_(cropped).jpg) Lowry with theGreen Bay Packers in 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 94 – Pittsburgh Steelers | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Defensive tackle | ||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1994-06-09)June 9, 1994 (age 31) Rockford, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 296 lb (134 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school | Boylan Catholic (Rockford, Illinois) | ||||||||||||||||
| College | Northwestern (2012–2015) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2016: 4th round, 137th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
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Dean Vincent Lowry (born June 9, 1994) is an American professionalfootballdefensive tackle for thePittsburgh Steelers of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theNorthwestern Wildcats, where he was a four-year starter. He was selected by theGreen Bay Packers in the fourth round of the2016 NFL draft.
Lowry was born to Margaret and John Lowry and attendedBoylan Central Catholic High School inRockford, Illinois.[1] Besides football, he lettered in baseball as a freshman and played basketball for one year. He was part of two undefeated teams. He was named as aSuperPrep All-Midwest honoree and an All-State selection by both theChicago Tribune andChampaign-News Gazette.[2][3] He finished his senior year with 65tackles (21 for loss), and 10sacks.
Lowry was ranked as the 34thdefensive end in the country and the 17th best prospect in the state ofIllinois. He was ranked as a three star recruit and received a number of scholarship offers from schools such asNorthwestern,Ball State,Illinois State,Indiana,Iowa,Northern Illinois,Purdue,Vanderbilt, andWestern Michigan. He committed to Northwestern on June 7, 2011.[4]
Lowry ultimately elected to take the scholarship offer of Northwestern and played in all 13 games that year as a backup to futureMinnesota Vikings defensive endTyler Scott. During a game against Vanderbilt, he had onefumble recovery, one quarterback hurry, two solo tackles, and apass deflection on the line of scrimmage.[2] His efforts that year earned himESPN.comBig Ten Conference All-Freshman Team honors.[5]
Going into his second season with the Wildcats, Lowry started nine games at defensive end. While making his first start againstSyracuse, he had his first career interception. He missed the game againstNebraska to injury; however, he did have his first careertouchdown on an interception return againstMaine. During a game againstOhio State, he had six tackles (5 solo) and recovered a fumble. He finished the year second on the team in tackles for loss with seven, and third on the team with 4.5 sacks.[2]
Lowry started every game at defensive end in his junior season. During a game againstNotre Dame, he recorded six tackles (1.5 for loss) and forced a fumble. During a game againstWestern Illinois, Lowry moved over to the defensive tackle spot and had four tackles, one sack, and two passes defensed. He was named the Defensive Player of the Game as a result of his performance. He was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team and an honorable mention by league coaches.[6] He finished his junior year with 41 tackles with 8 for a loss, ranking second on the team.[2]
In his final year with the team, Lowry set a single-game team record against Nebraska with six tackles for a loss. He also recorded two sacks in the game and was named the team's Defensive Player of the Game.[7] He again picked up that honor in a game against theDuke Blue Devils, where he had six tackles with half of one for a loss. He was named as a consensus pick to the second-team All-Big Ten team.[8]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft5+3⁄4 in (1.97 m) | 296 lb (134 kg) | 31 in (0.79 m) | 9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.87 s | 1.69 s | 2.81 s | 4.38 s | 7.26 s | 32.5 in (0.83 m) | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) | 30 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[9][10] | ||||||||||||
Dane Brugler ofCBS Sports commented that Lowry was "heavy-handed" and used his momentum and size to compete against blockers and that he played to the best of his ability on every play.[11] He also cited concerns about his lack of explosiveness and pass-rush moves. He also believed he would be a backup in theNational Football League (NFL).[12]
Lowry was selected by theGreen Bay Packers in the fourth round (137 overall) of the2016 NFL draft with the second of twocompensatory picks.[13] Rob Demovsky, a staff writer for ESPN, commented that he was surprised that general managerTed Thompson ignored the offense this far in the draft. He also mentioned that the Packers liked his athleticism.Eliot Wolf, president of the Green Bay Packers football operations, said in the regards to his pick that he believed Lowry was "an underrated athlete". On May 6, 2016, he signed a contract with the Packers.[14] Lowry recorded his first NFL sack against theHouston Texans on December 4, 2016. He also recorded a deflected pass and a handful of tackles in that game.[15] On December 3, 2017, in a 26–20 victory over theTampa Bay Buccaneers, Lowry recovered aJameis Winston fumble and returned it for the first touchdown in his career in the NFL.[16] Lowry was awarded NFC Defensive Player of the Week for this performance.[17]
On July 23, 2019, Lowry signed a three-year, $20.325 million contract extension with the Packers.[18]In week 15 of the 2019 season against theChicago Bears, Lowry recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown byMitch Trubisky during the 21–13 win.[19] He was placed oninjured reserve on December 27, 2022.[20]
On March 20, 2023, Lowry signed a two-year contract with theMinnesota Vikings.[21] On November 19, he suffered a pectoral injury against theDenver Broncos. Lowry was placed on the injured reserve list the next day.[22] He was released on March 12, 2024.[23]
On April 1, 2024, Lowry signed with thePittsburgh Steelers.[24] He made 12 appearances (one start) for Pittsburgh, recording one pass deflection, one sack, and five combined tackles.
On August 5, 2025, it was announced that Lowry would miss the entirety of the 2025 season due to aACL tear he suffered during a training camp practice.[25]
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Total | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2016 | GB | 15 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | GB | 16 | 11 | 32 | 18 | 14 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 62 | 1 |
| 2018 | GB | 16 | 8 | 44 | 31 | 13 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | GB | 16 | 16 | 47 | 23 | 24 | 0.0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | GB | 16 | 16 | 36 | 14 | 22 | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | GB | 17 | 17 | 42 | 24 | 18 | 5.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | GB | 15 | 12 | 43 | 23 | 20 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | MIN | 9 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | PIT | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 129 | 84 | 269 | 144 | 125 | 16.5 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 64 | 1 | |
| Source:pro-football-reference.com | |||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Total | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2016 | GB | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | GB | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | GB | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | GB | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 5 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Source:pro-football-reference.com | |||||||||||||||
AtNorthwestern University, Lowry majored ineconomics with a minor in business institutions.[2]