Josh Norman
A brash and physical cornerback who rose from a small college to become an All-Pro, known as much for his competitive fire as his lockdown coverage.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American football player·Birthday: December 15·Millennials
Biography
Josh Norman's path to NFL stardom was anything but conventional, a fact that forged the fiercely confident and occasionally controversial competitor he became. Drafted in the fifth round out of Coastal Carolina, a small FCS school, he immediately played with a chip on his shoulder for the Carolina Panthers. His breakout 2015 season was a masterpiece of anticipation and physicality, as he shadowed the league's best receivers and helped propel the Panthers to the Super Bowl. The subsequent 'Josh Norman era' in Washington was a high-profile, big-money saga marked by flashes of brilliance and high-stakes battles with star wideouts. Beyond the field, he revealed a different side, showcasing charisma and dance skills as a runner-up on 'Dancing with the Stars,' illustrating the multifaceted personality behind the helmet.
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.
Josh was born in 1987, 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 Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
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
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2015 after a season with four interceptions and two touchdowns for Carolina.
- Was a key starter for the Carolina Panthers team that reached Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 season.
- Finished as the runner-up on season 26 of 'Dancing with the Stars' in 2018 with professional dancer Sharna Burgess.
- Recorded three interceptions in a single game against the New York Giants in December 2015.
Did You Know?
He played wide receiver, quarterback, and defensive back in high school and was also a standout track athlete.
He is an avid comic book fan and has incorporated superhero themes into his cleats and celebrations.
He appeared in an episode of the TV series 'The Game' in 2012.
He was a late bloomer in football, not focusing solely on the sport until his senior year of high school.
“I'm not going to conform to anybody. I'm going to be the person I am.”
