Desmond Kelly Ridder Bio
Desmond Kelly Ridder is an American professional football quarterback who has played for multiple NFL franchises since entering the league in 2022. Born on August 31, 1999, in Louisville, Kentucky, Ridder attended St. Xavier High School before playing college football at the University of Cincinnati, where he became one of the most decorated quarterbacks in the schools history. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has since played for the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers. Ridder earned American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors twice and led Cincinnati to its first College Football Playoff appearance.
Early Life and Background
Ridder was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to a 15-year-old mother and was raised primarily by his mother and grandmother. He attended Holy Family Parochial School for his early education before enrolling at St. Xavier High School. His upbringing in a challenging environment shaped his resilience and determination, qualities that would later define his football career.
As a senior at St. Xavier High School, Ridder demonstrated dual-threat capabilities by passing for 1,319 yards and nine touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 668 yards and 12 touchdowns. He earned All-Metro honors for his performance. Despite his success in high school, Ridder received limited recruiting attention, being rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com and a three-star recruit by 24/7 Sports.
Path to Professional Football
Ridder received his scholarship offer from University of Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville following a tryout held on the morning of the Kentucky Oaks for offensive coordinator Zac Taylor during his junior year. When Tuberville resigned during Ridder senior year, new coach Luke Fickell honored the scholarship offer, and Ridder signed his National Letter of Intent to play for the Bearcats.
He redshirted his true freshman season in 2017 before becoming the starting quarterback as a redshirt freshman in 2018. That season, he passed for 2,445 yards and 20 touchdowns while also rushing for 583 yards and five touchdowns, earning AAC Rookie of the Year honors. His performance established him as a foundational piece for Cincinnatis program during a transformative period in the schools football history.
Desmond Kelly Ridder Career
College Career at Cincinnati (2017–2021)
Ridder became the Bearcats starting quarterback and steadily improved each season. As a redshirt sophomore in 2019, he completed 179 of 325 passes for 2,164 yards and 18 touchdowns against nine interceptions while adding 650 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
The 2020 season marked his breakthrough campaign. Ridder was named Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week and Davey OBrien National Quarterback of the Week after a remarkable performance against 16th-ranked SMU, where he completed 13-of-21 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 179 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-13 victory. He was named AAC Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 2,296 yards and 19 touchdowns with six interceptions and rushing for 592 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine games during the COVID-19-shortened season.
Ridder considered declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft but opted to return for his redshirt senior season. In 2021, he earned Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week honors after leading the seventh-ranked Bearcats to a victory over ninth-ranked Notre Dame on the road, snapping the Fighting Irishs 26-game home winning streak. Following an unbeaten 12-0 regular season, Ridder led Cincinnati to the AAC Championship with a 35-20 win over Houston, making the Bearcats the first Group of Five team to qualify for the College Football Playoff. He finished his college career with 30 passing touchdowns, six rushing touchdowns, and just eight interceptions during his final season.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2022–2023)
Ridder was selected in the third round with the 74th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was considered a surprise fall in the draft, as many analysts had projected him as a first-round selection. In his first training camp, he competed for the starting quarterback job against veteran Marcus Mariota. On July 28, 2022, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith named Mariota the starter to open the season, with Ridder serving as the backup.
On December 8, after the Falcons posted a 5-8 record, the team benched Mariota and named Ridder the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. He made his NFL debut in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints, completing 13-of-26 passes for 97 yards with 38 rushing yards in a narrow loss. Ridder earned his first career NFL victory in Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals, going 19-of-26 for 169 yards in a 20-19 win. He finished his rookie season with 708 passing yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, and an 86.4 passer rating.
In March 2023, Smith announced Ridder would remain the starting quarterback for the 2023 season. However, his second season was turbulent. In Week 8, after a poor first half against the Tennessee Titans, Ridder was benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke. He was later downgraded on the depth chart before being renamed the starter in Week 12 after Heinicke went 0-2. Ridder finished the 2023 season with 2,836 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while adding 193 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Arizona Cardinals (2024)
On March 14, 2024, Ridder was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore. The move came after the Falcons signed veteran Kirk Cousins. However, Ridder lost the battle for the backup quarterback position to Clayton Tune during training camp. He was released by the Cardinals as part of final roster cuts on August 27 and re-signed to their practice squad the following day.
Las Vegas Raiders (2024)
On October 21, 2024, Ridder was signed off the Cardinals practice squad to the Las Vegas Raiders roster after quarterback Aidan OConnell was placed on injured reserve. He served as backup to Gardner Minshew. In Week 9, Ridder entered the game against the Cincinnati Bengals with the Raiders down 31-10 in the third quarter, completing 11-of-16 passes for 74 yards with a touchdown and a lost fumble.
When Minshew suffered a season-ending collarbone injury against the Denver Broncos, Ridder saw increased playing time. Although OConnell returned as starter, Ridder saw action in Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, completing 12-of-18 passes for 101 yards. He was named the starter for Week 15 against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, in a game that ended in a 9-15 loss.
Cincinnati Bengals (2025)
On July 20, 2025, Ridder was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of training camp. This marked a homecoming for the former Bearcats star, though he was waived by the Bengals on August 26 as part of final roster cuts before the regular season began.
Minnesota Vikings (2025)
On September 16, 2025, Ridder was signed by the Minnesota Vikings following an injury to rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He was waived by the Vikings on October 4 but re-signed to their practice squad on November 27 after McCarthy was placed in concussion protocol. Ridder was released by the Vikings again on December 2.
Green Bay Packers (2025–2026)
On December 31, 2025, Ridder was signed to the Green Bay Packers practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on January 6, 2026, before being released by the Packers on May 4, 2026, continuing his journeyman path through the NFL.
Playing Style and Strengths
Ridder possesses prototypical quarterback size at 6-foot-3 and 211 pounds, combined with above-average mobility. He recorded a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, one of the fastest times recorded by a quarterback. His dual-threat ability allows him to extend plays with his legs while also making accurate throws on the run. Ridder demonstrated composure in high-pressure situations during his college career, leading multiple fourth-quarter comebacks and excelling in critical conference championship moments.
Career Statistics
Through the 2025 NFL season, Ridder has appeared in multiple games across six franchises. In his NFL career, he has completed 374 of 588 pass attempts for 4,002 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, posting an 82.6 passer rating. His college career at Cincinnati saw him accumulate significant passing and rushing statistics over four seasons, including AAC Rookie of the Year honors in 2018 and consecutive AAC Offensive Player of the Year awards in 2020 and 2021.
Desmond Kelly Ridder Career Wins
Ridder accumulated notable victories across his college and professional career. In college, he led Cincinnati to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance and won the AAC Championship in 2021. In the NFL, he recorded his first career victory with the Atlanta Falcons against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17 of the 2022 season and led the Raiders to competitive performances during his brief starting opportunities in 2024.
College Highlights
During his time at Cincinnati, Ridder led the Bearcats to a 44-10 record as a starter, including an unbeaten 13-0 regular season in 2021. He was named MVP of the 2020 Birmingham Bowl after rushing for 105 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-6 victory over Boston College. His most significant achievement came in 2021 when he guided Cincinnati to a 35-20 victory over Houston in the AAC Championship Game, making history as the first Group of Five team to earn a College Football Playoff berth.
Professional Highlights
Ridder earned his first NFL win on January 1, 2023, when the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Arizona Cardinals 20-19. He also recorded a 30-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 of the 2022 season, completing 19-of-30 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. During his time with the Raiders in 2024, he provided solid backup performances and earned a start against his former team.
Desmond Kelly Ridder Family
Family Background
Ridder was raised by his mother and grandmother in Louisville, Kentucky, after being born to a 15-year-old mother. His family background, marked by adversity and resilience, shaped his character and work ethic throughout his football journey. The support system he developed with his mother and grandmother provided the foundation for his eventual success at the highest levels of football.
Personal Life
Ridder married his high school sweetheart, Claire Cornett, on July 15, 2022. The couple has two children together. Ridder maintains a strong presence on social media, connecting with fans through his Instagram account where he shares glimpses of his professional and family life. His relationship with Cornett, which began during their high school years, represents a enduring partnership throughout his rise from a lightly recruited quarterback to an NFL player.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season continued Ridder journeyman trajectory through the league. After being waived by the Cincinnati Bengals during final roster cuts in late August, he joined the Minnesota Vikings in September following an injury to J.J. McCarthy. His time with the Vikings was brief, as he was waived in early October before returning to their practice squad later that month when McCarthy entered concussion protocol.
Riddlers season took another turn when he signed with the Green Bay Packers practice squad on December 31, 2025. He was promoted to the active roster in early January 2026, providing him an opportunity to compete for a spot on the Packers roster during the 2026 season. Throughout his NFL career, Ridder has demonstrated adaptability and persistence, qualities essential for a backup quarterback navigating the business side of professional football.