Most people know John David Washington as a leading actor in Hollywood, famous for his roles as Ricky Jarret in the hit TV show Ballers or the quick-witted Officer Ron Stallworth in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman. Along with his popular on-screen work, John David is also the son of Denzel Washington, one of the most successful and recognizable actors of all time.

Before he chose to follow in his famous fathers footsteps in the acting world, John David pursued another passion– Football. Like millions of young Americans, he dreamt of playing in the NFL, but unlike a majority of other dreamers, John David actually had the talent to make this dream a reality.

It’s not uncommon to hear about celebrity “nepo babies” riding the coattails of their highly successful parents and coasting through life without having to accomplish anything themselves. But for John David, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Instead, he wanted to prove that he could make a name for himself, and he chose to do it on the football field.

In sports, it doesn’t matter who your father is because the only way to truly be successful is to commit to the grind, stay determined, and quite frankly, have some natural talent. John David had the talent, but did he have all the other intangibles required to play at the highest level? 

The only way to find out was to play, and as the old saying goes, football doesn’t build character, it reveals it.

Growing Up Washington

John Davis, who also goes by J.D., is Denzel’s eldest child, but he made it clear early on that he wanted to be his own man. He found that outlet in football.

When he first started playing in middle school, though, he struggled with hesitation before contact. Denzel stepped in—literally—with a blocking bag in their backyard, running drills with his son until the hesitation disappeared.

Football quickly became John David’s focus, and thanks to his father’s fame, he found himself at Campbell Hall School, an elite private school in Los Angeles. There, he was surrounded by classmates who were either children of celebrities or celebrities themselves. In fact, two of the football team’s cheerleaders were Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, famous for playing Michelle Tanner on the hit TV show Full House.

The Washington family’s circle of support stretched even further. NFL legend Jim Brown was a regular at John David’s games, and when Denzel filmed Remember the Titans, he brought real-life Titans coach Herman Boone to the sidelines.

Despite the Hollywood spotlight, J.D’s focus never wavered, and as the team’s star running back, J.D. remained quiet, hardworking, and driven. By his senior year, he exploded, rushing for just under 2,000 yards with 26 touchdowns, and this production even earned him a spot on the All-American team.

Choosing His Own Path

After a successful high school career, John David weighed offers from Cal-Berkley, San Jose State, and Grambling State. But in the end, he surprised everyone by choosing Division II Morehouse College, an HBCU across the country in Atlanta, GA. The decision was influenced by his cousin Ricky, who was already a student there, and J.D. quickly fell in love with the campus culture and its history. Morehouse has a rich history of famous alumni with the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, and even Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Determined to carve his own path, John David and a few teammates even made a pact to keep his father’s identity a secret, with John David using the alias “Mikey” when he first stepped on campus. That didn’t last long, and by the first game, everyone knew who his dad was, since Denzel was a regular fixture in the stands to support his son.

On the field, John David delivered. He saw playing time as a freshman, became a part-time starter as a sophomore, and eventually broke out as a star in his senior season in 2005. That year, he led the conference with 1,200 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns, earning First Team All-Conference honors.

By the time he graduated, he was Morehouse’s all-time leading rusher with 3,699 yards, and he held the single-game rushing record with a 242 yard performance.

Chasing the NFL Dream

Playing at a Division II certainly limited his exposure to pro scouts, but John David’s successful Morehouse career did result in some NFL attention. He wasn’t invited to the NFL combine, and he didn’t hear his name called in the 2006 NFL Draft, but he did still get a chance to play at the highest level. After graduating, J.D. signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent, and his dream moved even closer to becoming reality.

However, a combination of injuries and limited opportunities in the preseason kept him off the 53-man roster. While J.D. wasn’t on the active roster, the Rams saw potential, and signed him to their practice squad where he remained for the next two seasons before heading overseas to play for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe. He played well enough in Europe to earn another NFL tryout with the Houston Texans, but he was unable to land a spot on the final roster. For the time being, J.D. knew his chances of making an NFL roster were bleak, but instead of admitting defeat, he searched for new ways to continue his pursuit.

In 2009, the upstart United Football League gave John David another shot at professional football. He signed with the Sacramento Mountain Lions where he made an immediate impact—rushing for 128 yards and a touchdown in his debut, which earned him UFL Player of the Week honors. Over four seasons with Sacramento, he shared the field with former Pro Bowl quarterback Daunte Culpepper and was coached by current Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.

But when the UFL abruptly folded in 2012, John David’s football journey was once again in doubt. He had one last chance at the NFL after the New York Giants offered him a private workout. Unfortunately, J.D. tore his Achilles in training prior to the workout, effectively bringing his football career, and NFL dreams, to an anticlimactic end. 

Turning Toward Hollywood

Over his years on the gridiron, John David had endured broken bones, concussions, torn ligaments, and disappointment, yet he never regretted the pursuit of his dream. Football was his first love, but when it was time to move on, he shifted gears and set his sights on a new dream with the same determination.

With the last name of Washington, he was practically born with the acting gene. So, he decided to shift his focus to the arts, and film sets became his new field of play.

Though being Denzel’s son may have opened a few doors, J.D. quickly proved he had the talent to stand on his own. His breakout came on HBO’s Ballers, where he played Ricky Jerrett, an NFL wide receiver—ironically for the Rams, a nod to his own football past.

From there, his star only rose. He advanced his career and earned leading roles in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, and other acclaimed projects like Malcolm & Marie and The Creator.

Legacy Beyond the Screen

John David Washington grew up in the shadow of one of Hollywood’s greatest actors, but through football and acting, he forged a legacy that is uniquely his own.

On the field, he left behind records and memories of a relentless competitor who wouldn’t give up on his dream. On screen, he has become one of the most exciting actors of his generation, continuing to build a career on his own terms.

His story isn’t just about being Denzel’s son—it’s about resilience, reinvention, and the pursuit of purpose, whether under the bright lights of a stadium or a Hollywood set.

If you enjoyed this breakdown, I dive even deeper into stories like this (and many more) on my YouTube channel — you can find it here: Get Set Sports. Hope to see you there!