M.J. Stewart

TRANSACTIONS: Selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft...Released by the Buccaneers on Aug. 6, 2020...Acquired via waivers by the Cleveland Browns from the Buccaneers on Aug. 8, 2020...Signed with the Houston Texans as an unrestricted free agent on March 24, 2022...Resigned with the Houston Texans on March 15, 2023...Placed on the reserve/injured list on Nov. 7, 2023.

TRANSACTIONS: Selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft...Released by the Buccaneers on Aug. 6, 2020...Acquired via waivers by the Cleveland Browns from the Buccaneers on Aug. 8, 2020...Signed with the Houston Texans as an unrestricted free agent on March 24, 2022...Resigned with the Houston Texans on March 15, 2023...Placed on the reserve/injured list on Nov. 7, 2023. 

2023 (Houston 8/1):

• Played in the season opener at Baltimore (9/10) and recovered a fumble by QB Lamar Jackson with :31 remaining in the third quarter for the second Texans takeaway of the game
• It marks his third career fumble recovery, the last of which came in Week 18 of the 2022 season at Indianapolis (1/8/23)
• Started at safety in Week 2 vs. Indianapolis (9/17), finishing with a team-high 10 tackles (six solo) and one forced fumble
• Stripped the ball from WR Michael Pittman Jr. on the first play of Indianapolis' opening drive for his third career forced fumble
• Marks the first time in Stewart's career that he's recorded a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in consecutive weeks
• Saw action on special teams in Week 3 at Jacksonville (9/24), playing in 22 snaps
• Saw game action in the Week 4 win vs. Pittsburgh (10/1)
• Saw action on special teams in Week 5 at Atlanta (10/8), playing in 24 snaps on special teams
• Had three tackles in the Week 6 win vs. New Orleans (10/15)
• Played 23 snaps on special teams in Week 8 at Carolina (10/29)
• Recorded a pair of combined tackles in the Week 9 win vs. Tampa Bay (11/5)

2022 (Houston 17/0):

• Appeared in all 17 games amassing 27 tackles (21 solo), one pass defensed, two fumble recoveries and a team-high 14 special teams tackles (eight solo)
• Completed the fake punt attempt and ran for three yards for a first down on fourth-and-1 at Chicago (9/25)
• Forced a fumble on a kick return in the fourth quarter vs. Los Angeles Chargers (10/2)
• Recorded his first-career fumble recovery at Miami (11/27)
• Posted his second career fumble recovery (first special teams) after the ball was knocked loose by LB Neville Hewitt in the season finale at Indianapolis (1/8/23)
• Ended the season tied for the seventh-most tackles on special teams (14) among all NFL players this season

2021 (Cleveland 13/3):

• Tied his career-high with 28 tackles (10 solo), also notching four passes defensed, two tackles for loss and his first career forced fumble
• Led the team with a career-high 11 tackles (eight) in addition to one pass defensed and his first career forced fumble vs. Las Vegas (12/20)
• Paced the Browns with 10 tackles (nine) and two tackles for loss at Green Bay (12/25)
• Tallied five tackles (two) and two passes defensed at Pittsburgh (1/3/22)

2020 (Cleveland 16/0, 2/1):

• Notched three tackles (two solo), 1.0 sack and a team-high two tackles for loss at Dallas (10/4). Dropped QB Dak Prescott for a six-yard loss and his first career sack
• Recorded his first career interception at Tennessee (12/6), also posting three tackles (two) and two passes defensed
• Tied his season high with four tackles (three) and logged his second career interception vs. Pittsburgh (1/3/21)
• Made his first start of the season and first career postseason appearance in the Wild Card Round at Pittsburgh (1/10/21), notching nine tackles, one interception, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed
• Appeared in the Divisional Round at Kansas City (1/17/21) and totaled four tackles (three)

2019 (Tampa Bay 10/1):

• Logged a career high-tying 28 tackles (seven solo) on the season as well as two passes defensed
• Posted a season-high nine tackles (eight) as well as one pass defensed at the L.A. Rams (9/29)
• Recorded eight tackles (six) vs. Arizona (11/10)
• Tallied five tackles (four) and one pass defensed in the season finale vs. Atlanta (12/29)

2018 (Tampa Bay 11/5):

• Played in his first NFL game at New Orleans (9/9), posting four tackles
• Started his first NFL game vs. Philadelphia (9/16) and posted five tackles (four), one quarterback hit and one tackle for loss
• Totaled a season-high eight tackles and one pass defensed vs. Pittsburgh (9/24)
• Logged two tackles, one quarterback hit, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed at Atlanta (10/14)

COLLEGE:

• Played four seasons (2014-17) at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.
• Named honorable mention All-ACC in his final two seasons and second-team All-ACC as a sophomore

• Started all 12 games as a senior (2017) and tallied 45 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two quarterback hits and 12 passes defensed, also returning 15 punts for 170 yards (11.3 avg.)
• Ranked sixth on the team with 66 tackles as a junior (2016) and had a team-high 11 passes defensed, a team-best two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries
• Tied for the ACC lead with 18 passes defensed as a sophomore (2015), also recording 62 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble and four interceptions
• Appeared in 12 games as a freshman (2014) and finished with 26 tackles (14 solo), four passes defensed, two interceptions and half a tackle for loss

PERSONAL:

• Attended Yorktown High School in Arlington, Va., where he played a variety of positions including running back, wide receiver, safety and cornerback
• Ran for 1,428 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior
• Was twice named first-team All-Met by The Washington Post
• Earned his conference's offensive player of the year as a junior and also picked up All-Northeast Region and all-district honors
• Totaled 77 tackles, 10 interceptions and returned three punts for touchdowns as a junior
• Son of Marvin Sr. and Rhonda