Jamal E. Duff (born March 11, 1972) is an American actor and former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL).
Early life Duff was born in Columbus, Ohio, but as a child, moved west with his family to Tustin, California, where he played football for Foothill High School. His older brother, John, also played football and went to New Mexico to play collegiately. However, Jamal played his college football at San Diego State University, carrying a major in graphic design. As a junior in 1993, Duff was named the Aztecs' Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. As a senior, he notched 35 tackles and 7.5 sacks and was a second-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection.
As a professional
Jamal Duff went to the NFL where he was selected in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft by the New York Giants. Duff played in all but one of New York's 16 regular-season games, starting two at defensive end, and recording four sacks. After spending the 1996 season on injured reserve with a foot injury, Duff signed with the Washington Redskins, playing 26 games over two seasons (1997–98) and recording five sacks. After Duff was released, he appeared in training camp with the 2000 Oakland Raiders but did not make the team.
The following spring, the Los Angeles Xtreme of the XFL came calling; LA head coach Al Luginbill had coached Duff at San Diego State in 1993. Duff became a fan favorite as one of the Xtreme's top defensive players (recording 18 tackles and four sacks), but also for his nickname. Thanks to an XFL rule that allowed players to put anything they wanted on the backs of their jerseys (within reason), Duff decided to name himself after an underground black comic strip character: Death Blow. The nickname was a hit with fans, and probably the second-most well known in the entire XFL, after Rod Smart's moniker "He Hate Me". The Xtreme won the XFL's first (and only) title.
Acting career While working as a graphic artist in Los Angeles, Duff moved into acting. He has appeared in S.W.A.T., The Rundown, The Eliminator, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Revenge, Two and a Half Men, The Game Plan, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Torque, The Marine, and Better Call Saul.
See also History of the New York Giants (1994–present)
Filmography +YearTitleRoleType2003S.W.A.T. Subway CopFeature 2003The RundownJamalFeature2004Dodgeball: A True Underdog StoryMe’Shell Jones (as Jamal E. Duff)Feature2004The Eliminator DariusDirect-to-Video2006CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationSecurity GuardTV Series2006All of UsUnknown RoleTV Series2006In Justice Convict Burgress TV Series2006The MarinePaulFeature2006Monster NightCoach TinyDirect-to-Video2006BacklashMarine GuardFeature2007The Game Player #1TV Series2007The Game Plan Clarance MonroeFeature 2007Lords of the UnderworldCollinsFeature2009Blood: The Last VampireBouncerFeature2009Three7NineSecurity GuardShort2010Perfect CombinationGreg Johnson Feature2010Nike: The Black Mamba Morretti Brother 1Short 2010Two and a Half MenJames TV Series2011Traffic Light Wrestler 2TV Series2011Melissa & JoeyHuge GuyTV Series2011-2012Revenge Big EdTV Series2012Django UnchainedTatum Feature2013Sons of AnarchyBlack Prison Guard with ShivTV Series2014The Haunted HathawaysBaliff TV Series 2014WorkaholicsBouncerTV Series2014Scorpion HenchmanTV Series2015 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.John BrunoTV Series2015The Perfect Guy DreadlocksFeature2013-2015Brooklyn Nine-NineZekeTV Series2016 Fresh Off the BoatTough Guy 1TV Series2016Loosely Exactly NicoleLesterTV Series2016Blunt TalkDramont LewisTV Series2017Play Dodgeball with Ben StillerMe’Shell JonesDirect-to-Video2017 Future Man Burly Security GuardTV Series2017Major Crimes TickTV Series2017Bright Junior Feature 2018This Is UsBouncerTV Series2018The Debt Collector 2 BitsFeature2018Raven's HomeSecurity Guard TV Series2020Lucifer BlazeTV Series2021Rumble Denise (voice)Feature2022The ChiDoormanTV Series2022Better Call SaulHuge Inmate TV Series2022In The Ring With Daisy KingDenise Podcast Series2023Night Court Agent SandersTV Series
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