There are few things more valuable to an NFL defense than a steady tackler. Linebackers capable of wrestling down the league’s swiftest talents are worth their weight in gold.
Rams LB Nate Landman is cut from this tradition. The 6-3, 234-pound force is a daunting prospect for opposing runners to meet in open space. He feels even worse, inflicting punishment whenever he gets his hands on ball carriers.
Landman is physical yet agile, blessed with hulking strength and quick feet. That’s no coincidence; Landman owes many of his traits to his father, who was quite the athlete in his own right.
Landman's roots are eye-catching, especially compared to the average NFL player. Here's a look at his background, including notes on his surprising hometown.
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Where is Nate Landman from?
Landman hails from Harare, the capital and largest city in Zimbabwe. He is one of two players to emerge from the city's shores, joined by Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba.
Zimbabwe is a landlocked African country. With a population of 16.9 million people, it is the 26th-most populous country in the continent. Zimbabwe declared independence in 1980 after revolutionaries waged a 15-year guerrilla war against the white minority-led Rhodesian government.
Landman's parents grew up in Zimbabwe, with his father, Shaun, starring for the country's rugby team. The family lived in Zimbabwe until Landman was four. They moved to San Francisco after Landman's father got a job offer. The Landman family eventually settled in Danville, a town located in the San Ramon Valley.
“Nobody would ever believe it,” Landman told The Athletic in 2026. “An 8-year-old kid saying he’s from Africa in America, people don’t believe it right off the top.”
The Landman family wasn't lacking in athletic prowess. His brother, Brendan, became a tight end at Arizona State while his sister, Ocean, shined as a swimmer at Oregon State.
Landman found his calling on the gridiron, embracing the camaraderie present within the locker room. He earned three-star billing at Monte Vista High before landing a scholarship at Colorado.
Landman's roots aren't easily visible. He acknowledged as much in a 2023 interview with The Athletic.
“Most people don’t believe me,” Landman said. “I either have someone vouch for me or they have to Google it.”
Still, he wears his heritage on his skin. His arms bear drawings of an elephant and lion while his chest is covered in a tattoo of the outline of Africa,
“It’s just a sense of pride in knowing where I came from,” Landman said.
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Where did Nate Landman go to college?
Landman starred at Colorado, posting back-to-back 100-tackle campaigns in 2018 and 2019. His collegiate career was undone by COVID-19 and a pair of injury-plagued seasons. But he is still remembered fondly in Boulder.
“I love it. I love being a leader on a team — I always saw that for myself when I first came here [and] wanted to prove myself and I feel like I’m doing that,” Landman told CU Independent in 2019. “This is my defense and I want to take control of it. I want to win with these guys, I have won with these guys and I know what we’re capable of."
Landman's efforts weren't enough to hear his name called in the NFL Draft. He inked a deal with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2022 before becoming a full-time starter in 2023. In March 2025, he signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles. Eight months later, he agreed terms to a three-year, $22.5 million extension with the Rams.
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Nate Landman college stats
Landman enjoyed a fairly clean bill of health across his first three seasons in Boulder. He emerged as a starter as a sophomore, producing 105 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. His junior season proved similarly productive, with Landman once more eclipsing the 100-tackle mark.
| Year | Games | Tackles | Sacks | Interceptions | Pass Deflections | Forced Fumbles |
| 2017 | 11 | 14 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2018 | 12 | 105 | 4.0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2019 | 12 | 114 | 2.0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | 5 | 53 | 4.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 8 | 63 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
What nationality is Nate Landman?
Landman is Zimbabwean-American. He holds dual citizenship, becoming a U.S. Citizen during his sophomore year of college.