Darnell Washington

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Darnell Washington

| image = DarnellWASHINGTONCAMP (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Washington signing autographs during Steelers training camp in 2024

| current_team = Pittsburgh Steelers

| number = 80

| position = Tight end

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|8|17}}

| birth_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 7

| weight_lb = 264

| high_school = Desert Pines (Las Vegas)

| college = Georgia (2020–2022)

| draftyear = 2023

| draftround = 3

| draftpick = 93

| pastteams =

Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)

| status = Active

| highlights =

2× CFP national champion (2021, 2022)
Second-team All-SEC (2022)

| statweek =

| statseason = 2024

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 26

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 261

| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 1

| pfr = WashDa03

}}

Darnell Ernest Washington (born August 17, 2001), nicknamed “Mount Washington”, is an American professional football tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was a two-time CFP national champion while playing college football at Georgia, winning in 2021 and 2022.

Early life

Washington was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, on August 17, 2001.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} He attended Desert Pines High School, where he played football and basketball.{{Cite web |last=Brewer |first=Ray |date=May 20, 2018 |title=Desert Pines' Darnell Washington 'shocked' by Alabama scholarship offer – High School Sports News – |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2018/may/20/desert-pines-darnell-washington-shocked-by-alabama/ |access-date=August 18, 2022 |website=Las Vegas Sun |language=en}} During his time on the football team Desert Pines won back to back state championships in the years 2016–2017.{{cite web | last=Orts | first=Jason | title=Unbeaten Desert Pines cruising into state semifinals | website=Las Vegas Review-Journal | date=2019-11-29 | url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/nevada-preps/np-football/unbeaten-desert-pines-cruising-into-state-semifinals-1903259/ | access-date=2024-08-08}} A five-star recruit in football, he committed to play college football at the University of Georgia.{{Cite web |last=Daniels |first=Tim |date=January 2, 2020 |title=5-Star TE Recruit Darnell Washington Commits to Georgia over Alabama, More |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2813600-5-star-te-recruit-darnell-washington-commits-to-georgia-over-alabama-more |access-date=August 18, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Orts |first=Jason |date=January 3, 2020 |title=Desert Pines football star Darnell Washington signs with Georgia |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/nevada-preps/np-football/desert-pines-football-star-darnell-washington-signs-with-georgia-1927128/ |access-date=August 18, 2022 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}

College career

As a true freshman at Georgia, Darnell recorded 166 yards on seven receptions.{{Cite web |last=Hunte |first=Sydney |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Darnell Washington discusses first 2 years at Georgia, working back from injury to return to field |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/georgia-football/darnell-washington-discusses-first-2-years-at-georgia-working-back-from-injury-to-return-to-field/ |access-date=August 18, 2022 |website=Saturday Down South |language=en-US}}

In Washington's second season he put up 145 yards on nine receptions and scored one touchdown. This touchdown was the first of Washington's career and it came in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama.{{Cite news |last1=Culpepper |first1=Chuck |last2=Hill |first2=Glynn A. |date=December 4, 2021 |title=Alabama thrashes Georgia's vaunted defense to win SEC championship |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/04/alabama-georgia-sec-championship-game/ |access-date=August 18, 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}} Washington's longest gain of the season came on a 32 yard reception against Florida. He appeared in seven games and missed time due to having to have surgery for a minor fracture in his foot.{{Cite magazine |last=Austin |first=Brooks |date=August 18, 2021 |title=SOURCE: Darnell Washington Undergoes Surgery |url=https://www.si.com/college/georgia/news/georgia-football-tight-end-darnell-washington-surgery |access-date=December 9, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Reno |first=Harrison |date=August 17, 2022 |title=Darnell Washington's NFL Draft is Stock Rising Upon Junior Season |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/darnell_washingtons_nfl_draft_is_stock_rising_upon_junior_season/s1_16592_37782953 |access-date=August 18, 2022 |website=Yardbarker |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Riker |first=John |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Georgia tight end Darnell Washington staying engaged despite leg injury |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/georgia-tight-end-darnell-washington-staying-engaged-despite-leg-injury/WYVJRNLGIJG3BPKOLM52SGLGDE/ |access-date=August 18, 2022 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}} In the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship, Georgia defeated Alabama 33–18.{{Cite web |last=Kantowski |first=Ron |date=January 15, 2022 |title=Ex-Desert Pines star Darnell Washington celebrates national title |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/sports-columns/ron-kantowski/ex-desert-pines-star-darnell-washington-celebrates-national-title-2513933/ |access-date=August 18, 2022 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}

During Washington's third season, he recorded 28 receptions for 454 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=James |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Georgia TE Darnell Washington makes NFL draft decision |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/georgia-te-darnell-washington-makes-212606818.html |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=Yahoo! Sports |language=en-US}} As a result, Washington was named to the Second-team All-SEC.{{Cite magazine |last=Kirby II |first=Christian |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Georgia Tight ends make SEC history |url=https://www.si.com/college/georgia/news/georgia-tight-ends-sec-history |access-date=July 23, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}} On January 12, 2023, Washington declared for the 2023 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Polacek |first=Scott |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Georgia's Darnell Washington Declares for 2023 NFL Draft After Winning National Title |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10061481-georgias-darnell-washington-declares-for-2023-nfl-draft-after-winning-national-title |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}

=Statistics=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
colspan="19" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Georgia Bulldogs\|color=white}}"\| Georgia Bulldogs
rowspan="2" \|Season !Games ! colspan="4" \|Receiving
GP !Rec !Yards !Avg !TD
2020 \|4 \|7 \|166 \|23.7 \|0
2021 \|8 \|10 \|154 \|15.4 \|1
2022 \|15 \|28 \|454 \|16.2 \|2
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/darnell-washington-1.html Career] !27 !45 !774 !17.2 !3

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

colspan="19" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Georgia Bulldogs|color=white}}"| Georgia Bulldogs

rowspan="2" |Season

!Games

! colspan="4" |Receiving

!Rec

!Yards

!Avg

!TD

2020

|166

|23.7

2021

|10

|154

|15.4

2022

|15

|28

|454

|16.2

[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/darnell-washington-1.html Career]

!27

!45

!774

!17.2

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 6 5/8

| weight = 264

| dash = 4.64

| ten split = 1.57

| twenty split = 2.67

| shuttle = 4.08

| vertical = 31.0

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 2

| bench = 21

| arm span = 34 3/8

| hand span = 11

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Chad |last2=Zierlein |first2=Lance |title=Darnell Washington Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/darnell-washington/32005741-5318-5860-3ee1-1aca1e440e91 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Darnell Washington College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1045697&DraftYear=2023 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

=Pittsburgh Steelers=

==2023==

Washington was drafted 93rd overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and on May 12, 2023, he signed his rookie contract.{{Cite web |last=Kozora |first=Alex |date=May 12, 2023 |title=Steelers Sign 3rd-Round Pick TE Darnell Washington To Four-Year Deal |url=https://steelersdepot.com/2023/05/steelers-sign-3rd-round-pick-te-darnell-washington-to-four-year-deal/ |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=SteelersDepot.com}} As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 games and made seven starts. He had seven receptions for 61 receiving yards.{{Cite web |title=Darnell Washington 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WashDa03/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} During his tenure as a rookie, he was given the nickname "Mount Washington" due to his large frame and as a reference to the Pittsburgh landmark/neighborhood Mount Washington.{{cite web | last=Graves | first=Will | title=The new Mount Washington? Rookie tight end brings unusual size, skill set to Steelers | website=AP News | date=2023-05-13 | url=https://apnews.com/article/pittsburgh-steelers-darnell-washington-georgia-bulldogs-e30fcd462fdcba8d9ec759e2ddc460f8 | access-date=2024-11-04}}

==2024==

File:Darnell Washington 2024.jpg

In his second season, Washington would score his first career touchdown on a five yard pass from Justin Fields to put the first points on the board in a 13–6 Steelers victory over the Denver Broncos.{{cite web | last=Popejoy | first=Curt | title=Watch Steelers TE Darnell Washington score his first NFL touchdown | website=Yahoo! Sports | date=2024-09-15 | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-steelers-te-darnell-washington-213822528.html | access-date=2024-11-04}}{{cite web | title=Steelers 13-6 Broncos (Sep 15, 2024) | website=StatMuse | date=2024-09-15 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/game/9-15-2024-pit-at-den-18511 | access-date=2025-03-09}} After the touchdown reception, Washington celebrated by giving a salute. He would explain in a post-game interview the salute was for his brother, a member of the United States Marines.{{cite web | last=Carney | first=Josh | title=A New Mile High Salute: Darnell Washington Reveals Meaning Behind TD Celebration | website=Steelers Depot | date=2024-09-16 | url=https://steelersdepot.com/2024/09/a-new-mile-high-salute-darnell-washington-reveals-meaning-behind-td-celebration/ | access-date=2024-11-04}} During his sophomore season, Washington's size began to be utilized in the passing game. He recorded at least two catches for 25 plus yards in the first five games in which Russell Wilson started at the quarterback position. His 11 receptions through those five games eclipsed his entire 17 game total of seven from 2023.{{cite web | last=Adamski | first=Chris | title=The long and short of it is Darnell Washington, Calvin Austin becoming threats for Steelers | website=TribLIVE.com | date=2024-11-25 | url=https://triblive.com/sports/the-long-and-short-of-it-is-darnell-washington-calvin-austin-becoming-threats-for-steelers/ | access-date=2025-01-24}}

He finished the 2024 regular season making 19 catches on 25 targets for 200 yards and a touchdown. He made a second postseason appearance in the team's 28–14 Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens where he made one catch for nine yards.{{cite web | title=Darnell Washington 2024 Game Log | website=Pro-Football-Reference.com | date=2001-08-17 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WashDa03/gamelog/2024/ | access-date=2025-01-24}}

= NFL career statistics =

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Receiving
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{{abbr\|GP\|Games played}}	{{abbr\|GS\|Games started}}	{{abbr\|Rec\|Receptions}}	{{abbr\|Yds\|Receiving yards}}	{{abbr\|Y/R\|Yards per reception}}	{{abbr\|Lng\|Longest reception}}	{{abbr\|TD\|Receiving touchdowns}}
2023	PIT \| 17 \|\| 7 \|\| 7 \|\| 61 \|\| 8.7 \|\| 12 \|\| 0
2024	PIT \| 13 \|\| 7 \|\| 18 \|\| 192 \|\| 10.7 \|\| 29 \|\| 1
colspan="2"\| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WashDa03.htm Career]	30	14	25	253	10.1	29	1

References

External links

{{footballstats|yahoo=40094|espn=4430802|nfl=darnell-washington}}

[https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/darnell-washington/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio]
[https://georgiadogs.com/sports/football/roster/darnell--washington/5488 Georgia Bulldogs bio]

Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players

Category:American football tight ends

Category:Living people

Category:2001 births

Category:Players of American football from Las Vegas

Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Receiving
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{{abbr\|GP\|Games played}}	{{abbr\|GS\|Games started}}	{{abbr\|Rec\|Receptions}}	{{abbr\|Yds\|Receiving yards}}	{{abbr\|Y/R\|Yards per reception}}	{{abbr\|Lng\|Longest reception}}	{{abbr\|TD\|Receiving touchdowns}}
2023	PIT \| 17 \|\| 7 \|\| 7 \|\| 61 \|\| 8.7 \|\| 12 \|\| 0
2024	PIT \| 13 \|\| 7 \|\| 18 \|\| 192 \|\| 10.7 \|\| 29 \|\| 1
colspan="2"\| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WashDa03.htm Career]	30	14	25	253	10.1	29	1