Darez Diggs: The Untold Story Behind the NFL Brothers’ Shadow

When you hear the name Diggs in football circles, your mind probably jumps to Stefon Diggs making spectacular catches or Trevon Diggs locking down receivers in the secondary. But there’s another Diggs brother whose story, perhaps, deserves just as much attention—though for entirely different reasons. Darez Diggs, also known as Mar’Sean Diggs, has lived a life that’s been equal parts promising and challenging, filled with athletic aspirations, family legacy, and some decisions that changed everything.

Born into a family where football wasn’t just a game but seemingly a birthright, Darez has navigated the complicated terrain of being related to NFL superstars while carving out his own path. His journey takes us through college football programs, brief professional stints, entrepreneurial ventures, and yes, some legal troubles that grabbed headlines for all the wrong reasons. It’s a story that reminds us that not everyone from a talented family reaches the same heights—and that’s okay, even if it’s complicated.

This is the complete story of Darez Diggs, a man who’s more than just “Stefon and Trevon’s brother,” even if that’s how most people know him.

Early Life: Growing Up Diggs in Washington D.C.

Darez Diggs was born on December 18, 1995, in Washington, D.C., into what would become one of football’s most recognizable families. His parents, Aron and Stephanie Diggs, raised their children in the nation’s capital, where sports culture runs deep and competition starts young. The Diggs household was filled with athletic energy—you get the sense that football was always playing on the television, always being discussed at dinner, always part of the family identity.

But then everything changed in January 2008 when tragedy struck the family. Aron Diggs, the patriarch who had instilled so much love for the game in his sons, passed away from congestive heart failure at just 39 years old. Darez was only around 12 or 13 years old when he lost his father—an age when boys still desperately need their dads, especially when they’re trying to figure out who they want to become.

Stephanie Diggs suddenly found herself raising five children alone: Stefon, Trevon, Darez, and their half-siblings Aron Jr. and Porche Green. It’s hard to imagine the weight she carried, trying to keep the family together while grieving her husband. The boys leaned on each other, perhaps more than they might have otherwise. Football became not just a passion but maybe a way to stay connected to their father’s memory.

Growing up in D.C., Darez Diggs watched his older brother Stefon start making waves in high school football. Stefon attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in nearby Maryland and was already showing the talent that would eventually land him in the NFL. Trevon, closer to Darez in age, was following a similar path. The blueprint was there—work hard, dominate on the field, earn a scholarship, make it to the pros. Simple, right? Well, not exactly.

High School Years at Friendship Collegiate Academy

Darez attended Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C., where he began building his own football reputation. The school had a decent athletics program, and Darez quickly established himself as a player to watch. Standing 6’2″ and possessing good speed and instincts, he had the physical tools that college scouts look for in a defensive back.

During his high school career, Darez played primarily as a cornerback, though he also saw time at wide receiver—a versatility that coaches appreciate but that sometimes prevents a player from fully mastering one position. By his senior year, the recruiting attention was real. According to 247Sports.com, he was ranked as the 123rd national recruit, 12th among cornerbacks, and the 5th top football prospect in Washington, D.C. for the 2016 class. They gave him a composite score of 0.8059, which might not mean much to casual fans, but in recruiting circles, it indicated he was a solid Division I prospect.

The question wasn’t whether Darez Diggs would play college football—it was where. Multiple programs showed interest, and Darez had options. His coach, Aazar Abdul Rahim, praised him publicly, calling him one of the team’s best blocking receivers, which shows he wasn’t just about statistics but also did the unglamorous work that helps teams win.

Still, there must have been pressure. Stefon was already in college making headlines at Maryland. Trevon was coming up right behind him. The Diggs name was becoming synonymous with football excellence, and Darez had to wonder: could he live up to it?

College Football Journey: A Winding Path

Morgan State University: The Beginning (2013)

Darez’s college career started at Morgan State University, a historically Black university in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2013. Morgan State competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), which is a step below the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) where schools like Alabama and Ohio State play. But it’s still Division I football, still competitive, still a legitimate platform for talented athletes.

At Morgan State, Darez Diggs played as a defensive back and even saw some time at wide receiver. The Bears program gave him a chance to develop fundamentals and get real game experience. For a freshman, that’s invaluable—learning to read college offenses, adjusting to the speed of the game, building strength in the weight room.

However, his time at Morgan State was relatively brief. Like many college athletes, Darez realized that sometimes you need to explore other options to find the right fit. Maybe the coaching style didn’t mesh with his game, or perhaps he wanted to test himself at a higher level of competition. Whatever the reason, he made the decision to transfer—a choice that, honestly, a lot of college athletes make. It’s not a failure; it’s a recalibration.

Iowa Western Community College: Building the Foundation

After Morgan State, Darez landed at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Now, some people might look at a junior college move as a step backward, but that’s not really fair. JUCO programs serve as launching pads for countless athletes who, for whatever reason—academic issues, need for more development time, or just wanting more exposure—use those two years to improve their stock.

Iowa Western has a respected football program that’s sent numerous players to four-year schools and even to the NFL. Darez used his time there to refine his technique, add muscle to his frame, and prove he could compete at a high level consistently. The statistics from his JUCO years are harder to find—community college stats often don’t get the same documentation as Division I programs—but the fact that he earned another shot at a four-year school tells you he did what he needed to do.

This period also gave him some distance from the immediate shadow of his brothers’ growing fame. In Iowa, he was just another talented cornerback trying to earn a scholarship, not constantly being compared to Stefon or Trevon. Sometimes that space to breathe can be valuable for an athlete’s development.

University of Alabama at Birmingham: The Division I Return (2015-2018)

In 2015, Darez Diggs committed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), turning down offers from schools like West Virginia and Buffalo. UAB plays in Conference USA, competing at the FBS level—the highest tier of college football. This was his chance to prove he belonged among the best college players in the country.

The timing of his arrival at UAB was interesting. The school had actually shut down its football program in 2014 due to financial concerns, only to bring it back in 2017 after massive outcry from students, alumni, and the Birmingham community. So when Darez joined the recruiting class of 2016 and enrolled in 2018, he was part of a program’s resurrection story. There’s something poetic about that—a player looking for his own fresh start joining a team getting a second chance.

At UAB, Darez primarily played cornerback, utilizing his 6’2″ frame and decent speed to cover opposing receivers. Playing in Conference USA meant facing teams like Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, and Marshall—programs with solid talent and NFL prospects of their own. The competition was real, and Darez had to earn his playing time.

His coaches valued his work ethic and football IQ. He understood route concepts, could diagnose plays quickly, and wasn’t afraid to tackle—a sometimes-overlooked skill for cornerbacks who’d rather just knock down passes. His time at UAB represented his most sustained success at the Division I level, even if he didn’t become a household name or earn All-Conference honors.

The UAB years were perhaps when the reality set in: Darez Diggs was a good college football player, but the path to the NFL that seemed so clear for his brothers wasn’t materializing the same way for him. NFL scouts look for elite measurables—blazing speed, explosive jumping ability, the kinds of physical traits that show up on their stopwatches and measurement tapes. Darez was solid, but solid often isn’t enough when you’re competing with hundreds of other defensive backs for maybe 30-40 spots in each NFL draft class.

After his time at UAB concluded, Darez faced the question every college athlete without clear NFL prospects must answer: what comes next? For a deeper look at his football journey, check out his complete football career timeline and statistics.

Professional Football: Chasing the Dream

The XFL Opportunity: Los Angeles Wildcats (2020)

When the NFL didn’t come calling, Darez Diggs found another avenue: the XFL. In early 2020, the reimagined XFL kicked off its season under WWE chairman Vince McMahon’s ownership, promising players another shot at professional football glory. For athletes like Darez—talented but overlooked by the NFL—the XFL represented hope.

Darez signed with the Los Angeles Wildcats as a defensive back. The Wildcats played their home games at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, and the roster was filled with former college standouts and NFL practice squad veterans. Finally, Darez was a professional football player. He was getting paid to play the game he’d dedicated his life to since childhood.

The XFL’s rules were slightly different from the NFL—different kickoff formats, modified overtime rules, innovations designed to make the game faster and more exciting for fans. For Darez, it was an adjustment, but also an opportunity to showcase his skills on a national stage. The league had a television contract with major networks, meaning scouts from NFL teams were definitely watching.

But then reality intervened in the cruelest way possible. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States hard in March 2020, forcing the suspension and eventual cancellation of the XFL season after just five weeks. Darez Diggs and hundreds of other XFL players suddenly found themselves without a league, without paychecks, and without that platform they’d been counting on. The league declared bankruptcy, and just like that, the dream evaporated.

It’s hard not to feel for him in that moment. He’d finally reached professional football, was competing well, and then circumstances completely beyond his control—a global pandemic—shut it all down. That’s the kind of luck that can make an athlete question everything.

Post-XFL: Tryouts and Uncertainty

After the XFL folded, Darez did what countless professional athletes do when their league disappears: he kept training, stayed ready, and attended any tryouts or workouts he could find. There were rumors at various points about potential interest from NFL teams, but nothing concrete ever materialized.

The reality is harsh: even talented players sometimes never get their big break in the NFL. The league only has 32 teams with 53-man rosters plus practice squads. The math just doesn’t work out for everyone, no matter how much talent or determination they have. And when you’re competing against younger players coming out of college with elite combine numbers, it becomes even harder for someone like Darez to break through.

By most accounts, his active pursuit of a playing career has essentially ended, though he’s never officially announced retirement. That’s common among fringe professional players—they don’t retire so much as opportunities just stop coming. It’s a gradual, often painful realization that the playing days are over.

The Diggs Family Dynamic: Brothers in the Spotlight

To understand Darez Diggs fully, you have to understand what it means to be the brother of not one but two NFL stars. It’s a unique position that comes with advantages but also immense pressure and inevitable comparisons. For more on the complex family relationships, read about Stefon and Trevon Diggs’ brother dynamics.

Stefon Diggs: The Star Wide Receiver

Stefon Diggs is the oldest of the brothers and, frankly, a bonafide NFL superstar. Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015, Stefon became famous for catching the “Minneapolis Miracle”—that incredible last-second touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in the 2017 playoffs that sent fans into absolute hysteria. He later joined the Buffalo Bills where he led the entire NFL in receptions and receiving yards in 2020, earning First-Team All-Pro honors.

In 2024, Stefon was traded to the Houston Texans, and most recently in 2025, he signed with the New England Patriots. His career earnings are in the tens of millions of dollars. He’s got endorsement deals, national recognition, and a legacy that’s already secure. That’s Darez’s brother—the standard against which, fairly or not, people measured him.

Trevon Diggs: The Lockdown Corner

Then there’s Trevon Diggs, who plays cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys—the same position Darez played throughout his career. Trevon was a second-round pick in 2020 and quickly became one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks. In 2021, he led the entire league with 11 interceptions, earning First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection.

Playing for America’s Team in Dallas means Trevon gets constant media attention. His plays are on highlight reels every week. His contract with Dallas has made him a millionaire several times over.

Imagine being Darez Diggs, playing the same position as your brother, but watching him become a household name while your own career stalls out at the minor league level. It’s not resentment necessarily—by all accounts, the brothers remain close—but it has to be complicated emotionally. Every family gathering, every phone call, probably includes updates about Stefon’s latest touchdown or Trevon’s latest interception. What do you say when people ask what you’re up to?

The Support System and the Pressure

To their credit, the Diggs brothers appear to maintain a strong relationship. You’ll see photos on social media of them together at family events. Stefon and Trevon have both spoken publicly about the importance of family and staying grounded despite their fame. There’s no indication they’ve treated Darez differently because his football career took a different path.

But that doesn’t mean the pressure doesn’t exist. Society has a way of measuring success, especially in families where multiple people pursue the same field. Two brothers become NFL stars, one doesn’t—people notice that, they comment on it, they make assumptions. Darez has had to forge his identity in that shadow, which perhaps explains some of his later ventures into fashion and entrepreneurship. He needed to be known for something other than being “the brother who didn’t make it.”

The Diggs family story is ultimately one of both triumph and complexity. Not every talented kid from the same household reaches the same heights, even when they have similar genetics, similar upbringing, and similar opportunities. Sometimes it’s timing, sometimes it’s luck, sometimes it’s just the way life unfolds. Their mother, Stephanie, deserves recognition for raising three sons who all reached some level of football success, even if only two made it to the NFL’s highest level.

Legal Troubles: The Elevator Incident That Changed Everything

On May 29, 2023, Darez Diggs became headline news for reasons that had nothing to do with football. What happened that day in a downtown Los Angeles apartment building would lead to criminal charges, a civil lawsuit, and national media attention that brought unwanted scrutiny to his famous brothers.

Security footage obtained by TMZ Sports—because of course TMZ got the footage—showed Darez in an elevator lobby when another man, later identified as Christopher Griffith, exited an elevator. The two exchanged words briefly. Then, things escalated quickly. Griffith tried to get back into the elevator and close the doors, perhaps sensing danger, but Darez stopped the doors with his hand.

What happened next was, frankly, disturbing. Two other men rushed into the elevator with Darez, and they proceeded to assault Griffith violently. The footage shows them punching and kicking him, including at least one kick to the face while Griffith was on the ground. They ripped jewelry off his body—chains, presumably expensive pieces. The attack continued as they dragged Griffith into the lobby, where they removed more jewelry before fleeing the scene.

According to police reports and the subsequent lawsuit, the stolen property was substantial. Griffith claimed the men took approximately $100,000 worth of jewelry and other items, including an orange bag or purse containing diamonds. Whether that valuation is accurate or inflated for litigation purposes, we don’t know for certain, but it’s clear valuable property was taken during a violent assault.

The Criminal Case and Plea Deal

The Los Angeles Police Department investigated the incident as a robbery. For several months, Darez Diggs faced potential serious prison time if convicted at trial. In January 2024, Griffith filed a civil lawsuit against Darez, as well as the building owner, alleging pain, suffering, emotional distress, and seeking compensation for the stolen property.

Then, in April 2024, Darez made a decision that would determine his immediate future: he accepted a plea deal with prosecutors. He pleaded no contest to one felony charge—meaning he didn’t admit guilt but accepted the consequences as if he had been found guilty. The deal allowed him to avoid jail time, which must have been an enormous relief.

The sentence? Two years of probation and 20 hours of community service. That’s it. No prison time, no lengthy incarceration that would derail his life completely. From a legal strategy standpoint, his attorneys did well for him. From a PR standpoint, though, the damage was done. The video had been circulating online, people had seen what happened, and Darez’s reputation took a significant hit.

It’s worth noting that the civil lawsuit filed by Griffith reportedly remains ongoing, according to TMZ and other sources. Civil cases have lower burdens of proof than criminal cases, and Griffith could potentially win monetary damages even though the criminal case was resolved through a plea deal. That could mean Darez faces financial consequences beyond the criminal sentence.

The Impact on Family and Reputation

When you’re the brother of NFL superstars, your mistakes don’t just affect you—they reflect on your entire family. Stefon and Trevon had nothing to do with the incident, but their names appeared in every headline about it. “Stefon Diggs’ brother arrested,” “Trevon Diggs’ brother involved in violent attack”—that’s how the media framed the story, inevitably connecting the crime to the NFL players.

To their credit, neither Stefon nor Trevon made public statements condemning or defending their brother. They maintained a dignified silence, which was probably the smartest approach. Behind closed doors, you have to imagine there were difficult conversations—concern for their brother, frustration at the situation, worry about how this would affect their own reputations and endorsement deals.

For Darez Diggs, this incident likely closed whatever remaining doors existed for him in professional football. Teams, leagues, and organizations conduct background checks. A felony conviction (or no contest plea) for violent robbery? That’s disqualifying for most opportunities. Whatever slim hopes he might have harbored about another chance in the XFL or a similar league essentially evaporated.

The whole situation raises questions about what led to that moment. Was it financial desperation? Was it influence from the wrong crowd? Was it a momentary lapse in judgment that spiraled out of control? We don’t have those answers, and perhaps we never will. What we do know is that decisions made in seconds can alter the entire trajectory of a life. For more details on this difficult chapter, see the complete breakdown of Darez Diggs’ legal troubles.

Business Ventures: Blue Boii and Fashion Aspirations

One area where Darez Diggs has tried to create his own identity separate from football is in the fashion and lifestyle space. He launched a brand called Blue Boii, which sells clothing and promotes a particular lifestyle aesthetic. The name itself is distinctive—the double “i” spelling gives it a modern, branded feel that’s common in streetwear culture.

Fashion has become increasingly important in NFL culture, with players like his brother Stefon known for their pre-game outfits and style sense. Stefon regularly appears on “best dressed” lists for his tunnel walk outfits before games. It makes sense that Darez, growing up in that environment and seeing the attention fashion brings, would want to pursue something in that space.

Blue Boii appears to be a lifestyle brand rather than just a clothing line—it’s selling an image and an aesthetic as much as actual products. The brand’s social media presence showcases the kind of aspirational lifestyle that appeals to young consumers: fashion, travel, confidence, success. Whether it’s financially successful is harder to determine from the outside, but the fact that Darez continues to promote it suggests it’s at least viable.

Running your own business, especially in fashion, is incredibly challenging. The competition is fierce, the margins can be thin, and building brand recognition requires significant marketing investment and consistent effort. Darez doesn’t have the massive social media following his brothers have—his Instagram sits at around 26,000 followers compared to Stefon’s millions—which limits his organic reach for promoting his brand.

Still, you have to give him credit for attempting to build something outside of football. Many former athletes struggle with identity once their playing days end. They’ve spent their entire lives defined by their sport, and when that’s gone, they don’t know who they are or what to do. Darez at least recognized the need to create new streams of income and new aspects of his identity beyond being a defensive back.

The legal troubles from 2023 certainly didn’t help the brand’s reputation. Associating your lifestyle brand with a violent robbery case is obviously problematic from a marketing standpoint. Whether Blue Boii can overcome that association and grow into something substantial remains to be seen. Entrepreneurship requires resilience, especially when you encounter setbacks—and Darez has certainly encountered those.

Physical Attributes and Playing Style

As a player, Darez Diggs had the physical tools that college coaches look for. Standing 6’2″ and weighing somewhere between 190-205 pounds depending on the source and what point in his career you’re measuring, he had good size for a cornerback. In today’s NFL where receivers are getting taller and bigger, having a cornerback with that kind of length is valuable.

His playing style emphasized physicality and technical soundness rather than elite speed. He wasn’t going to run a sub-4.4 forty-yard dash like some elite cornerback prospects, but he understood leverage, hand placement, and how to use his frame to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage. These are coachable skills that demonstrate football IQ.

At cornerback, Darez showed the ability to play both man and zone coverage schemes. Man coverage requires you to stick with your assigned receiver wherever they go, mirroring their movements and reacting to their route. Zone coverage means you’re responsible for an area of the field and you defend anyone who enters that zone. Being able to do both makes you more valuable to coaching staffs because they can run a wider variety of defensive schemes.

His tackling was generally solid—he wasn’t afraid of contact and would come up to stop the run when needed. Some cornerbacks are pure cover guys who shy away from tackling, but Darez was willing to mix it up. That might have been influenced by occasionally playing safety, a position that requires more tackling and run support than cornerback.

What he lacked, ultimately, were those elite measurables that NFL scouts covet. His speed was good but not great. His agility was solid but not exceptional. His ball skills—the ability to track the football in the air and make interceptions—were adequate but not spectacular. In a league where fractions of seconds and inches matter, being “pretty good” at everything but great at nothing isn’t enough.

Comparing him to his brother Trevon is perhaps inevitable but also unfair. Trevon has elite ball tracking ability and instincts that allow him to make plays on the football that average corners can’t make. That’s not a knock on Darez—most players don’t have those elite skills. It’s just the reality of trying to make it to the highest level of professional sports.

Net Worth and Financial Status

Estimating Darez Diggs’ net worth is challenging because he’s never played in the NFL where salaries are publicly reported. His income would have come from his brief XFL stint in 2020, whatever earnings his Blue Boii brand generates, and possibly other ventures or jobs that aren’t public knowledge.

XFL players in 2020 reportedly earned around $55,000 per season, with quarterbacks making more. As a defensive back, Darez probably made something in that range for the five weeks the league operated before shutting down due to COVID-19. That means his total XFL earnings were probably somewhere around $10,000-$15,000 at most—hardly life-changing money.

Compare that to his brothers’ financial situations. Stefon Diggs signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension with the Bills in 2022, with $70 million guaranteed. Trevon Diggs signed a five-year, $97 million extension with the Cowboys in 2023. Those are generational wealth numbers—the kind of money that sets up your entire family for life if managed properly.

The financial disparity must be stark at family gatherings. Stefon and Trevon can afford multiple homes, luxury cars, investments, and still have millions left over. Darez, meanwhile, is trying to build a clothing brand and dealing with potential civil lawsuit judgments that could cost him significant money he might not have.

Current estimates for his net worth vary wildly across different websites—some say $100,000, others claim up to $500,000, but these are largely speculative. Without knowing his business earnings, any other income sources, or his debts and expenses, it’s impossible to say with certainty. What we can say is that his net worth is certainly modest compared to his NFL brothers, and the legal situation from 2023 likely impacted his finances negatively.

One advantage he does have is the family connection. If he needs financial help, his brothers certainly have the resources to assist. Whether they do or whether Darez would accept that help is a private family matter. Many people would struggle with accepting money from younger siblings who surpassed them professionally, viewing it as another reminder of their own perceived failures.

Social Media Presence and Public Persona

Darez Diggs maintains a presence on Instagram under the handle @marseandiggs, where he has approximately 26,000 followers. That’s a respectable number for a non-celebrity, but it’s microscopic compared to his brothers. Stefon has over 2 million followers, while Trevon has over 500,000. The difference illustrates how much NFL fame amplifies your public profile.

His Instagram feed shows a mix of personal style shots, promotional content for Blue Boii, and occasional glimpses into his life. He presents himself as someone interested in fashion, lifestyle, and personal development. There are fewer football-related posts than you might expect, which makes sense given that his playing career has essentially ended.

The tone of his posts is generally aspirational—the kind of content designed to build a personal brand and attract followers who identify with that aesthetic. This is smart from a business standpoint if you’re trying to sell lifestyle products. People don’t buy lifestyle brands just for the clothes; they buy into the image and identity those brands represent.

Since the legal troubles in 2023, Darez has kept a relatively lower profile on social media. There was a period where he seemed to go quiet, which is understandable when you’re dealing with criminal charges and negative publicity. You don’t want to draw more attention to yourself when you’re in that situation.

The relationship between him and his brothers on social media is interesting. They don’t constantly tag each other or post about each other excessively, but there are enough interactions to show they’re still connected. Family photos appear occasionally, birthday shoutouts happen, that sort of thing. It seems like they’ve found a balance between maintaining their family bond and giving each other space to exist as individuals.

Current Status: Life After Football and Legal Issues

As of late 2025, Darez Diggs is navigating life under probation while trying to rebuild his reputation and career prospects. The two-year probation sentence he received means he needs to comply with whatever conditions the court imposed—regular check-ins with a probation officer, staying out of legal trouble, completing his community service hours, and possibly other requirements like anger management classes or counseling.

His playing career appears to be essentially over, though he’s never officially announced retirement. At 29 years old, he’s not necessarily too old to play football, but the combination of being out of the sport for several years and having a criminal record makes a comeback extremely unlikely. Even alternative leagues like the USFL or the revived XFL conduct background checks that would probably disqualify him.

The civil lawsuit filed by Christopher Griffith continues to linger as a potential financial threat. Civil cases can drag on for years, especially when both sides are far apart on settlement negotiations. Griffith is seeking $100,000 in damages plus compensation for pain and suffering. Whether Darez has the resources to pay a potential judgment is questionable, which might actually be leverage in his favor for negotiating a lower settlement.

His focus seems to be on Blue Boii and trying to establish himself in the fashion and business world. This makes sense—he needs income streams, and fashion is something he appears genuinely interested in rather than just a fallback option. Whether the brand can become truly profitable and sustainable is the big question. The fashion industry is brutally competitive, and building a recognized brand takes time, money, and marketing savvy.

The support system of his brothers remains important. Stefon, now with the New England Patriots after his 2024 trade to Houston, continues his NFL career. Trevon remains a cornerstone of the Dallas Cowboys defense. Both brothers have weathered the negative publicity from Darez’s legal troubles without letting it significantly damage their own careers. That’s probably a relief for Darez—knowing his mistakes didn’t destroy his brothers’ livelihoods.

Lessons from the Darez Diggs Story

What can we take away from Darez Diggs’ journey? Perhaps the most obvious lesson is that talent alone doesn’t guarantee success, even when you come from a family of successful athletes. Darez had size, skills, work ethic, and every advantage you could ask for—great genes, a supportive family, opportunities at multiple colleges, a professional shot in the XFL. Yet his path diverged significantly from his brothers’.

Timing and luck play enormous roles in athletic success. The COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the XFL just as Darez was getting his professional start was terrible timing beyond his control. If that league had survived, who knows? Maybe he builds a successful multi-year career there, maybe he eventually gets an NFL look. But we’ll never know because circumstances intervened.

The legal troubles demonstrate how quickly life can derail from poor decisions. Whatever led to that elevator incident in May 2023—bad influences, financial pressure, momentary rage—it resulted in a felony conviction that will follow Darez for the rest of his life. Employment applications ask about criminal history. Background checks reveal convictions. One bad day can have decades of consequences.

On a more positive note, his entrepreneurial efforts show resilience. When football didn’t work out, he didn’t just give up or spend his life bitter about what might have been. He tried to create something new with Blue Boii. Not everyone succeeds in business, but you have to respect someone who makes the attempt rather than simply living off their family’s success.

The story also highlights the complexity of being a famous person’s sibling. The constant comparisons, the “what happened to him?” questions people probably ask, the feeling that you’re always being measured against someone else’s accomplishments—that’s a difficult psychological burden. Some siblings of famous people embrace the connection and lean into it. Others try to distance themselves and forge completely separate identities. Darez seems to be somewhere in the middle, maintaining family ties but also trying to be known for his own achievements.

The Diggs Family Legacy

The Diggs family as a whole has made an undeniable impact on football. Two brothers starring in the NFL, both earning Pro Bowl honors and massive contracts, both becoming household names—that’s rare. Including Darez in that narrative complicates it, sure, but it doesn’t diminish what the family has achieved.

Their mother, Stephanie Diggs, deserves recognition for raising three sons who all pursued football seriously despite losing their father when the boys were young. That’s not easy. Single motherhood is challenging under the best circumstances, and she was raising kids who needed equipment, transportation to practices and games, money for camps and training, and constant encouragement and support. The fact that all three sons stayed out of serious trouble during their teenage years (Darez’s issues came as an adult) speaks to her parenting.

The brothers also had each other. That sibling competition probably pushed all three of them to work harder, to prove themselves, to achieve more. Even though the results varied, the work ethic was consistent across all three. Darez didn’t fail because he was lazy or didn’t try—he gave football a legitimate shot at multiple levels over many years.

Looking forward, it will be interesting to see how the story continues. Will Darez successfully build Blue Boii into something substantial? Will he complete his probation without issues and move past the legal troubles? Will his relationship with his NFL brothers remain strong, or will the different life paths create distance over time?

The Diggs name in football will always be associated primarily with Stefon and Trevon, and that’s appropriate given their accomplishments. But Darez Diggs is part of that story too—a reminder that not every talented kid from a great family reaches the same heights, and that’s okay. His journey has been messier, more complicated, and less successful by conventional metrics. But it’s still his journey, still his story to write.

Conclusion: A Life Still Being Written

Darez Diggs is only 29 years old, which means this story is far from over. Yes, his football career appears finished. Yes, he has a criminal record that will create obstacles. Yes, he lives in the shadow of two NFL superstar brothers. But he also has time to rebuild, to create new successes, to define himself beyond his past failures.

Many people face setbacks in their twenties—career disappointments, legal troubles, feeling like they’ve fallen short of expectations. Not everyone has famous brothers making their struggles more public, but the struggles themselves are universal. What matters is what you do after the setback. Do you give up? Do you make excuses? Or do you pick yourself up and try to build something better?

Darez’s story resonates because it’s more relatable than his brothers’ fairy tale NFL careers. Most people don’t become millionaire professional athletes. Most people deal with disappointment, watch peers succeed while they struggle, and have to figure out plan B when plan A doesn’t work out. In that sense, Darez Diggs might actually teach us more about persistence and adaptation than Stefon or Trevon ever could.

The elevator incident was inexcusable—there’s no defending violence and robbery. But people can learn from mistakes, can change, can become better versions of themselves. Whether Darez does that will determine how this story ultimately ends. Will he be remembered only as “the brother who didn’t make it and then got arrested”? Or will he eventually be recognized for overcoming those challenges and building something meaningful?

For now, he’s on probation, running a clothing brand, staying connected to family, and trying to move forward. His brothers continue dominating in the NFL—for more on the unique family dynamics at play, explore how Stefon and Trevon Diggs navigate being NFL stars with a brother whose path went differently. Their mother continues supporting all her sons. The Diggs family story continues, with all its complications and contradictions.

Darez Diggs may never be famous in his own right. He may never escape being “Stefon and Trevon’s brother.” But within that context, he’s still trying to craft an identity, build something of value, and move past his mistakes. That’s all anyone can do really—play the hand you’re dealt as best you can, learn from failures, and keep moving forward.

The football chapter may be closed, but the life story continues. And sometimes the most interesting stories aren’t about the people who had it easy or who succeeded spectacularly. Sometimes the most interesting stories belong to people who struggled, failed, got back up, and kept trying. That’s Darez Diggs—not a hero, not a villain, just a person navigating a complicated life while carrying a famous last name and all the expectations that come with it.