T. J. Maguranyanga
Maguranyanga with the Washington Commanders in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 59 – Washington Commanders | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Defensive end | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 22 December 2002 Harare, Zimbabwe | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 222 lb (101 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | St Stithians College (Johannesburg, South Africa) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2025: undrafted | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Thabani Jehiel Maguranyanga (born 22 December 2002) is a Zimbabwean professional American football defensive end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played rugby union as a wing for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the French Top 14 league before joining the NFL as part of the International Player Pathway program in 2025.
Early life and rugby union career
Maguranyanga was born on 22 December 2002 in Harare, Zimbabwe. He attended St Stithians College in Johannesburg, South Africa. Maguranyanga represented Zimbabwe at the Under-13 Craven Week in 2015.[1] He went on to represent the Golden Lions at national youth competitions, playing in the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2018 and Under-18 Craven Week in 2019.[2][3] In 2019 he represented Zimbabwe Under-18 Sevens side at the Capricorn Group International Junior Sevens Tournament in Windhoek, Namibia. He was selected as a team captain in 2020.
American football
Maguranyanga joined the National Football League (NFL)'s International Player Pathway program in December 2024, signing with the Washington Commanders on April 3, 2025.[4][5] He was waived on August 26, and signed with their practice squad the following day.[6][7] On January 5, 2026, Maguranyanga signed a reserve/futures contract with the Commanders.[8]
References
- ^ "Old Mutual U13 Young Sables Start Slow In White River – School Sports Network". www.ssn.co.zw. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Craven Week Teams, 2019". rugby365.com. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Golden Lions Craven Week, Academy Week, Grant Khomo Week teams 2019 – SchoolBoyRugby Blog". Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "NFL announces International Player Pathway program Class of 2025". National Football League. 9 December 2024.
- ^ "Commanders sign DE T.J. Maguranyanga". Commanders.com. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ Selby, Zach (26 August 2025). "Commanders place Sam Cosmi on Reserve/PUP list; release 30 players". Commanders.com.
- ^ Selby, Zach (27 August 2025). "Commanders sign 14 players to practice squad". Commanders.com. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ Selby, Zach (5 January 2026). "Commanders sign 11 players to Reserve/Futures deals". Commanders.com. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
External links
- T. J. Maguranyanga on Twitter
- Washington Commanders profile
- T. J. Maguranyanga at Pro-Football-Reference.com
- T. J. Maguranyanga at ItsRugby.co.uk