A large portion of the college basketball world was introduced to St. John’s Red Storm guard Dylan Darling. With 3.9 seconds left and the score tied at 65 against the No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks, Darling called his own number and drove to the hoop.
The result? A game-winning buzzer-beater layup — his only points of the night — and the Johnnies needed both to overcome a late comeback from the Jayhawks. After fans were introduced to the redshirt junior guard, some discovered he wasn’t the only athlete in his family.
Darling’s father, James, had a 10-year career in the NFL as a linebacker. The Red Storm guard’s father played for the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals during his time as a football player.
Let’s take a look at Darling’s father and his decade-long career in the NFL.
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Who is Dylan Darling's dad?
Darling’s father, James, is a former NFL linebacker who was drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1997 NFL Draft. The former NFL player attended Washington State and played for the Cougars’ football team.
At Washington State, he was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection (1995: second team; 1996: first team). During his senior season with the Cougars, he was also a second-team All-American selection by The Sporting News.
Along with playing for the Eagles for four seasons (1997–2000), he also played for the New York Jets (2001–02) and Arizona Cardinals (2003–06).
Who is James Darling?
Darling is a former NFL linebacker who is also the father of St. John's guard Dylan Darling. The father played 10 seasons in the NFL after being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round (pick No. 57) of the 1997 NFL Draft. Darling also played for the Jets and Cardinals after his tenure in Philadelphia.
knew that name sounded familiar
(yes this is actually Dylan's dad) https://t.co/tS0C41NH49 pic.twitter.com/crsqAf1KFB
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 23, 2026
The 6'1" linebacker played 139 games in his NFL career and finished with 398 total tackles (306 solo, 92 assists), 7.5 sacks, six interceptions, and four forced fumbles. His best season came in 2004 with the Cardinals, when Darling finished the season with 93 total tackles (75 solo, 18 assists), two forced fumbles, one sack, and an interception.
He was born on December 29, 1974, in Denver, Colo., and he is currently 51 years old in 2026.
MORE:Meet Dylan Darling, the Red Storm's Round of 32 hero
James Darling NFL timeline
In the NFL, Darling played for three different teams in his 10-year career. He was a member of the Eagles, Jets, and Cardinals from 1997 to 2006. Philadelphia selected him with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. Here are Darling's stats across his decade-long career.
Philadelphia Eagles
Season Games Total tackles Solo Assists Sacks Forced fumbles Interceptions
1997 16 29 20 9 0 0 0
1998 12 25 19 6 2 1 0
1999 15 60 40 20 0 0 1
2000 16 5 1 4 0.5 0 0
New York Jets
Season Games Total tackles Solo Assists Sacks Forced fumbles Interceptions
2001 16 22 16 6 0 1 0
2002 16 44 33 11 1 0 2
Arizona Cardinals
Season Games Total tackles Solo Assists Sacks Forced fumbles Interceptions
2003 16 30 30 0 2 0 0
2004 15 93 75 18 1 2 1
2005 14 88 71 17 1 0 2
2006 3 2 1 1 0 0 0
Games Total tackles Solo Assists Sacks Forced fumbles Interceptions
TOTAL (10 seasons): 139 398 306 92 7.5 4 6
Dylan Darling nationality
Darling is American, as he was born in Spokane, Wash. He attended Spokane's Central Valley High School.
Prior to attending St. John's, Darling attended Idaho State and his father's alma mater, Washington State. Despite being born in Denver, Darling's father grew up in Kettle Falls, Wash.
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