Jon Dorenbos
An NFL long snapper who turned sleight of hand into a second act, captivating audiences on America's Got Talent after his football career.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American football player and magician·Birthday: July 21·Generation X
Biography
Jon Dorenbos built an unlikely dual legacy on precision and deception. For over a decade, his life was measured in the split-second accuracy of a long snap, a specialist's craft that earned him Pro Bowl honors and a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles. But his story is rooted in profound tragedy; at age 12, his father murdered his mother, leading Dorenbos to find solace in magic. He mastered card tricks and charismatic stagecraft, performing for teammates and eventually on national television. A life-threatening aortic aneurysm discovered during a 2017 trade physical forced him into immediate surgery and retirement from football. This pivot allowed his magical persona to flourish fully, culminating in a stunning third-place finish on America's Got Talent, where he blended heartfelt storytelling with breathtaking illusions.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jon was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
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
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
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
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned two Pro Bowl selections as a long snapper during his NFL career.
- Won Super Bowl LII as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Finished in third place on the 11th season of America's Got Talent.
- Played 14 seasons in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Did You Know?
He learned magic as a therapeutic outlet after his mother's death.
He was traded from the Eagles to the New Orleans Saints in 2017, but the trade was voided after a physical revealed a heart condition.
He has given a TEDx talk titled 'Life is Magic'.
He authored a book called 'Life Is Magic: My Inspiring Journey from Tragedy to Self-Discovery'.
“Magic saved my life. After my mom died, I needed an outlet, and I found that I could create a reality that was different than the one I was living in.”
