Last month, former NFL Safety and South Carolina Gamecock standout D.J. Swearinger decided to continue his professional career in the XFL by signing a contract with the DC Defenders.
The 31-year-old safety last played football in 2020, when he played 11 games for the New Orleans Saints. That was quite the year for him.
Over the weekend, the DC Defenders defeated the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL North Championship to advance to the championship game later this month.
Swearinger took to Twitter and had soemthing to say about the people who gave up on him.
“I still remember that ever single team giving up on me! They didn’t understand me or my worth in whatever order that came. You see God has a plan that no hating man can comprehend!! My present state is at peace & in love with this grounding process! So grateful! We otw!!”
In response, former Saints linebacker Junior Galette took to Twitter and revealed that Swearinger was actually blackballed from the league after he called out Jay Gruden by revealing a text image. That happened back in July 2020.
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Swearinger played for four years at the University of South Carolina. He is a native of Greenwood, South Carolina. Swearinger had a big impact for the Gamecocks throughout his career, but it wasn’t until his senior year in 2012, when he totaled 79 tackles and two interceptions en way to being named to the All-SEC Second Team, that he became well-known among Gamecocks supporters.
The Texans selected Swearinger with the 57th overall pick in the second round. He would play with the Texans for two seasons, making 144 tackles and three interceptions while starting 22 games. Swearinger left the Texans after two seasons to become an NFL journeyman, playing for five different teams over the following six seasons, only appearing in more than 20 games with one of them.
In 2020, Swearinger appeared in 11 games for the Saints and recorded 14 tackles, no interceptions and a pass defense.
His NFL career is likely forever over, but at least he gets to enjoy doing what he loves in a spring league.
