Austin Ekeler Bio
Austin Ekeler is an American professional football running back for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Colorado Mountaineers, finishing as their all-time leader in rushing yards before signing with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2017. With the Chargers, Ekeler led the NFL in touchdowns for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Early Life and Background
Austin Ekeler was born on May 17, 1995, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He attended Eaton High School in Eaton, Colorado, where he played high school football. Ekeler was a four-year letterman and starter for the Fightin’ Reds. Despite being only 5 feet 5 inches tall as a freshman, he rushed for 454 yards and 8 touchdowns on 70 carries. By the end of his high school career, Ekeler accumulated 5,232 rushing yards and 71 touchdowns, averaging 9.15 yards per carry. He also recorded 581 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Despite his impressive performance, he was a zero-star recruit and received little interest from Division I schools. The only scholarship offers he received were from Adams State, Chadron State, Oklahoma Panhandle State, and Western Colorado, with Western Colorado being the only school to offer him a position as a tailback.
Path to American Football
Ekeler attended Western Colorado University from 2013 to 2016, where he played college football and became the all-time leader in rushing yards for the university. As a freshman, he started nine games and led the team with 1,049 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. In his sophomore year, he set school records with 1,676 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. His junior year saw him lead Division II in all-purpose yards per game with 203.9 and scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game. As a senior, he rushed for 1,495 yards and 15 touchdowns, solidifying his reputation as a standout player.
Austin Ekeler Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Austin Ekeler signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL Draft. He signed a three-year contract worth $1.66 million, which included a $5,000 signing bonus. In his NFL debut during the 2017 season opener against the Denver Broncos, he had two receptions for 18 yards. Ekeler scored his first career touchdown in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles with a 35-yard rush. He finished his rookie season with 260 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, 27 receptions, and three receiving touchdowns.
Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Ekeler’s breakout season came in 2021 when he became the Chargers’ starting running back. In Week 1, he rushed for 58 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. He finished the season with career-highs of 911 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, along with 70 receptions for 647 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. He tied for the league lead in total touchdowns with 20, joining Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson as the only two players in Chargers history to score at least 20 touchdowns in a single season. In 2022, Ekeler continued his success, finishing the season with 915 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, and a league-leading 18 total touchdowns.
Notable Works and Milestones
Ekeler’s signature work includes his performance during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, where he led the NFL in total touchdowns. He earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2024 as a kick returner, marking the first All-Pro selection of his career.
Austin Ekeler Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Austin Ekeler has received several nominations, including being recognized as a Second-team All-Pro in 2024.
Austin Ekeler Awards Won
Austin Ekeler has achieved notable recognition in his career, including the Second-team All-Pro award in 2024.
Austin Ekeler Family
Austin Ekeler is married to Melanie Wilking, with their wedding taking place on May 25, 2024. He has a younger brother, Wyett Ekeler, who played football at the University of Wyoming. His mother, Suzanne Ekeler, played college basketball at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
Personal Life
Ekeler established the Austin Ekeler Foundation in 2021, aiming to create opportunities for people to fulfill their passions. He also founded the Gridiron Gaming Group to help sports personalities grow their online communities through livestreaming. Ekeler’s biological father left the family at a young age and is currently serving a life sentence in a Nevada maximum-security prison.
