A man who turned a dream into reality, D.J. Shockley is a former American football quarterback who now commands the studio and airwaves with confidence. He is known for his time as a back-up quarterback with the Atlanta Falcons and later his transition into sports broadcasting. Shockley played for the Falcons from 2006 until about 2009, though he never took part in a regular season game. Today he works as a sports anchor and analyst, especially for FOX 5 Atlanta and other networks. He grew up in College Park, Georgia, and has become a familiar voice in sports media.
Donald “D.J.” Shockley was born on March 23, 1983, in College Park, Georgia. He went to North Clayton High School where he played football, basketball, and ran track. His father, Donald Shockley Sr., was the head coach of the high school football team. During high school, D.J. became the starting quarterback by his sophomore year. In his senior year, he passed for 1,861 yards with 11 touchdowns and also rushed for 864 yards with 8 touchdowns. In college, he attended the University of Georgia and played for the Georgia Bulldogs football team.
D.J. Shockley played for the Georgia Bulldogs from 2002 through 2005. He redshirted his first year, meaning he practiced with the team but did not play in regular games.
In 2002, his redshirt freshman year, he played parts of 10 games. He completed 32 of 52 passes for 415 yards and five touchdowns, with no large amount of interceptions. He also rushed for 111 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. One highlight was a 37 yard touchdown pass in the Sugar Bowl win over Florida State.
In 2003 and 2004, he saw limited action. He dealt with a knee injury in 2003, and in 2004 he completed 26 of 60 passes for 464 yards with 4 touchdowns. He also rushed some, gaining over 100 yards on the ground. The team used him in a dual quarterback system along with David Greene.
In 2005, his senior year, Shockley became the starting quarterback. He threw 173 of 310 passes for 2,588 yards and 24 touchdowns, with only 5 interceptions. He also rushed 78 times for 322 yards and 4 touchdowns. His leadership helped Georgia win the SEC Championship that year.
As of 2025, D.J. Shockley has an estimated net worth of around $3.5 million. He earned this wealth from multiple sources. A part of it came from his time with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL, including his rookie contract and practice squad salary. After football, he moved into sports broadcasting, working as an analyst and anchor for networks such as FOX 5 Atlanta, which added to his income. Shockley has also earned money from public speaking, football camps, and other football-related appearances.