Jo-Lonn Dunbar
An undrafted linebacker who fought his way into an eight-year NFL career, becoming a key defensive piece for the Saints and Rams.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American football player·Birthday: March 31·Millennials
Biography
Jo-Lonn Dunbar won a Super Bowl ring with the New Orleans Saints in the 2009 season. He signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent after no NFL team selected him in the 2008 Draft, despite a standout college career at Boston College. His toughness and special teams play earned him a roster spot. He worked his way into the starting lineup and contributed to the Saints' Super Bowl XLIV championship. Dunbar later joined the St. Louis Rams, where he started for two seasons. In 2012, he recorded a career-high 115 tackles. That season marked his most productive as a professional. Dunbar's path from undrafted free agent to starting linebacker and Super Bowl champion demonstrates perseverance and defensive intelligence.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jo-Lonn was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jo-Lonn Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Jo-Lonn's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl XLIV as a member of the New Orleans Saints following the 2009 season.
- Recorded a career-high 115 combined tackles for the St. Louis Rams in the 2012 season.
- Started 45 games over eight NFL seasons after entering the league as an undrafted free agent.
Did You Know?
He was a team captain during his senior year at Boston College.
Dunbar was suspended for the first four games of the 2014 season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
He majored in communications while at Boston College.
“I made my name on special teams; that's where games are won.”
