Last Updated on October 26, 2026 by Mariah Miranda
Malachi Lawrence is an American football outside linebacker and edge rusher for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Born on July 21, 2003, in Louisville, Kentucky, Lawrence became a first-round NFL Draft selection after an impressive college football career at the University of Central Florida (UCF).
Behind his professional success is a supportive family that celebrated his journey from a young football player in Kentucky to one of the Dallas Cowboys’ most promising defensive prospects.
Malachi Lawrence’s family includes his father, Randy Lawrence, his mother, Tyheshia Thompson, and his girlfriend, Jasmine Buford. All three attended his introductory press conference with the Dallas Cowboys in April 2026.
Although his parents and girlfriend have been publicly identified, details about his siblings and whether he has children remain less extensively documented.
Here is everything publicly known about Malachi Lawrence’s girlfriend, children, parents and siblings.
Malachi Lawrence’s Girlfriend: Who Is Jasmine Buford?
Malachi Lawrence’s publicly identified girlfriend is Jasmine Buford. Their relationship was confirmed in reporting by The Dallas Morning News following Lawrence’s selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
On April 24, 2026, Jasmine accompanied Malachi and his parents to the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
The group attended an introductory press conference celebrating Lawrence’s arrival as a first-round draft pick.
A photograph taken by Dallas Morning News photographer Tom Fox showed Jasmine standing alongside Malachi, his father Randy Lawrence and his mother Tyheshia Thompson.
The newspaper’s caption explicitly identified Jasmine as Lawrence’s girlfriend, providing reliable public confirmation of their relationship.
How Did Malachi Lawrence Meet Jasmine Buford?
Although Malachi Lawrence and Jasmine Buford have been publicly identified as a couple, the circumstances of their first meeting have not been reliably documented.
There is no established public account confirming when they began dating or whether they met during Lawrence’s high school years in Kentucky or his college football career in Florida.
Jasmine has generally maintained a relatively private profile compared with her boyfriend, whose professional football career has attracted national attention.
Her educational background, occupation and other personal information have not been extensively covered by established sports publications.
As of now, Jasmine Buford remains Lawrence’s most recently publicly identified girlfriend.
Is Malachi Lawrence Married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Malachi Lawrence is married.
The Dallas Morning News identified Jasmine Buford as his girlfriend rather than his wife during the Cowboys’ April 2026 introductory event.
Furthermore, his official college and NFL biographies do not identify a spouse or announce a wedding.
Therefore, a marriage has not been established through reliable public reporting.
Malachi Lawrence’s Children: Does He Have Any Kids?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Malachi Lawrence has children.
His official player biographies from UCF and the Dallas Cowboys do not identify any sons or daughters.
Similarly, the established reporting surrounding his first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft focuses primarily on his parents, girlfriend and professional achievements.
As of now, no verified public birth announcement or reliable interview reviewed for this profile establishes that Lawrence has become a father.
However, the absence of public reporting should not be interpreted as definitive proof that he does not have children.
Until additional reliable information becomes available, his parental status remains unconfirmed.
Malachi Lawrence’s Parents: Who Are His Father and Mother?
Malachi Lawrence’s parents are Randy Lawrence and Tyheshia Thompson.
Their identities are confirmed by photographs and captions from the Associated Press and The Dallas Morning News following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Both parents were present in Frisco, Texas, to celebrate their son’s introduction as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
The family has connections to Louisville, Kentucky, where Malachi grew up and attended duPont Manual High School.
Malachi Lawrence’s Father: Randy Lawrence
Randy Lawrence is the father of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Malachi Lawrence.
He was publicly identified in an Associated Press photograph taken by Tony Gutierrez during the team’s introductory press conference on April 24, 2026.
In the photograph, Randy appeared alongside his son, Malachi’s mother and Dallas Cowboys executives, including team owner Jerry Jones.
The occasion marked a major milestone in Malachi’s professional football journey.
After developing his athletic abilities during high school and college, Lawrence had achieved his ambition of becoming an NFL player.
Having his father present during the celebration demonstrated the importance of the occasion for the family.
While Randy Lawrence has been publicly identified as Malachi’s father, reliable reporting provides limited additional information about his professional background and personal activities.
His specific occupation and other biographical details have not been independently verified in the sources reviewed.
Malachi Lawrence’s Mother: Tyheshia Thompson
Tyheshia Thompson is Malachi Lawrence’s mother.
Her identity is confirmed by the Associated Press and The Dallas Morning News, both of which documented her attendance at her son’s introductory press conference with the Dallas Cowboys.
Tyheshia joined Randy Lawrence and Jasmine Buford in celebrating Malachi’s selection in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
For the family, the occasion represented the culmination of years of athletic development and preparation.
Malachi had begun playing football during childhood in Louisville before eventually earning an opportunity to attend UCF.
His college football career required years of training, competition and personal development.
When the Cowboys selected him with the 23rd overall pick, his family was able to celebrate the achievement with him.
During his introductory press conference, Lawrence expressed his desire to represent his family positively while continuing his professional development.
Although Tyheshia attended the event and has been publicly identified as his mother, detailed information about her occupation and personal history remains limited.
How Malachi Lawrence’s Parents Celebrated His NFL Draft Selection
April 24, 2026, was an important day for Malachi Lawrence and his family.
Just hours after the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the first round of the NFL Draft, Lawrence traveled from Kentucky to North Texas to visit his new team’s headquarters.
According to reporting by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, he departed from the Louisville area, where his family maintained a home, before flying to Dallas.
Upon arriving at The Star in Frisco, Lawrence experienced the excitement of entering the Cowboys’ headquarters as an official member of the franchise.
He was welcomed by team representatives and participated in the traditional introductory activities organized for first-round draft selections.
His parents and girlfriend accompanied him during the celebration.
The family appeared in photographs with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and other team executives.
Lawrence also discussed how meaningful the moment was after pursuing an NFL career since childhood.
In an interview published by the Cowboys, he emphasized his intention to represent both his family and UCF positively.
Malachi Lawrence’s Siblings: Does He Have Brothers or Sisters?
Publicly available information about Malachi Lawrence’s siblings is less detailed than reporting about his parents.
Some 2026 NFL Draft coverage described Lawrence as one of nine children, which would indicate that he has eight siblings.
However, this reported number has not been independently established through the official UCF or Dallas Cowboys biographies reviewed.
A draft preview published by The News Tribune included the nine-child description, but its family information also contained an inconsistency with the parental identities documented by the Associated Press.
Consequently, the precise number of Lawrence’s siblings should be treated cautiously until stronger confirmation becomes available.
Who Are Malachi Lawrence’s Brothers?
Although some reporting suggests that Lawrence comes from a large family, reliable official biographies do not identify his brothers by name.
His UCF athletic profile primarily documents his football achievements, high school background and college career.
Likewise, his official Dallas Cowboys biography does not provide a list of siblings.
Without independent confirmation, it would be speculative to identify particular individuals as his brothers.
Does Malachi Lawrence Have Any Sisters?
Malachi Lawrence has not publicly identified any sisters in the reliable biographical materials reviewed for this article.
Although draft coverage has described him as belonging to a large family, the names and genders of his siblings have not been consistently established.
As of now, further information about his brothers and sisters remains unavailable from the strongest public sources.
Malachi Lawrence’s Childhood and Family Background
Malachi Lawrence was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, where he developed an interest in competitive sports from a young age.
He began playing youth football when he was approximately five years old.
Growing up, Lawrence dreamed of reaching the NFL, although his path to professional football involved considerable physical development.
He attended duPont Manual High School in Louisville, where he initially played running back.
According to reporting by The Dallas Morning News and The Athletic, Lawrence was approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall when he entered high school.
After experiencing a significant growth spurt, he began playing several other positions, including outside linebacker, defensive end and tight end.
His increased size and athletic development helped him attract attention from college football recruiters.
In addition to football, Lawrence participated in track and field.
He became an accomplished shot put competitor and won a Kentucky state championship in 2021.
His achievements in both sports demonstrated his developing strength, explosiveness and determination.
How Malachi Lawrence’s Family Influenced His Football Career
Malachi Lawrence’s professional journey began with his childhood ambition to become an NFL player.
After graduating from duPont Manual High School in 2021, he accepted an opportunity to attend the University of Central Florida.
He had received interest from several college programs, including Tennessee, Boston College and Washington State.
However, he ultimately chose UCF, where he spent his entire five-year college football career.
His early years were focused on physical development and learning the technical skills required to play defensive end at a high level.
During the 2021 season, Lawrence redshirted while working with the team’s scout unit.
He appeared in a limited number of games during the following season before becoming a more prominent contributor in 2023.
That year, he recorded 7.5 sacks and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition.
His development continued through the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Although opportunities arose to leave UCF, Lawrence remained committed to the program.
His decision allowed him to develop relationships with his teammates and coaches while continuing to improve his football abilities.
Lawrence completed his UCF career with 20 sacks, ranking tenth on the university’s all-time list.
His success reflected the persistence that had characterized his journey from youth football in Louisville.
Malachi Lawrence’s 2026 NFL Draft Selection
Malachi Lawrence achieved his childhood ambition when the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dallas chose Lawrence with the 23rd overall selection after trading down from the twentieth pick.
The selection made him the fifth first-round NFL Draft pick in UCF football history.
It also made him the highest-drafted defensive player in the university’s history.
His draft position reflected the progress he had made during his final college season and his impressive performances at the NFL Scouting Combine.
At the combine, Lawrence completed the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, an excellent result for a player of his size.
He also demonstrated his athletic explosiveness through vertical and broad-jump testing.
The Cowboys viewed his speed, length and pass-rushing potential as valuable additions to their defensive unit.
In June 2026, Lawrence signed his rookie contract with Dallas.
His four-year agreement was reported to be worth approximately $20.22 million and was fully guaranteed.
That professional achievement followed years of dedication and represented an important milestone for both Lawrence and his family.
Frequently Asked Questions About Malachi Lawrence’s Family
Who is Malachi Lawrence’s girlfriend?
Malachi Lawrence’s publicly identified girlfriend is Jasmine Buford. She accompanied him to his Dallas Cowboys introductory press conference on April 24, 2026.
Is Malachi Lawrence married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Malachi Lawrence is married. Jasmine Buford was identified as his girlfriend in April 2026 reporting.
Does Malachi Lawrence have any children?
There is no verified public information confirming that Malachi Lawrence has any children.
Who are Malachi Lawrence’s parents?
Malachi Lawrence’s parents are Randy Lawrence and Tyheshia Thompson. Both attended his introductory press conference with the Dallas Cowboys in April 2026.
Who is Malachi Lawrence’s father?
Malachi Lawrence’s father is Randy Lawrence, who was identified in Associated Press photographs following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Who is Malachi Lawrence’s mother?
Malachi Lawrence’s mother is Tyheshia Thompson. She appeared alongside her son and other family members at the Cowboys’ headquarters in Frisco, Texas.
How many siblings does Malachi Lawrence have?
Some 2026 draft coverage described Lawrence as one of nine children, suggesting eight siblings. However, official athletic biographies have not independently confirmed the number or identified those siblings by name.
Does Malachi Lawrence have a brother or sister?
Reports indicate that Lawrence comes from a large family, but the identities of his brothers and sisters have not been reliably documented in the official sources reviewed.
Where is Malachi Lawrence from?
Malachi Lawrence is from Louisville, Kentucky. He attended duPont Manual High School before playing college football at UCF.
When was Malachi Lawrence born?
Malachi Lawrence was born on July 21, 2003.
What college did Malachi Lawrence attend?
Malachi Lawrence attended the University of Central Florida, where he played for the UCF Knights from 2021 through 2025.
When was Malachi Lawrence drafted?
The Dallas Cowboys selected Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mariah Miranda is a dedicated sports journalist specializing in comprehensive NFL coverage, playbook strategy, and team analytics. From offseason Draft planning and free-agency moves to weekly matchup breakdowns and playoff pushes, she delivers clear, data-driven analysis of every division in the league. Driven by a deep understanding of football tactics and locker-room dynamics, Mariah brings fans closer to the gridiron with sharp commentary and player updates.
