Southern]. He finished his freshman season with 43 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles. His 13 sacks set a single-season school record, breaking the previous record of 10.5 sacks held by Tarron Jackson. For his performance on the year, Stewart was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference, and a first-team freshman All-American.2022
In 2022, Stewart recorded 36 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, three sacks and a forced fumble, earning second-team all-Sun Belt honors. After the season, Stewart entered the NCAA transfer portal. Stewart finished his two-year career at Coastal Carolina with 79 tackles, 25.5 tackles for a loss, 16 sacks and four forced fumbles.Michigan
2023
On December 18, 2022, Stewart transferred to the University of Michigan to continue his college career. On September 30, 2023, he recorded five tackles and two sacks in a win over 2023 [Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska], earning Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.In 2023, Stewart appeared in all 15 games for the Wolverines, totaling 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks and two pass breakups. He was second on 2023 [Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan’s national championship team] in sacks, leading to an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection.
2024
Entering his senior season, Pro Football Focus listed Stewart as the No. 9 ranked edge rusher in college football prior to the 2024 season. He changed his jersey from No. 5 to No. 0 for his last year at Michigan. Despite transferring one year earlier, Stewart was voted as an alternate team captain for the 2024 season.In his first game of the 2024 season versus 2024 [Fresno State Bulldogs football team|Fresno State], Stewart had team highs with five tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks. In week 4 against the 2024 [USC Trojans football team|USC Trojans], he recorded four tackles, three for a loss, including two sacks and a forced fumble. Following week 4, Stewart was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, as well as the Reese’s Senior Bowl National Defensive Player of the Week. In week six versus 2024 [Washington Huskies football team|Washington], he had four tackles, two for a loss, including a sack. Before week 8, Sherrone Moore elevated Stewart from an alternate captain, to a full-fledged captain.
In week 9 versus 2024 [Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State], Stewart had three tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble as Michigan defeated the Spartans 24-17. It was his fourth consecutive game played in that he recorded a sack. In week 13 versus 2024 [Northwestern Wildcats football team|Northwestern], Stewart had two sacks; his third game with multiple sacks in 2024.
Following the season, Stewart was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection. He started 11 games as a senior, finishing with 33 tackles and led the team in each of the following: 13 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. In December 2024, Stewart formally declared for the 2025 NFL draft and opted out of his final bowl game. He finished his four-year college career with a combined 150 tackles, 48 tackles for a loss, 30 sacks and six forced fumbles.