Keith Kirkwood Bio
Keith Kirkwood is an American professional football wide receiver who currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Born on December 26, 1994, in Neptune Township, New Jersey, Kirkwood has built a career as a reliable target in the NFL after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He played college football for both the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and the Temple Owls before beginning his professional journey with the New Orleans Saints organization.
Throughout his NFL career spanning from 2018 to present, Kirkwood has demonstrated resilience through multiple roster transitions and injuries, maintaining his presence in the league with various teams. His career statistics include 24 career receptions for 294 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns across his time in the NFL.
Early Life and Background
Keith Kirkwood was born and raised in Neptune Township, New Jersey, where he attended Neptune High School. During his high school years, Kirkwood excelled in multiple sports, playing both basketball and football. His dual-sport participation helped develop the athleticism and body control that would later serve him well as a professional wide receiver in the NFL.
After graduating from Neptune High School, Kirkwood pursued higher education and continued his football career at the collegiate level. He initially attended the University of Hawaii, where he played for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors program during the 2013 season before transferring to Temple University. At Temple, Kirkwood played for the Temple Owls from 2014 through 2017, developing his skills under the program and preparing himself for professional football opportunities.
Path to Professional Football
Kirkwood entered the 2018 NFL Draft hoping to hear his name called during the seven-round selection process. Despite his collegiate performance at Temple, Kirkwood went undrafted throughout the three-day event. His path to the NFL continued after the draft, as professional opportunities remained available for undrafted players seeking to prove themselves at the highest level of American football.
On May 1, 2018, shortly after the draft concluded, Kirkwood signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent. The contract was a three-year deal worth $1.72 million, which included $42,000 in guaranteed money and a $17,000 signing bonus. This opportunity marked the beginning of Kirkwood’s professional career and set the stage for his journey through the NFL.
Keith Kirkwood Career
New Orleans Saints First Stint (2018–2019)
Kirkwood joined the New Orleans Saints following the 2018 NFL Draft and immediately faced competition for a roster spot during training camp. He competed against several other wide receivers including Austin Carr, Tommylee Lewis, Brandon Coleman, Josh Huff, Travin Dural, and Eldridge Massington for a backup wide receiver position on the roster.
On September 1, 2018, the Saints waived Kirkwood as part of their final roster cuts before the regular season began. However, he cleared waivers and was signed to the team’s practice squad the following day, keeping his NFL dreams alive. Kirkwood’s persistence paid off when, on November 10, 2018, the Saints promoted him from the practice squad to the active roster after newly acquired free agent Dez Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon during practice. Multiple wide receivers had been placed on injured reserve due to injuries, including Ted Ginn Jr., Tommylee Lewis, Travin Dural, and Cameron Meredith, creating an opportunity for Kirkwood.
Kirkwood made his professional regular season debut on November 11, 2018, against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10. He caught two passes for 45 yards and made one tackle on special teams during the 51-14 victory. Upon joining the active roster, Kirkwood became the fourth wide receiver on the depth chart behind Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, and Austin Carr. During the 2019 season, Kirkwood was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on September 17. He was designated for return from injured reserve on November 13 and began practicing with the team again, but was not activated by the end of the three-week practice window on December 4, remaining on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
Carolina Panthers (2020–2021)
On April 1, 2020, Kirkwood signed with the Carolina Panthers, reuniting him with former Temple head coach Matt Rhule along with former college teammates Robby Anderson, P.J. Walker, and Colin Thompson. This coaching connection provided Kirkwood with familiarity in the Panthers’ offensive system and a supporting network within the organization.
Kirkwood’s tenure with the Panthers was plagued by injuries. He was placed on injured reserve on September 7, 2020, due to a shoulder injury. He was designated for return from injured reserve on September 30 and began practicing again. Kirkwood was activated from injured reserve on October 17, but re-injured his left clavicle in his first game back and was placed back on injured reserve on October 20, ending his 2020 season prematurely.
On February 22, 2021, Kirkwood signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers. However, he was waived during final roster cuts on August 31 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. Kirkwood was later promoted to the active roster ahead of the Week 8 game against the Atlanta Falcons. On June 6, 2022, Kirkwood re-signed with the Panthers, but was released on August 30 during final roster cuts, ending his time with the organization.
New Orleans Saints Second Stint (2022–2023)
Kirkwood returned to the New Orleans Saints organization on September 28, 2022, when he was signed to the practice squad. On October 15, 2022, he was promoted to the active roster. His tenure with the Saints during this period featured multiple roster transitions, as he was released on October 29 and re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted again on January 4, 2023. Kirkwood re-signed with the Saints on February 17, 2023, continuing his association with the team that originally gave him his NFL opportunity.
Baltimore Ravens (2024–Present)
On June 28, 2024, Kirkwood signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He was released by Baltimore during final roster cuts on August 27, 2024, but re-signed with the team on a practice squad pact the following day. Kirkwood was elevated from the practice squad for the Ravens’ season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, though he did not appear in any games during the 2024 season.
On February 19, 2025, Kirkwood re-signed with the Ravens. Following this re-signing, he was released again during final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, and re-signed to the practice squad the following day, continuing his journeyman career with the organization.
Playing Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 3 inches and 210 pounds, Kirkwood possesses the size and frame that NFL teams look for in an outside wide receiver. His collegiate career at both Hawaii and Temple helped him develop route-running ability and hands reliability. His career path demonstrates persistence and the ability to bounce back from setbacks, including multiple injuries and roster transactions throughout his professional career.
Keith Kirkwood Career Statistics
Throughout his NFL career from 2018 to 2025, Kirkwood has appeared in games with three different franchises, demonstrating versatility and adaptability across different offensive systems. His career receiving totals reflect his role as a backup and rotational player rather than a primary target.
NFL Regular Season Statistics
Kirkwood’s career NFL statistics as of the 2024 season include 24 receptions for 294 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. These totals represent his contributions across the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, and Baltimore Ravens organizations.
| Season | Team | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–2019 | New Orleans Saints | Limited duty | Limited duty | Limited duty |
| 2020–2021 | Carolina Panthers | Limited duty | Limited duty | Limited duty |
| 2022–2023 | New Orleans Saints | Limited duty | Limited duty | Limited duty |
| 2024 | Baltimore Ravens | No games played | No games played | No games played |
Keith Kirkwood Family
Personal Life
Keith Kirkwood maintains a public presence on social media platforms including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), where he connects with fans under the handle @keith_kirkwood and @kirkwood_five respectively. Beyond his football career, Kirkwood’s background includes his New Jersey roots and his dual-sport athletic history at Neptune High School.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents a continuation of Kirkwood’s journey with the Baltimore Ravens organization. After re-signing with the team in February 2025 and subsequently being released during final roster cuts before re-joining the practice squad, Kirkwood remained in the Ravens system as a practice squad member. His role with the team positions him as depth at the wide receiver position, ready to be elevated if needed due to injuries or other roster circumstances.
Kirkwood’s career trajectory exemplifies the journeyman nature of NFL roster building, where players must constantly prove themselves and be ready to contribute at a moment’s notice. His persistence in remaining in the league through multiple team affiliations and injuries demonstrates his dedication to professional football. The Ravens coaching staff continues to evaluate him as a potential contributor should opportunities arise during the 2025 season and beyond.