Tobias Dorzon’s bio: NFL teams, career, wife, kids, restaurant
Tobias Dorzon made a career change that many people may describe as unusual. The promising American football player, known for participating in college football, NFL, and CFL games, decided to become a chef—and a successful one at that. Tobias Dorzon’s bio reveals all you need to know about his career transition.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Chef Tobias Dorzon has worked for multiple high-end restaurants in America and appeared in numerous cooking contests.
- Some of the reality cooking competitions Dorzon has been on are Tournament of Champions (2022), Guy’s Grocery Games (2019-2021), and The 202 Xtra (2019).
- On November 7, 2024, Dorzon was shot in an apparent robbery in Hyattsville.
Profile summary
| Full name | Bloi-Dei Tobias Dorzon |
| Gender | Male |
| Birthdate | 23 November 1984 |
| Age | 40 years old (as of July 2025) |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Birthplace | New Carrollton, Maryland, USA |
| Residence | Washington, DC, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 5’8″ (173 cm) |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Black |
| Father | Edwin Dorzon |
| Mother | Patience Dorzon |
| Siblings | 10 |
| Marital status | Married |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Lackawanna Junior College |
| Alma mater | Jackson State University, Art Institute of Washington |
| Profession | Chef, restaurateur, reality TV personality, and former athlete |
| Net worth | $1 million – $5 million (Approx.) |
| @tobiasdorzon |
Tobias Dorzon’s biography
Bloi-Dei Tobias Dorzon is the son of an immigrant Liberian father and an African-American mother. He developed his interest in cooking from a young age after observing his father, a chef and restaurant owner, work.
Tobias Dorzon’s family
Tobias Dorzon’s father, Edwin Dorzon, was a chef for 50 years and owned a West African-style restaurant called Kendejah in Washington, DC. Meanwhile, his mother, Patience Dorzon, was a homemaker.
Tobias grew up in Maryland alongside his ten siblings, including an elder sister named Watchee Dorzon, who died in 2004. He is left with three brothers and five living sisters.
Source: Original
Educational background
Chef Tobias Dorzon played football before graduating from high school in 2003. After several years of not wanting to attend college, he joined Lackawanna Junior College at age 21 and later attended Jackson State University.
Dorzon always cooked at his apartment in Jackson, Mississippi, while attending college. In 2012, he went to study culinary at the Art Institute of Washington, where he earned the first of his two culinary degrees. Tobias also went to Brazil for three months to continue his culinary studies.
The sports career of Tobias Dorzon
Tobias started playing college football at Jackson State University. As a junior, he rushed for 250 yards on 70 carries, scoring twice, and fractured his ankle six games into the 2008 season.
Dorzon returned for his senior year and, in 10 games, gained 478 yards on 105 carries, adding three touchdowns. His talent would eventually catch the attention of NFL scouts.
Who did Tobias Dorzon play for?
After college, Dorzon tried out for the Tennessee Titans in 2010 and had a brief stint with this NFL team in 2011. Tobias played for the Titans for several months as an undrafted free agent. The same year, he moved to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent and played for a year.
How long was Tobias Dorzon in the NFL?
Dorzon played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL for one year. After the NFL, he went to Canada for two years to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL.
What was Tobias Dorzon’s NFL position?
During Tobias Dorzon’s NFL years, he played as a defensive tackle in college football and the NFL.
Tobias Dorzon’s NFL stats
He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the 2012 season and ran for 108 yards on 24 attempts, scoring zero rushing touchdowns and catching one pass for five yards.
Tobias Dorzon’s NFL journey, though not marked by extensive playtime or eye-catching stats, remains a powerful narrative of determination and adaptability. The player told the National Post in 2012:
I might be short, but I’m a heavy guy, and I can break a lot of arm tackles. It takes more than one guy to bring me down. I’m fast and strong and can do other things bigger backs can’t do.
Source: Getty Images
Tobias Dorzon’s culinary career
In late 2012, Tobias decided to go to culinary school in Washington, DC, during one of his off-seasons. The NFL player also went to Brazil for three months to continue his culinary studies.
Why did Tobias Dordon leave the NFL?
Dorzon had always had an inherent passion for cooking, even while playing in the NFL. So, he left his football career in 2014 to become a chef full-time, working for several restaurants, including the Ritz-Carlton’s in Washington, DC.
Dorzon later stopped working for restaurants and launched Victory Chefs, a catering company, in 2014. He also created an Instagram account to market his culinary creations and catering services.
Who was Tobias Dorzon’s first celebrity client?
The chef’s first celebrity client was Santana Moss. At that time, Moss was playing for the Washington Redskins in the NFL.
So, when Dorzon’s Instagram ads caught Santana’s attention in 2015, he was able to become a celebrity chef for several other Redskins players. From there, his list of celebrity clients began to swell, including entertainers like Chris Brown, Kevin Hart, and Snoop Dogg.
As he continued his work as a celebrity chef, Tobias expanded his business to a food truck. He purchased his first food truck in November 2017 and called it Victory Truck before hitting Washington streets with it in 2018.
Tobias has worked for many restaurants, including Thirteen in Houston, and curated dinners at the James Beard House.
Source: Getty Images
Tobias Dordon’s restaurant
The American chef co-owns the Union Oyster Bar & Lounge in Washington, DC, where he was once the head chef.
In the spring of 2022, Dorzon started working at the Huncho House restaurant in Hyattsville, Maryland. With his ESPN+ show gaining popularity, plans to bring a second Huncho House location to Houston are underway.
Tobias Dordon’s awards
Chef Tobias Dordon was named the Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland in 2024. Tobias also earned himself a Proclamation Day from the Prince George’s County Council for being the first chef from the county to win the honor.
Tobias Dorzon’s television shows
The chef hosts a show called Timeout with Tobias on ESPN+. He has appeared in several TV shows and participated in numerous cooking competitions, including 202 Xtra (2019), Guy’s Grocery Games (2019-2021), and Tournament of Champions (2022).
What is Tobias Dorzon’s net worth?
Dorzon’s net worth remains unknown. He has created wealth through salaries as a football player, chef, and reality TV personality. He also generates revenue as a restaurant owner.
After completing his culinary studies, Dorzon would make between $38,000 and $40,000 a year as a chef. He later started a food truck business that brought him around $4,500 within three hours of opening the business.
Who is Tobias Dorzon’s wife?
It is unclear whether the chef is married because he has yet to unveil his partner. Nonetheless, he occasionally posts photos of his children. Tobias Dordon’s family lives in Washington, DC.
How many kids does Tobias Dorzon have?
The American chef has two daughters, Riley McKenzie Dorzon and Torienne Dorzon. Riley’s birth changed his perception of life.
Tobias could have given up on his NFL dream at 18 due to poor grades. The footballer had been highly recruited out of high school but needed proper academic standards to get into a top-level college.
So, at age 21, Tobias went to a junior college in Pennsylvania when his eldest daughter, Riley, was born. Having a child inspired him to further his studies beyond high school after forgoing college for years.
After spending two years in junior college to get the necessary credits, Dorzon joined Jackson State University, where he played college football before moving to the NFL.
What happened to Tobias Dorzon’s sister?
Tobias was returning home from a workout when his mother told him the tragic news about his sister’s murder. He told the National Post:
I had never seen my dad cry. Ever. That was the first time. That was the worst thing that could ever have happened to my family. I felt like my life flashed before my eyes.
Watchee Dorzon’s dismembered body was found in the trunk of a car in North Carolina. Her boyfriend was the only suspect in the case, but he fled the country and has never been arrested.
Dorzon, the family’s last child, and Watchee, the firstborn, shared a unique bond. She was his best friend, and they used to talk for hours about almost anything.
What happened to Chef Tobias?
In November 2024, Tobias Dorzon was seriously injured after being shot multiple times during an attempted robbery in Hyattsville, Maryland.
He and a female companion were ambushed while heading home from dinner, leaving Dorzon with eight gunshot wounds to his lower body and one to his intestine. The injuries required several surgeries and a long, painful recovery.
Despite the ordeal, Dorzon has made remarkable progress—he is back on his feet and has returned to work at his restaurant, Huncho House. In July 2025, one suspect was arrested in connection with Tobias Dorzon’s shooting, though four others are still at large.
Trivia
- He doesn’t know the origin of his first name, Bloi-Dei.
- He often explained to the Bombers fans how to pronounce his first name.
- The Bombers fans would call him T, an initial for his middle name, Tobias.
- His cooking is influenced by his West African heritage (Liberian roots).
- He tattooed his late sister’s name on his right arm.
- His height and academic obstacles could not stop his NFL dream.
FAQs
- Where is Tobias Dorzon from? He was born in New Carrollton, Maryland, USA. He currently resides in Washington, DC, USA.
- What is Tobias Dorzon’s age? The former NFL player is 40 years old. He was born on 23 November 1984.
- What is Tobias Dorzon’s height? The American chef is 5’8″ (173 cm) tall.
- What football player became a chef? Tobias Dorzon is a former NFL player who became a professional chef after retiring from football. He now runs successful restaurants.
- Which Food Network chef was shot? Chef Tobias Dorzon and his girlfriend were shot in an attempted robbery in Hyattsville in November.
- What was Tobias Dorzon’s NFL salary? His specific NFL salary is not publicly disclosed.
Tobias Dorzon, a former NFL player, aligned his passion for cooking with his work and is proud of his achievements. After years of hard work and dedication, the American chef now hosts a reality show on ESPN+. Tobias Dorzon’s bio showcases his culinary skills while inspiring others to follow their dreams beyond the field.
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