In his true freshman season at Alabama, Dareus played in eight games, making his debut in the Crimson Tide's season opening 34–10 victory over the Clemson Tigers.[5] He registered four tackles while recording three quarterback hurries.[5] Dareus saw playing time at nose tackle in third-down-and-long situations, replacing the pure run-stuffing Terrence Cody.
As a sophomore, Dareus was a significant contributor all season at defensive end for Alabama. He played in 14 games and made four starts while serving as the Crimson Tide's top pass rusher and finishing seventh in the SEC in sacks. He totaled 33 total tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss (−49), seven quarterback hurries, an interception and two pass breakups.[6] He finished eighth in the Southeastern Conference and ranked tied for 90th nationally with 6.5 sacks (−44) or .46 per game.[6] For his performance, including a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown, Dareus was named defensive MVP of the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.[7]
In July 2010, Dareus was investigated by the University of Alabama in conjunction with the NCAA into whether Dareus paid his own expenses when attending a party in Miami, Florida, hosted by a sports agent, and whether the circumstances constituted an NCAA violation.[8] In early September, the NCAA suspended him for the first two games of the season in addition to requiring him to pay back the $1,787.17 received in impermissible benefits to the charity of his choice.[8] After the university decided to not appeal the ruling, he made his 2010 season debut against Duke in week three.[8][9] For the season, he totaled 34 total tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss (−41), 4.5 quarterback sacks (−26), ten quarterback hurries, and four pass breakups.[10] In the week following the Crimson Tide's Capital One Bowl victory over Michigan State, Dareus declared his eligibility for the 2011 NFL draft on January 7.[11][12] At the time of the announcement, he was projected as a first round pick.[11][12]
Dareus was selected with the third overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills on April 28, 2011.[14] He was the highest selected defensive lineman in Crimson Tide history, and the highest selected Alabama defensive player since linebacker Cornelius Bennett was drafted second overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 1987.[15] On April 29, the day after the first round, the Bills announced that Dareus would wear jersey #99. On July 29, 2011, Dareus signed a four-year deal with the Bills worth $20.4 million.[16] Dareus started all sixteen games and, despite suffering injuries to his shoulder and hand during the season, registered 5.5 sacks, the most for a Bills rookie since Aaron Schobel.[17][18]
In 2012, Dareus was excused from the team after his younger brother was shot and killed.[20] He finished the 2012 season with 5.5 sacks, 39 total tackles, and six passes defended in 16 games and starts.[21]
Despite offseason troubles, Dareus continued his success in the 2014 season. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 5 with three sacks and a forced fumble against Detroit.[25] He recorded 35 tackles, with 10.0 sacks under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's defense as part of Buffalo's "Cold Front" defensive line, garnering another Pro Bowl appearance and being named to the All-Pro first-team for the first time in his career.[26][27][28] His ten sacks led all defensive tackles for that season.[29] He was ranked 53rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.[30]
On May 21, 2015, it was announced that Dareus would be suspended from the first game of the 2015 season, due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy.[31]
On September 10, 2015, the Bills signed Dareus to a six-year contract extension that could reach $95.1 million with incentives, the contract also included $60 million in guaranteed money.[32] With this contract, Dareus had the most guaranteed money in the NFL for a non-quarterback.[33] He finished the 2015 season with two sacks and 51 total tackles.[34]
On August 16, 2016, it was reported that Dareus was facing a four-game suspension due to his second violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy.[35] In the 2016 season, he appeared in eight games and recorded 3.5 sacks, 39 total tackles, and one pass defended.[36]
Jacksonville Jaguars
On October 27, 2017, Dareus was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a conditional 2018 sixth-round draft pick, which became a 5th round pick that was used to select Wyatt Teller. He was reunited with head coach Doug Marrone, who was his former head coach with the Buffalo Bills.[37] In the 2017 season, he appeared in 14 games, five with the Bills and nine with the Jaguars. He recorded 28 total tackles, three tackles-for-loss, and three quarterback hits.[38] In the postseason, he had four combined tackles in the Wild Card Round victory over the Buffalo Bills.[39] In the Divisional Round win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had one tackles and one quarterback hit.[40] In the AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots, he had five combined tackles and one quarterback hit.[41]
In the 2018 season, Dareus played in and started 15 games. He recorded 32 combined tackles, two quarterback hits, one sack, one pass defensed, one forced fumble, and one safety (which came against the New York Jets in Week 4 when he tackled Isaiah Crowell in the endzone).[42][43]
On October 25, 2019, Dareus was placed on injured reserve after undergoing core muscle surgery.[44]
On February 24, 2020, the Jaguars declined the option on Dareus' contract, making him a free agent.[45]
In 2023 Dareus appeared on the TLC network's Dr. Pimple Popper reality television program in order to have a lipoma removed from his left eyebrow area.[47]
Controversies
On May 5, 2014, Dareus was arrested in Cleburne County, Alabama, on charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia .[48]
