Dante Barnett (born 11 February 2003) is an English football linebacker. He entered the league through the International Player Pathway Program, originally signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025.
Early life Barnett is from Birmingham, England, and played a number of sports growing up but took to American football and had successful try-outs at the NFL Academy located at Loughborough University in Leicestershire between 2019 and 2021. After three years at the NFL Academy, Barnett tried making the jump to American college football and received offers from schools in Texas such as Texas Christian University (TCU), Southern Methodist University (SMU), and the University of Houston, but did not have the grades, and instead went to an NCAA Division III school, Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, where he played for a year in 2022. He later became part of the NFL's International Player Pathway.
Professional career Pre-draft
Cincinnati Bengals On 27 April 2025, Barnett signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. On 22 July, the Bengals released Barnett ahead of training camp.
Green Bay Packers On 29 October 2025, the Green Bay Packers signed Barnett to their practice squad to fill their vacant International Player Pathways spot. He signed a reserve/future contract with Green Bay on 12 January 2026. On 28 July, Barnett was released by the team.
Personal life Barnett's father died when he was young; he previously worked at a Jaguar-Land Rover plant. He is of Jamaican descent.
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