Marcell Dareus
A dominant defensive force from Alabama who anchored the middle of NFL defensive lines with sheer power and disruptive ability.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American football player·Birthday: March 13·Millennials
Biography
Marcell Dareus was a human wrecking ball in the trenches, a defensive tackle whose combination of size, strength, and surprising agility made him a nightmare for opposing offenses. His path to professional stardom was forged at the University of Alabama, where he was a cornerstone of Nick Saban's defensive dynasty, earning Defensive MVP honors in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. Selected third overall by the Buffalo Bills in 2011, he quickly became a Pro Bowl-caliber player, commanding double teams and collapsing pockets from the interior. At his peak, Dareus was one of the most disruptive interior forces in the league, a testament to the raw power and technique that defined his game.
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.
Marcell was born in 1990, 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 Marcell Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Marcell's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
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
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
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
2006Could drive
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
2008Could vote
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
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
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 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named Defensive MVP of the 2010 BCS National Championship Game while playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
- Selected 3rd overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2011 NFL Draft.
- Earned two Pro Bowl selections (2013, 2014) and was named a First-team All-Pro in 2014.
- Recorded a career-high 10.0 sacks in the 2014 season.
Did You Know?
He wore jersey number 99 in the NFL as a tribute to his childhood idol, Warren Sapp.
Dareus was a standout basketball player in high school in addition to playing football.
He established the 'Dareus Foundation' to support underprivileged youth in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.
“I was taught to dominate the line of scrimmage and control the man in front of me.”
