John Rhys Plumlee Bio
John Rhys Plumlee (born January 2, 2001) is an American professional football player who currently serves as a quarterback and wide receiver. He plays for the Houston Gamblers of the United Football League (UFL). Plumlee played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and the UCF Knights while also competing as a center fielder on both schools’ baseball teams. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024, signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Early Life and Background
John Rhys Plumlee was born to Denton and Lori Plumlee on January 2, 2001, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He grew up in Hattiesburg and attended Oak Grove High School, where he excelled in both baseball and football. His older sister, Rhyan, and younger sister, Reese, were both standout volleyball players at Oak Grove High School. Plumlee began his high school football career as the Warriors’ starting quarterback during his sophomore year.
During his junior season, Plumlee passed for 1,759 yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while rushing for 599 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games. He earned recognition by being named to The Clarion-Ledger’s “Dandy Dozen” list. In baseball that same year, he batted .442 with 35 RBIs and 38 runs scored in 27 games. Rated as a four-star recruit, Plumlee initially committed to play college football at the University of Georgia during the summer before ultimately choosing a different path.
Path to College Football
As a senior at Oak Grove High School, Plumlee had a standout season. He completed 187-of-291 passes for 2,834 yards with 33 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. He also rushed for 1,444 yards and 19 touchdowns on 162 carries, averaging 8.9 yards per rush. He led his team to a Southern State championship before the Warriors fell to Horn Lake High School in the title game.
Plumlee finished his high school career with 5,430 passing yards, 2,314 rushing yards, and 82 total touchdowns across three seasons. After the season, he de-committed from Georgia and accepted a scholarship to play both football and baseball at the University of Mississippi. In his final baseball season at Oak Grove, he batted .411 with 39 hits, 45 runs scored, seven doubles, five triples, two home runs, and 24 RBIs in 29 games, earning 2019 5A/6A All-State honors.
John Rhys Plumlee Career
Ole Miss Rebels (2019–2021)
Plumlee began his true freshman season in 2019 as the Rebels’ backup quarterback behind Matt Corral. He made his collegiate debut against the California Golden Bears after Corral suffered an injury. Plumlee completed all seven of his passes for 82 yards and rushed three times for 53 yards. He nearly led the team to a comeback win before being stopped at California’s one-yard line as time expired. He made his first career start the following week against the Alabama Crimson Tide, completing 35.7 percent of his passes for 141 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while rushing for 109 yards and one touchdown.
Plumlee earned Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Week honors after rushing for 165 yards and a touchdown with 99 passing yards against the Vanderbilt Commodores. On November 10 against the New Mexico State Aggies, he broke Ole Miss freshman records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns with 177 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. He finished the season with 910 passing yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions on 79-for-150 passing while rushing 154 times for 1,023 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 1,023 rushing yards set Ole Miss records for rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and total touchdowns by a freshman quarterback.
During his sophomore season in 2020, Corral was named the starting quarterback over Plumlee, who continued to be used in package plays. He occasionally lined up at wide receiver and saw significant time at that position in the Rebels’ 26-20 win over the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2021 Outback Bowl, catching five passes for 73 yards. Plumlee finished that season with 65 passing yards, one touchdown, 94 rushing yards, and six receptions for 79 yards in six games.
Plumlee entered his junior season listed as a wide receiver. He finished the season with 19 receptions for 201 yards and 72 rushing yards on nine carries. Following Ole Miss’s appearance in the 2022 Sugar Bowl, he announced he would enter the transfer portal.
UCF Knights (2022–2023)
Plumlee announced his commitment to transfer to the University of Central Florida on January 9, 2022. He was named the Knights’ starting quarterback going into the 2022 season. He tied a school record with seven total touchdowns in a 70-13 win over the Temple Owls on October 13, 2022, completing 18 of 22 pass attempts for 373 yards and four touchdowns while rushing seven times for 37 yards and three touchdowns.
Plumlee finished the 2022 season with 218 completions on 346 pass attempts for 2,586 yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 862 yards and 11 touchdowns. He earned AAC Offensive Player of the Week honors three times and was named second-team All-AAC by Phil Steele.
College Baseball Career
Plumlee began his freshman baseball season at Ole Miss as the Rebels’ starting center fielder, playing alongside football teammate Jerrion Ealy. He had one hit in 16 at-bats before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. He later committed to play baseball for UCF but his waiver to participate in the 2022 season was denied by the NCAA. During the 2023 season, he went viral on April 14 for playing in both a baseball game and a football game on the same day. He was caught leaving the baseball game in a uniform change to play in the spring football game. In the baseball victory over the Memphis Tigers, he went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. At the football game, he threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard pass. Plumlee finished the 2023 baseball season batting .286 with 11 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 43 runs scored, and 32 RBIs, leading the team with 18 stolen bases.
John Rhys Plumlee Career
Professional Career
Plumlee entered the 2024 NFL Draft as an undrafted free agent. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on April 27, 2024. However, he was selected by the Arlington Renegades with the third overall selection in the 2024 UFL Draft on July 17, 2024. The Steelers waived him on August 27, 2024.
On August 30, 2024, Plumlee joined the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad. He was released by the Jaguars on November 12, 2024. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on November 20, 2024. On January 2, 2025, Plumlee was signed to Seattle’s active roster as a wide receiver. He was waived by the Seahawks on August 26, 2025, with an injury designation as part of final roster cuts.
Plumlee returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 29, 2025, signing with their practice squad. He was waived on November 4, 2025, before being re-signed to the practice squad on November 18, 2025. On January 14, 2026, he signed a reserve/futures contract with Pittsburgh. He was released by the Steelers on April 28, 2026.
Houston Gamblers (2026-Present)
On May 2, 2026, Plumlee signed with the Houston Gamblers of the United Football League. He joined the UFL team as both a quarterback and wide receiver, bringing his dual-position versatility to the league.
John Rhys Plumlee Family
Family Background
John Rhys Plumlee was born to Denton and Lori Plumlee in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His family has strong athletic roots. His older sister, Rhyan, and younger sister, Reese, were both standout volleyball players at Oak Grove High School, though the family does not have documented racing lineage since Plumlee is a football and baseball athlete rather than a racing competitor.
Personal Life
Plumlee has maintained an impressive dual-sport career, competing at the collegiate level in both football and baseball. His ability to play both sports at a high level was demonstrated when he participated in both a baseball game and football game on the same day during the 2023 season. He has continued to develop his skills as both a quarterback and wide receiver at the professional level. Information regarding his marital status, spouse, or children is not publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for John Rhys Plumlee in professional football. He began the year with the Seattle Seahawks, signing to their active roster on his birthday, January 2, 2025. This marked his transition from quarterback to wide receiver on an NFL active roster. His ability to contribute at multiple positions demonstrated his versatility to NFL teams.
Plumlee was released by the Seahawks in late August 2025 as part of final roster cuts following the preseason. He subsequently joined the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad in late October 2025. His journey through multiple organizations highlighted the challenges facing undrafted players attempting to establish themselves in the NFL.
Throughout his early professional career, Plumlee has continued to showcase the dual-threat ability that characterized his college career. His experience playing both quarterback and wide receiver provides him with unique value as a player who can contribute in multiple offensive roles. The 2025 season concluded with his continued presence in professional football, setting the stage for his 2026 campaign with the Houston Gamblers in the UFL.