Wikipedia

Desmond Ridder

Desmond Kelly Ridder(born August 31, 1999) is an American professionalfootballquarterbackfor theLas Vegas Raidersof theNational Football League(NFL). He playedcollege footballatCincinnati,where he was twice-namedAAC Offensive Player of the Yearbefore being selected by theAtlanta Falconsin the third round of the2022 NFL draft.Ridder has also been a member of theArizona Cardinals.

Desmond Ridder
refer to caption
Ridder with theAtlanta Falconsin 2023
No. 10 –Las Vegas Raiders
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1999-08-31)August 31, 1999(age 25)
Louisville, Kentucky,U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:St. Xavier(Louisville)
College:Cincinnati(2017–2021)
NFL draft:2022/ round: 3 / pick: 74
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 12, 2024
Passing attempts:529
Passing completions:338
Completion percentage:63.9%
TD–INT:15–12
Passing yards:3,682
Passer rating:84.3
StatsatPro Football Reference

Early life

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Ridder was born inLouisville, Kentucky,to a 15-year-old mother and was raised by his mother and grandmother. He attended Holy Family Parochial before attendingSt. Xavier High School.[1]

As a senior at St. Xavier, Ridder passed for 1,319 yards and nine touchdowns and also led the Tigers in rushing with 668 yards and 12 touchdowns and was named All-Metro.[2]He was rated as a two-star recruit byRivalsand a three-star recruit by24/7 Sportsand committed to playcollege footballat theUniversity of Cincinnatiover an offer fromEastern Kentucky.[1]He received his scholarship offer from Cincinnati head coachTommy Tubervillefollowing a tryout held on the morning of theKentucky Oaksfor offensive coordinatorZac Taylorduring his junior year. After Tuberville resigned during his senior year, new coachLuke Fickellhonored the offer and Ridder signed hisNational Letter of Intent.[1]

College career

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Ridderredshirtedhis true freshman season in 2017.[3]He became the Bearcats' starting quarterback as a redshirt freshman in 2018 and passed for 2,445 yards and 20 touchdowns and gained 583 yards rushing along with five touchdowns and was named theAmerican Athletic Conference(AAC) Rookie of the Year.[4][5]

As a redshirt sophomore in 2019, Ridder completed 179 of 325 passes for 2,164 yards and 18 touchdowns against nine interceptions while also rushing for 650 yards and five touchdowns.[6][7]He was named the MVP of the2020 Birmingham Bowlcompleting 14-of-24 passes for 95 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 105 yards and three touchdowns in a 38–6 victory overBoston College.[8]

The2020 seasonproved to be a breakout campaign for the junior quarterback. Ridder was named theWalter CampOffensive Player of the Week and theDavey O'BrienNational Quarterback of the Week after completing 13-of-21 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown and also rushing eight times for 179 yards and three touchdowns in a 42–13 win over 16th-rankedSMUon October 24, 2020.[9][10][11][12]At the conclusion of the regular season, Ridder was named theAAC Offensive Player of the Yearafter passing 2,296 yards, and 19 touchdowns with six interceptions, while also rushing for 592 yards and 12 touchdowns, in only nine games due to the COVID-19-shortened season.[13]Ridder considered declaring for the2021 NFL draft,but opted to return for his redshirt senior season.[14]

Ridder with theCincinnati Bearcatsin 2021

In 2021, for the second time in his career, Ridder was named theDavey O'BrienNational Quarterback of the Week after the No. 7 Bearcats defeated No. 9Notre Dameon the road. Ridder went 19-of-32 for 297 yards and two TDs. In addition, he rushed for 26 yards and a game-sealing fourth-quarter touchdown as the Bearcats snapped the Fighting Irish's 26-game home winning streak.[15]Following an unbeaten 12–0 season, Ridder and the Bearcats went into the2021 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Gameranked number four in the AP Polls, meaning a victory would see them stay in a playoff spot. Following a 35–20 win over theHouston Cougars,they became the firstGroup of Fiveteam to make the playoffs, as well as the last major undefeated team going into the postseason. Ridder and Cincinnati would fall 27–6 to theAlabama Crimson Tidein thecollege football playoff semi-finals,finishing his final year in college with 30 passing touchdowns, six rushing touchdowns, and just eight interceptions, in what was the best season in the program's history.

College statistics

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Cincinnati Bearcats
Season Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
2017 0 0 — Redshirted
2018 13 11 9–2 194 311 62.4 2,445 7.9 20 5 146.4 150 572 3.8 5
2019 13 13 11–2 179 325 55.1 2,164 6.7 18 9 123.7 144 650 4.5 5
2020 10 10 9–1 186 281 66.2 2,296 8.2 19 6 152.9 98 592 6.0 12
2021 14 14 13–1 251 387 64.9 3,334 8.6 30 8 158.7 110 355 3.2 6
Career 50 48 42–6 810 1,304 62.1 10,239 7.9 87 28 145.8 501 2,180 4.4 28

Professional career

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Pre-draft

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After wrapping up his collegiate career at Cincinnati, Ridder was invited to theNFL Scouting Combine,where he measured in at 6'3 "and 211 lbs., with a 32.75-inch arm span and a 10-inch hand span. With a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, Ridder posted one of the fastest times recorded by a quarterback. At the end of the pre-draft process, most experts had projected Ridder as a first-round to third-round pick. He was rated as the fourth-best quarterback prospect in the2022 NFL draftclass, afterMalik Willis,Kenny Pickett,andMatt Corral.[citation needed]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Wonderlic
6 ft3+3⁄8in
(1.91 m) 		211 lb
(96 kg) 		32+3⁄4in
(0.83 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)		 4.52 s 1.54 s 2.59 s 4.29 s 7.15 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)		 10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)		 19[16]
All values fromNFL Combine[17][18]

Atlanta Falcons

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2022 season

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Ridder during the 2022 NFL Draft

Ridder was drafted in the third round (74th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by theAtlanta Falcons.[19]Ridder was considered a surprise fall in the draft, as many analysts had projected him to be drafted in the first round as high as the eighth overall pick. He was just the second quarterback to be selected in the draft, afterKenny Pickettwas selected in the first round by thePittsburgh Steelers.[20]

In his first training camp in the NFL, Ridder competed for the starting quarterback job against veteranMarcus Mariota.On July 28, 2022, head coachArthur Smithnamed Mariota as the starting quarterback to open the season, with Ridder serving as the backup.

On December 8, 2022, the Falcons benched Mariota and named Ridder as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season.[21]Ridder made his NFL debut in Week 15 against theNew Orleans Saints,where he was 13-of-26 for 97 yards, zero touchdowns, zero interceptions, and 38 rushing yards in the 18–21 loss.[22]In Week 17 against theArizona Cardinals,Ridder was 19-of-26 for 169 yards in the 20–19 victory, his first career NFL win.[23]In Week 18 against theTampa Bay Buccaneers,Ridder was 19-for-30 for 224 yards and two touchdowns in the 30–17 win.[24]

Ridder finished his rookie season with 708 passing yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, an 86.4 passer rating, and 64 rushing yards.[25]

2023 season

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In March 2023, Falcons head coachArthur Smithannounced that Ridder would remain the starting quarterback at the start of the 2023 season.[26]

In Week 8, Ridder was benched at the start of the second half game against theTennessee Titans,being replaced byTaylor Heinicke.[27]In Week 9, on November 1, head coach Arthur Smith downgraded him on the depth chart after naming Heinicke as the Falcons' new starting quarterback for the game against theMinnesota Vikings.[28]In Week 12, Ridder was renamed as the starter after Heinicke went 0–2.[29]He finished the 2023 season with 2,836 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions to go with 53 carries for 193 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.[30]

Arizona Cardinals

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After the Falcons signedKirk Cousins,Ridder was traded to theArizona Cardinalson March 14, 2024, in exchange for wide receiverRondale Moore.[31]On August 27, 2024, Ridder lost the battle for backup quarterback againstClayton Tuneand was released by the Cardinals, then re-signed to their practice squad the next day.[32][33]

Las Vegas Raiders

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After Las Vegas Raiders' quarterbackAidan O'Connellwas placed on injured reserve, Ridder was signed off theArizona Cardinalspractice squad on October 21, 2024.[34]

In Week 12 against theDenver Broncos,Ridder came in at quarterback for the Raiders after a collarbone injury toGardner Minshew.[35]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Led the league
Year Team Games Passing Rushing Sacked Fumbles
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A Lng TD Int Rtg Att Yds Y/A Lng TD Sck Yds Fum Lost
2022 ATL 4 4 2–2 73 115 63.5 708 6.2 40 2 0 86.4 16 64 4.0 18 0 9 33 3 2
2023 ATL 15 13 6–7 249 388 64.2 2,836 7.3 71 12 12 83.4 53 193 3.6 23 5 31 197 12 7
2024 LV 3 0 — 16 26 61.5 138 5.3 28 1 0 88.3 2 5 2.5 3 0 6 50 2 2
Career 22 17 8–9 338 529 63.9 3,682 7.0 71 15 12 84.3 71 262 3.7 23 5 46 280 17 11

Personal life

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Ridder married his wife, Claire, on July 15, 2022. The couple have one daughter and a son.

References

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  1. ^abcForde, Pat (November 19, 2020)."Midwestern Revival Tour: Cincinnati".Sports Illustrated.Archivedfrom the original on November 19, 2020.RetrievedNovember 20,2020.
  2. ^Frakes, Jason (August 16, 2016)."All-Metro: St. Xavier QB Desmond Ridder".USA Today High School Sports.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2016.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  3. ^Springer, Scott (March 13, 2019)."Will Desmond Ridder be a four-year starter for UC like QB coach Gino Guidugli?".The Cincinnati Enquirer.Archivedfrom the original on March 13, 2019.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  4. ^Williams, Justin (October 3, 2018)."How Desmond Ridder won UC's starting quarterback job and sparked the Bearcats' turnaround".The Athletic.Archivedfrom the original on November 11, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  5. ^Williams, Justin (August 9, 2019)."Desmond Ridder is still the same. Desmond Ridder has changed".The Athletic.Archivedfrom the original on November 28, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  6. ^Williams, Justin (September 15, 2020)."Desmond Ridder and the man in the mirror".The Athletic.Archivedfrom the original on September 28, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  7. ^Goldsmith, Charlie (October 3, 2020)."Where Desmond Ridder stands after Cincinnati Bearcats first month of the season".The Cincinnati Enquirer.Archivedfrom the original on October 29, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  8. ^Goldberg, Rob (January 2, 2020)."Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati Dominate Boston College in 2020 Birmingham Bowl".Bleacher Report.Archivedfrom the original on January 3, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  9. ^"Ridder named Walter Camp FBS Offensive Player of the Week".Local12.October 26, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on April 11, 2023.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  10. ^"Desmond Ridder runs, passes No. 19 Cincinnati past No. 16 SMU".Orlando Sentinel.Associated Press.October 25, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on November 29, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  11. ^Williams, Justin (October 27, 2020)."How Desmond Ridder ran wild and some defensive 'sorcery' in UC's win over SMU".The Athletic.Archivedfrom the original on November 1, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  12. ^Greer, Jarvis (October 29, 2020)."Cincy's Ridder Nation quarterback of the week".WMC Action News 5.Archivedfrom the original on November 3, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  13. ^"American Announces 2020 Football Postseason Honors"(Press release). American Athletic Conference. December 15, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on December 15, 2020.RetrievedDecember 15,2020.
  14. ^Rittenberg, Adam (January 8, 2021)."QB Desmond Ridder returning to Cincinnati for 2021 season".ESPN.Archivedfrom the original on April 15, 2021.RetrievedMay 26,2021.
  15. ^"Cincinnati's Ridder Tabbed Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week".Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2021.RetrievedOctober 6,2021.
  16. ^Koons, Zach (April 25, 2022)."Wonderlic Scores for Seven of This Year's Top NFL QB Prospects Are Out".SI.Archivedfrom the original on October 23, 2022.RetrievedOctober 22,2022.
  17. ^"Draft and Combine Prospect Profile".NFL.Archivedfrom the original on March 7, 2022.RetrievedMarch 7,2022.
  18. ^"Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati, QB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football".draftscout.Archivedfrom the original on April 3, 2022.RetrievedMarch 7,2022.
  19. ^"2022 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedMay 20,2023.
  20. ^Bair, Scott; McElhaney, Tori (April 29, 2022)."Falcons select QB Desmond Ridder with No. 74 overall 2022 NFL Draft pick".AtlantaFalcons.RetrievedMay 3,2022.
  21. ^Shook, Nick (December 8, 2022)."Desmond Ridder to take over as Falcons' starting quarterback; Atlanta to bench Marcus Mariota".NFL.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2022.RetrievedDecember 11,2022.
  22. ^"Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – December 18th, 2022".Pro-Football-Reference.Archivedfrom the original on December 20, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 9,2023.
  23. ^"Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons – January 1st, 2023".Pro-Football-Reference.Archivedfrom the original on January 9, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 9,2023.
  24. ^"Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – January 8th, 2023".Pro-Football-Reference.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 10,2023.
  25. ^"Desmond Ridder 2022 Game Log".Pro-Football-Reference.Archivedfrom the original on January 4, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 10,2023.
  26. ^Rothstein, Michael (March 28, 2023)."Falcons officially name Desmond Ridder starting quarterback".ESPN.RetrievedNovember 2,2023.
  27. ^Rothstein, Michael (October 29, 2023)."Falcons' Taylor Heinicke replaces QB Desmond Ridder vs. Titans".RetrievedNovember 2,2023.
  28. ^Gordon, Grant (November 1, 2023)."Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke to start vs. Vikings, Desmond Ridder to serve as backup".NFL.RetrievedNovember 2,2023.
  29. ^Rapoport, Ian (November 19, 2023)."Falcons to start QB Desmond Ridder for next game vs. Saints".NFL.RetrievedOctober 21,2024.
  30. ^"Desmond Ridder 2023 Game Log".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedOctober 21,2024.
  31. ^Urban, Darren (March 14, 2024)."Cardinals Trade For Desmond Ridder To Back Up Kyler Murray".Arizona Cardinals.RetrievedOctober 21,2024.
  32. ^Shook, Nick (August 27, 2024)."Cardinals release QB Desmond Ridder months after trade; Clayton Tune to back up Kyler Murray".NFL.RetrievedOctober 21,2024.
  33. ^Edwards, Josh (August 28, 2024)."2024 NFL practice squad tracker: Full list of team-by-team moves, signings for all 32 clubs after cut deadline".CBSSports.RetrievedAugust 29,2024.
  34. ^Damien, Levi (October 21, 2024)."Raiders add competition at quarterback, signing former Falcons starter".USA Today.
  35. ^Smith, Michael David (November 25, 2024)."Gardner Minshew hurt, Desmond Ridder in at QB for Raiders".NBC Sports.RetrievedNovember 26,2024.
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