Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey’s unconventional strategy from his college days has resurfaced, reigniting discussions about his fierce competitive nature. In 2019, while with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ramsey revealed on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast that he used to send direct messages (DMs) to the girlfriends of opposing wide receivers during his time at Florida State University (2013–2015) to gain a psychological advantage before games.
The story, originally shared over five years ago, has gone viral again on social media in May 2025, drawing fresh attention to his past tactics.
Ramsey’s admission came during an August 2019 episode of the podcast hosted by Taylor Lewan and Will Compton. He described his approach with candid detail:
“I was grimy… I would look up his IG, see his girlfriend… I’d go slide in the DMs the week before the game.”
The tactic, he explained, was designed to unsettle opponents, adding,
“People get hot about that.”
While Ramsey did not name specific targets, he noted facing future NFL players like Mike Williams and Hunter Renfrow during his college career. He employed this strategy exclusively at Florida State, where he played from 2013 to 2015 before being drafted by the Jaguars in 2016.
However, Ramsey made it clear that he abandoned the practice upon entering the NFL.
“When I got to the league, though, I stopped that ‘cause now people got wives and stuff. Somebody get shot over talking about somebody’s wives,”
he said, acknowledging the heightened stakes and potential consequences in the professional realm.
Ramsey shared the details of his unconventional pre-game routine explaining how he leveraged social media to unsettle his rivals.
“Say I was playing a big receiver at whatever school, I would look up his Instagram, see his girlfriend… I’d probably go slide in the DMs… before the game,” Ramsey said. “The week before the game, I would probably slide in the DMs.”
The tactic didn’t end with the messages. Ramsey would bring up these interactions during games to taunt his opponents, amplifying their emotional impact.
“You know, we get to the game, he probably knows about it… Either he knows about it or he don’t, but, uh, either way, I’m bringing it up during the game,” he explained. “Like, ‘Yeah, you know, I slid in, first-name basis, DMs. She hollerin’.’… People get hot about that.”
By injecting personal elements into the competition, Ramsey aimed to disrupt his opponents’ focus, turning a physical matchup into a psychological battle.
While Ramsey showed no remorse for his college antics, he confirmed that he stopped using this strategy when he entered the NFL. His reasoning was pragmatic and blunt:
“I’ll say when I got to the league, though, I stopped that cuz now people got wives and stuff. Somebody get shot over talking about somebody’s wives.”
Ramsey’s college DM strategy aligns with his established reputation as a master of psychological warfare. A notable example came during a November 2021 game between the Los Angeles Rams—Ramsey’s team at the time—and the Tennessee Titans. Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown publicly criticized Ramsey for what he called “little dirty stuff” during their matchup.
“I don’t mind the chirping, but little things after the play, little dirty stuff, I’m not going for it,” Brown said. “I’m a man first. I’m here to play football. I’m not trying to fight nobody. But I’m not taking (expletive) though.”
In that game, Ramsey racked up two personal foul penalties, including one for knocking Brown over on the Titans’ sideline after an interception. These incidents illustrate how Ramsey’s psychological tactics often blur the line between mental gamesmanship and physical intimidation, making him a polarizing figure in the league.
At the time of his 2019 revelation, Ramsey was a standout defender for the Jacksonville Jaguars, having been selected No. 5 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. His early NFL stats with the Jaguars included 169 tackles, 9 interceptions, and 44 defended passes over his first three seasons, earning him Pro Bowl nods in 2017 and 2018, plus a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2017.
Ramsey’s tenure with the Jaguars ended in 2019 when he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, and he later joined the Miami Dolphins in 2023, where he continues to excel as a cornerback.
Online discussions about “sliding into DMs” typically emphasize wit and charm as keys to success, with one commenter noting, “You want to come across as witty. Exciting and someone they want to meet in person. It’s an art form and won’t always work.” Ramsey, however, flipped this script, using the tactic not to charm but to provoke.
Drafted fifth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016, Ramsey has since played for the Los Angeles Rams and now the Miami Dolphins, where he remains a cornerstone of the defense as of the 2024-2025 NFL season. Playing alongside cornerbacks like Kendall Fuller—who has recently been sidelined with concussion issues—Ramsey continues to showcase his elite skills and competitive fire. His psychological approach, while controversial, has arguably contributed to his status as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks.
