Alex Erickson Bio
Alex Michael Erickson is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist who has built a steady career in the National Football League through dependable special-teams play and versatile receiving production. Born and raised in a small Wisconsin community, Erickson earned his opportunity as an undrafted free agent and turned it into a long professional journey across multiple franchises. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016. Across his NFL career he has also been a member of the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders, New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots.
Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and listed at 195 pounds, Erickson is known primarily for his work as a kick and punt returner, while also contributing as a rotational pass catcher. He led the NFL in kickoff return yards during his 2016 rookie season, an early sign of the field-flipping value he would provide to teams throughout his career. His path through professional football reflects persistence, role specialization and the value of dependable special-teams contributors.
Early Life and Background
Alex Michael Erickson was born on November 6, 1992, in Darlington, Wisconsin, a small town in the southwestern part of the state. He grew up in a community where high school football carried significant local pride, and he developed into a multi-position standout at Darlington High School. His athletic versatility allowed him to line up at quarterback, defensive back and on special teams, giving him a broad foundation that would later serve him well in professional football.
During his high school career, Erickson rushed for 3,856 yards and 57 touchdowns while also passing for 3,648 yards and 37 touchdowns. On the defensive side, he recorded 170 tackles and 14 interceptions, demonstrating a two-way skill set uncommon even among top recruits. He was selected to play in the WFCA All-Star game and was named the Wisconsin State Journal Small School Player of the Year. He earned first-team all-state honors as a defensive back and first-team all-conference recognition at both quarterback and defensive back.
In his senior season alone, Erickson gained 2,489 yards of total offense, scored 33 touchdowns and made 50 tackles with three interceptions. His production earned him a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, where he would eventually graduate in December 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management.
Path to American Football
Erickson’s path to professional football ran through one of the most respected Big Ten programs in the country. At Wisconsin, he joined a program known for developing pro-ready wide receivers and return men, and he gradually worked his way into a meaningful offensive role over three lettered seasons. He finished his college career ranked tenth in Wisconsin history with 1,877 receiving yards and sixth all-time with 141 career receptions, an impressive climb from a lightly recruited multi-sport high school athlete.
In his first full offensive role during the 2013 season, Erickson appeared in seven games and recorded nine receptions for 127 receiving yards. His role expanded significantly the following year, when he posted 55 receptions for 772 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns across 13 games. By his senior season, he was a focal point of the Badgers’ passing attack, catching 77 passes for 978 receiving yards and three touchdowns. That year he was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media, second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches, and Academic All-Big Ten for the third consecutive year.
Despite his production, Erickson went unselected in the 2016 NFL Draft. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent, becoming the only undrafted rookie to make the Bengals’ final roster that season. That opportunity launched a professional career that has now spanned multiple organizations and nearly a decade of regular-season football.
Alex Erickson Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Erickson burst onto the NFL scene as a rookie return specialist in 2016, leading the league with 810 kickoff return yards while averaging 27.9 yards per return. He also served as the team’s primary punt returner and contributed as a backup receiver, finishing his first season with six receptions for 71 yards. His immediate impact on special teams validated the Bengals’ decision to keep him on the roster.
In 2017, Erickson recorded his first NFL touchdown on November 19, scoring on a 29-yard pass from quarterback Andy Dalton during a 20–17 victory over the Denver Broncos. He finished that season with 12 receptions for 180 receiving yards and a touchdown, while adding 32 kick returns for 663 net yards and 39 punt returns for 278 net yards. The Bengals rewarded his consistency in 2018 with a two-year contract extension through the 2020 season, and he posted 20 receptions for 187 yards that year.
Cincinnati Bengals Breakthrough (2019–2020)
The 2019 season represented the high point of Erickson’s pass-catching production with the Bengals. On October 20, 2019, he posted his first career 100-yard receiving game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, finishing with 137 receiving yards in a 27–17 loss. That performance signaled his emergence as a legitimate complementary receiver, not just a return specialist.
He finished the 2019 season with 43 receptions for 529 receiving yards, his strongest year as a professional receiver to that point. Across his full Bengals tenure from 2016 through 2020, Erickson served as one of the most dependable special-teams players in the AFC and a reliable underneath target for Cincinnati’s quarterbacks.
Journeyman Years (2021–2023)
After his Bengals tenure, Erickson began a stretch of one-year and short-term stints with several NFL franchises. He signed with the Houston Texans on March 30, 2021, before being released on August 31, 2021. He quickly caught on with the Carolina Panthers practice squad on September 6, 2021, signing to their active roster a week later.
In 2022, Erickson signed with the Washington Commanders, was waived late in camp and returned to the practice squad. He signed a reserve and future contract in January 2023 and was released in May 2023. He then joined the New York Jets in July 2023, was released in late August, and signed with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad. He was promoted to the Chargers’ active roster on December 2, 2023, continuing his reputation as a steady special-teams addition late in the season.
New England Patriots Era (2024)
On December 18, 2024, the New England Patriots signed Erickson to their practice squad, marking another late-season opportunity to contribute in the AFC East. Throughout this stretch of his career, Erickson has remained in demand for his return-game consistency and locker-room professionalism.
Driving Style and Strengths
Erickson’s professional profile is built on special-teams reliability, sure hands and route discipline. As a returner he reads blocks patiently and accelerates decisively through small seams, which is why he has remained employable across so many organizations. As a receiver he runs precise underneath routes, adjusts well to back-shoulder throws, and presents a reliable target on third downs and in the short passing game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Erickson’s signature achievement came in 2016 when he led the NFL in kickoff return yards with 810, an unusual distinction for an undrafted rookie. He later recorded his first NFL touchdown on a 29-yard pass from Andy Dalton in 2017 and posted his first 100-yard receiving game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. Becoming the only undrafted free agent to make the Bengals’ 2016 roster is another milestone that helped launch his professional career.
Alex Erickson Career Wins
Alex Michael Erickson’s professional resume is measured less in signature victories and more in consistent production, dependable special-teams play and longevity across nearly a decade in the NFL. He has recorded 112 career receptions for 1,373 receiving yards along with 4,179 combined return yards and 2 total touchdowns, according to verified NFL statistics. His career reflects the value of role specialization in a league where return and coverage contributions often determine roster spots for veteran players.
Cincinnati Bengals Highlights
Erickson’s most productive and stable years came with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2016 through 2020. During that span he developed from an undrafted return specialist into a regular contributor on offense, posting his best receiving season in 2019 with 43 catches for 529 yards. His NFL kickoff return title in 2016 and his two-year contract extension in 2018 were the defining markers of his Bengals tenure.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond Cincinnati, Erickson has appeared on game-day rosters for the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders, New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots and a second stint with the Houston Texans. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree at Wisconsin, achievements that complemented his professional consistency.
| Series | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Return Yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Career | 112 | 1,373 | 4,179 |
Alex Erickson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Erickson grew up in Darlington, Wisconsin, a small town where community ties and local athletics shaped his early development. His background in a tight-knit rural community helped build the work ethic and discipline that carried him through college and into a long NFL career.
Personal Life
Alex Michael Erickson is married, having wed in 2017. He earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management from the University of Wisconsin in December 2015, just months before beginning his NFL career. His personal and educational background reflects the grounded small-town roots that have remained a hallmark of his public identity.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Erickson returned to the Houston Texans when the team signed him to its practice squad on January 15, 2025, marking a return to the franchise he briefly joined in 2021. The reunion provides Erickson with another opportunity to compete for a roster spot and contribute on special teams in a familiar AFC South setting. His experience and dependable return skills give him a realistic path to the active roster as teams finalize their special-teams rotations.
Throughout the early portion of 2025, Erickson’s role continues to center on return-game value and veteran depth at wide receiver. His track record of handling both kickoff and punt return duties without significant turnovers is a quality the Texans can rely on while evaluating younger options. With nearly a decade of NFL experience, he remains a low-risk, high-floor addition to any practice squad hoping to stabilize coverage and return units.
Looking ahead, the 2025 outlook for Erickson depends largely on whether he can earn promotion from the practice squad to the active roster and re-establish himself as a regular game-day contributor. If he secures that role, he could continue adding to his career totals and extend his NFL journey beyond a decade of professional football.