Montavian Lamar Rice-Jordan Bio
Montavian Lamar Rice-Jordan is an American professional football linebacker who currently plays for the Louisville Kings of the United Football League. Born on January 8, 1999, in Huntsville, Alabama, Rice-Jordan played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs from 2017 to 2020 before being selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Throughout his professional career, he has played for multiple NFL franchises including the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, and Detroit Lions. Rice-Jordan earned Second-team All-American honors and was a First-team All-SEC selection during his senior season at Georgia in 2020.
Early Life and Background
Rice-Jordan grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, where he attended St. John Paul II Catholic High School during his freshman year before transferring to James Clemens High School in Madison, Alabama for his final three years of high school. At James Clemens, he developed into a highly decorated linebacker. As a senior during the 2016 season, he recorded 137 tackles, one sack, four interceptions, and four touchdowns, showcasing the tackling ability and playmaking instincts that would define his collegiate career.
Rice-Jordan originally committed to play college football at Louisiana State University before later changing his commitment to the University of Georgia. His decision to join the Georgia Bulldogs program proved significant, as he would go on to become one of the most accomplished linebackers in the schools history.
Path to American Football
Upon arriving at the University of Georgia, Rice-Jordan immediately contributed as a true freshman in 2017. He appeared in 14 games with one start and recorded 22 tackles, demonstrating his ability to make an impact at the SEC level despite limited starting experience. His progression continued through his sophomore season in 2018, when he started five of nine games and recorded 59 tackles with one sack, showing improvement in his ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks.
The 2019 season marked Rice-Jordans emergence as a defensive leader. He started all 14 games at inside linebacker and was named co-winner of the teams Vince Dooley Defensive MVP award after leading Georgia with 89 tackles. His performance earned him Second-team All-SEC honors and solidified his status as one of the top linebackers in the conference. Rather than entering the 2020 NFL Draft, Rice-Jordan chose to return to Georgia for his senior season, a decision that would elevate his draft stock significantly.
Montavian Lamar Rice-Jordan Career
Tennessee Titans (2021–2023)
Rice-Jordan was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round, 92nd overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract with the Titans on July 24, 2021. Entering his rookie season as a backup inside linebacker behind Rashaan Evans, Jayon Brown, and David Long Jr., Rice-Jordan worked to earn playing time in a competitive Titans linebacker room. However, his rookie campaign was cut short when he suffered an ankle injury in Week 12 and was placed on injured reserve on November 30, 2021.
During the 2022 season, Rice-Jordan faced additional challenges. He was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list on July 23, 2022, and subsequently placed on the reserve list on August 24. He was activated from the reserve list on October 8, 2022, but the injury setbacks limited his ability to establish himself as a consistent contributor. On December 5, 2023, Rice-Jordan was waived by the Titans, bringing his tenure in Tennessee to an end.
New Orleans Saints (2023–2024)
One day after being waived by the Titans, Rice-Jordan was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints on December 6, 2023. He was signed to the Saints active roster and finished the 2023 season with the team. Rice-Jordan was waived by the Saints on August 27, 2024, during final roster cuts, marking another transition in his professional career.
Atlanta Falcons (2024)
Rice-Jordan signed with the Atlanta Falcons practice squad on August 30, 2024. He remained on the practice squad until being released on October 21, 2024. The stint provided him with continued NFL experience but did not result in a promotion to the active roster during his time in Atlanta.
New England Patriots (2024–2025)
On November 5, 2024, Rice-Jordan was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad. His strong work on the practice squad earned him a promotion to the Patriots active roster on January 4, 2025. He began the 2025 season with New England and was with the team until being released on August 22, 2025.
Detroit Lions (2025)
Rice-Jordan signed with the Detroit Lions practice squad on September 9, 2025. His tenure with the Lions was brief, as he was released on September 16, 2025. The short stint did not provide the stability he sought with a new team.
Playing Style and Strengths
Rice-Jordan is primarily known as an inside linebacker with solid tackling ability and instincts for diagnosing plays. Throughout his college and professional career, he has demonstrated a nose for the ball, particularly evident in his 129 career NFL tackles and his leading tackle numbers at Georgia. His experience in multiple defensive schemes, from the Titans 4-3 base to various other formations, has shown his versatility. Rice-Jordan excels in run defense and has shown the ability to drop back in coverage when required.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining milestone in Rice-Jordans career remains his selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, fulfilling his professional football aspirations. His college career was highlighted by earning Vince Dooley Defensive MVP honors at Georgia and leading the team in tackles during his junior and senior seasons. His journey through multiple NFL organizations has tested his resilience and adaptability at the professional level.
Montavian Lamar Rice-Jordan Career Statistics
Across four seasons in the National Football League from 2021 through 2024, Rice-Jordan appeared in games for the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints. He accumulated 129 total tackles and 2 pass deflections during his NFL career.
| Season | Team | Total Tackles | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tennessee Titans | 129 | 2 |
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for Rice-Jordan. After beginning the year with the New England Patriots following his practice squad promotion late in 2024, he was released during final roster cuts in August. He subsequently joined the Detroit Lions practice squad in September but was released less than two weeks later. The season highlighted the challenges of maintaining a roster spot in the NFL and demonstrated the competitive nature of professional football.
Following his release from the Lions, Rice-Jordan signed with the Louisville Kings of the United Football League on January 14, 2026. The UFL provides a fresh opportunity for Rice-Jordan to continue his professional football career and showcase his abilities as an inside linebacker. His experience at the SEC and NFL levels, combined with his All-American pedigree, positions him as a potential impact player in the league.