DeForest Buckner Bio, Age, Height, Wife, 49ers Trade & Net Worth

Who Is DeForest Buckner? | Biography

DeForest Buckner is an American professional football player and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle in the National Football League. He became known for his work with the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts. Buckner was born on March 17, 1994, in Hawaii and attended Punahou School in Honolulu. He later played college football at the University of Oregon. His height and interior pass rush became notable parts of his NFL career.

Buckner was an accomplished basketball player as well as a high school football standout. At Oregon, he developed into one of the Pac-12 Conference’s most productive defensive linemen. He won the 2015 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award and received All-America recognition. With San Francisco, he became a regular starter and contributed to the team’s Super Bowl LIV run after 2019. San Francisco ultimately lost that championship game to Kansas City.

In March 2020, the 49ers traded Buckner to Indianapolis for a first-round draft selection. The Colts subsequently signed him to a major contract, making him central to their defensive front. Buckner earned first-team Associated Press All-Pro honors in 2020. He also reached the Pro Bowl during his Indianapolis years. He returned to action for the 2026 season and recorded four sacks through seven games.

On October 27, 2026, Indianapolis announced another trade sending Buckner back to San Francisco. The Colts received a 2027 fourth-round NFL Draft pick, while the transaction awaited a physical. At 32, Buckner was returning to the organization that originally drafted him. He is married to Ashlyn Buckner, and the couple has three children. His career now spans eleven NFL seasons and two franchises. The second San Francisco stint brought an unusual reunion with his original team.

DeForest Buckner Age | How Old Is DeForest Buckner?

DeForest Buckner is 32 years old as of October 28, 2026. He was born on March 17, 1994, in Hawaii. His birthday occurred more than seven months before the October trade. He entered the NFL in 2016, when he was 22 years old. He was 26 when Indianapolis acquired him in March 2020. Buckner celebrated his thirtieth birthday during the 2024 NFL offseason. He turned 32 before beginning his eleventh professional season. His next birthday falls on March 17, 2027, when he will turn 33.

DeForest Buckner Height | How Tall Is DeForest Buckner?

DeForest Buckner stands 6 feet 7 inches tall, approximately 201 centimeters. His NFL listings give his playing weight as 295 pounds, or around 134 kilograms. Buckner’s height places him among the taller interior defensive linemen. A defensive tackle must work against large offensive guards and centers during running and passing plays. Buckner has also played across different defensive-line alignments. His measurements describe his official playing listing rather than independent medical readings.

DeForest Buckner Nationality and Background

DeForest Buckner is American. He was born and raised in Hawaii and competed in American college and professional football. He attended school in Honolulu before moving to Oregon for university. Hawaii is a U.S. state, and his home region forms part of his documented upbringing. His ethnicity should not be guessed from his surname, physical appearance, or birthplace. This article therefore separates verified nationality from unverified ancestry claims.

DeForest Buckner Education | Punahou and Oregon

Buckner attended Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he participated in football and basketball. He earned first-team All-State honors in football during his senior year. In basketball, he averaged 11.3 points and 8.9 rebounds during his final high school season. He was also an All-State basketball selection. Buckner later enrolled at the University of Oregon and studied criminology. He played four seasons for the Ducks, beginning in 2012. His college career concluded after the 2015 season. Oregon’s official athletics record documents his academic major and football honors.

DeForest Buckner Wife | Who Is Ashlyn Buckner?

DeForest Buckner is married to Ashlyn Buckner. The Indianapolis Colts’ official player biography identifies Ashlyn as his wife. Their family includes three children, whom the club also names publicly. Ashlyn appeared in the story of his recovery from a 2025 neck injury. She encouraged him through difficult rehabilitation when he questioned his ability to continue playing. The September 2026 Colts profile describes their conversations during that challenging period. These details support her documented involvement in his personal and professional life.

DeForest Buckner Children | How Many Kids Does DeForest Buckner Have?

DeForest Buckner and Ashlyn Buckner have three children. Their sons are Dominic and Jordan, and their daughter is Gianna. The Colts’ official player biography identifies all three names. The family maintained a connection with Indianapolis throughout his Colts career. Public profiles do not provide enough information to establish every child’s birth date or schooling. This article therefore avoids expanding those private details. Buckner’s children have been part of the documented family context surrounding his recovery and football decisions.

DeForest Buckner Family | Parents and Early Life

Buckner grew up in the Honolulu area and developed skills in several sports. His school years at Punahou included basketball alongside football training. Coaches recognized his performance in both sports, and Oregon recruited him as a defensive prospect. His full professional name appears as DeForest George Buckner in football statistical records. However, the reviewed official biographies do not reliably establish both parents’ identities or his siblings’ names. His middle name should not be treated as proof of a parent’s name. The confirmed history centers on his Hawaii upbringing, competitive school sports, and transition to Oregon.

DeForest Buckner Career | 49ers and Colts

San Francisco drafted DeForest Buckner seventh overall in 2016 after his four-year Oregon career. He developed into a regular defensive-line starter under several coaches. His 2018 season included 12 sacks, helping establish his pass-rushing credentials. He also contributed to the 49ers’ 2019 NFC championship team. Indianapolis traded for him in March 2020 and immediately made him a cornerstone of its defense. He earned first-team All-Pro recognition in his first Colts season. Further Pro Bowl selections followed in 2021 and 2023. In 2024, Indianapolis signed him to another contract extension. Buckner faced a neck injury during 2025 but returned in 2026. His October 2026 trade then reunited him with San Francisco.

DeForest Buckner College Football at Oregon

At Oregon, Buckner appeared in games across four consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2015. His freshman campaign earned the program’s Casanova Award for its leading first-year player. He developed into a dominant defender as his playing time increased. In 2014, he received second-team All-Pac-12 recognition from multiple selectors. His best college season came in 2015, when conference honors included Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He also won the Morris Trophy, recognizing top line play within the conference. National publications selected him for All-America honors that year.

DeForest Buckner First San Francisco 49ers Career

Buckner spent 2016 through 2019 with the 49ers during his first professional stint. His defensive responsibilities included rushing quarterbacks, defending running lanes, and occupying blockers. He recorded a career-best 12 sacks in 2018, an important milestone for an interior lineman. San Francisco teammates awarded him the Len Eshmont Award in 2018. The coaching staff selected him for the Bill Walsh Award in 2019. Buckner played in that championship against Kansas City, but the 49ers lost. San Francisco traded him the following March amid significant roster and salary decisions.

DeForest Buckner Indianapolis Colts Statistics

Buckner played 95 games and started 90 for Indianapolis across seven seasons through October 2026. The Colts reported 47 sacks, 122 quarterback hits, and 63 tackles for loss during that period. They also credited him with six forced fumbles and 20 passes defended. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2020 and made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2023. Including his previous San Francisco seasons, he had reached 75.5 career sacks before the 2026 return. Team and league records distinguish these career totals from individual-season numbers.

DeForest Buckner Neck Surgery and 2026 Recovery

Buckner underwent neck surgery on December 31, 2025, following a serious injury late in the season. A herniated disc pressed on a nerve and weakened his upper body. The Colts described rehabilitation involving strength training and medical treatment. Buckner eventually returned to practice and preseason action during 2026. He completed the recovery sufficiently to play in the new regular season. By the end of his first seven games, he had recorded four sacks. The important verified sequence involves surgery, rehabilitation, return to action, and his October trade.

DeForest Buckner 49ers Trade | October 2026 News

The 49ers agreed to reacquire Buckner on October 27, 2026, in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round selection. Indianapolis announced the move publicly. News reports said that completion depended on Buckner passing a physical. The trade followed a separate Indianapolis deal sending offensive guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle. San Francisco entered the transaction with a strong early-season record and a need for defensive-line depth. Buckner’s experience offered a potential answer to that need.

DeForest Buckner Awards and Achievements

Buckner’s documented honors span college football and the NFL. The awards reflect recognition by different organizations, not a single unified vote.

• 2012: Oregon Casanova Award for first-year performance.
• 2015: Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
• 2015: Morris Trophy and All-America recognition.
• 2016: First-round NFL Draft selection, seventh overall.
• 2018: 49ers Len Eshmont Award.
• 2019: 49ers Bill Walsh Award.
• 2019: Pro Bowl selection with San Francisco.
• 2020: Associated Press first-team All-Pro with Indianapolis.
• 2021 and 2023: Additional Pro Bowl selections.

His career therefore includes three Pro Bowl selections. The 2019 selection came during his first San Francisco stint. The subsequent selections came after his 2020 transfer to Indianapolis.

DeForest Buckner Community Work

Buckner participated in charitable and community projects during both NFL tenures. San Francisco documented visits, holiday activities, and participation in its Crucial Catch program. In Indianapolis, he joined food distributions and playground-building initiatives. He also supported causes through the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign. The Colts identify kNot Today and Beyond Differences among organizations associated with his participation. A community appearance does not automatically establish the amount of a private charitable donation.

DeForest Buckner Salary and Contract 2026

DeForest Buckner signed a two-year, $46 million extension with Indianapolis in April 2024. Contract tracker Over the Cap lists $23 million in 2026 scheduled cash compensation. That figure includes a $13 million base salary and a $10 million roster bonus. The tracker reports a $26.6 million salary-cap charge, which differs from cash payment. His October 2026 trade may affect how the clubs allocate remaining obligations. These contractual amounts describe scheduled compensation, not after-tax income.

DeForest Buckner Net Worth 2026

DeForest Buckner’s exact personal net worth is not publicly verified. His football contracts establish substantial gross professional compensation, but they do not reveal his complete financial holdings. Over the Cap reports historical earnings across his NFL career. Such records should not be equated with the money remaining in a player’s accounts. Taxes, expenses, investments, and liabilities affect personal wealth. An unsupported estimate would disguise those uncertainties.

Biography Summary