Brandon Codrington Bio
Brandon Codrington (born November 17, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback and return specialist for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Central Eagles and entered the NFL in 2024 as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets. Across his first two professional seasons, Codrington has built a reputation as a dynamic returner while contributing on the defensive side of the ball.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Codrington was born on November 17, 2000, in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he grew up and attended Broughton High School. At Broughton, he was used on the football team as a return specialist and totaled 320 kickoff return yards as a senior, the role that would later define much of his football career. His experience as a high school return man gave him a clear sense of how to read blocks, time his runs, and create yards in open space, all of which translated when he moved on to the next level.
Path to American Football
Codrington, who was lightly recruited out of high school, walked on at North Carolina Central University in 2019. He chose the school in part because several family members had attended it, which gave him a familiar environment to begin his college career. In his first year with the Eagles, he was mainly used as a return specialist and averaged 18.8 yards per kickoff return and 7.8 yards per punt return, finishing the season ranked third in the conference in punt return average and earning third-team All-MEAC recognition.
Brandon Codrington Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
After the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Codrington opened the 2021 season with a game-sealing 77-yard punt return touchdown against Alcorn State. That season he became the third-leading punt returner at the NCAA Division I FCS level, averaging 15.0 yards per punt return, and was also second in the MEAC with 22.5 yards per kick return. He added 43 tackles and four pass breakups on defense and was named first-team All-MEAC as a punt returner, earning BOXTOROW HBCU All-America honors at the same position.
New York Jets Era (2024)
On May 6, 2024, Brandon Codrington was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. He made a strong early impression as a returner in preseason, recording a 63-yard kick return and a 31-yard punt return. His time with the Jets was brief, as the team parted ways with him before the regular season began.
Buffalo Bills Era (2024–2025)
On August 27, 2024, Codrington was traded to the Buffalo Bills, where he earned a roster spot as a return specialist. He logged 619 total return yards on 38 attempts during his time with the Bills, contributing immediately to the team’s coverage and return units. His first NFL season was recognized with selection to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, a notable honor for an undrafted player.
On November 15, 2025, Codrington was released by the Bills and re-signed to the practice squad three days later. The move reflected the team’s continued belief in his return ability and gave him another opportunity to compete for a role on the active roster.
Houston Texans Era (2026–Present)
On February 5, 2026, Codrington signed a reserve/futures contract with the Houston Texans, giving him a path to compete for a roster spot in the upcoming league year. The signing marked a fresh chapter in his young NFL career and a return to the active phase of professional football.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Codrington’s most memorable moments is his 77-yard game-sealing punt return touchdown for North Carolina Central against Alcorn State in 2021, a play that announced his national profile. He finished his college career having started 41 games, totaling 93 tackles and 10 pass breakups on defense and 2,148 return yards with four return touchdowns on 130 total returns, then added the PFWA All-Rookie Team selection in 2024 as his first major professional honor.
Brandon Codrington Career Wins
As a return specialist and cornerback, Brandon Codrington’s career is measured in production and honors rather than traditional win totals. Through his first two NFL seasons, he has earned PFWA All-Rookie Team recognition in 2024 and built a resume of impactful return work at both the college and professional levels.
College Highlights
Codrington was a three-time All-MEAC selection at North Carolina Central, earning third-team honors in 2019 and 2022 and first-team honors in 2021. He was also a BOXTOROW HBCU All-America pick in 2021, cementing his status as one of the top return men in HBCU football during his career. He ended his senior year with two punt return touchdowns and finished with 2,148 return yards and four return touchdowns on 130 total returns.
Brandon Codrington Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Brandon Codrington’s decision to attend North Carolina Central was shaped by family ties, as several of his relatives had attended the school. That connection to the university helped him settle in as a walk-on and begin developing into a top-tier return man at the FCS level.
Personal Life
Codrington stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs around 185 pounds, a compact build that suits his style as a quick and elusive returner. He continues his professional career in the NFL after beginning his journey in Raleigh, North Carolina.
2025 Season Performance
Brandon Codrington spent the 2025 season with the Buffalo Bills as a core member of the team’s return units, building on his All-Rookie campaign from 2024. He recorded 619 total return yards on 38 attempts across his Bills tenure, providing consistent field position for the offense. Late in the year, on November 15, 2025, he was released and re-signed to the practice squad three days later, an indication of the team’s continued confidence in his return ability.
Through the 2025 season, Codrington’s career NFL statistics included 9 total tackles, 1 pass deflection, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1,052 return yards. His work as a return specialist remained his clearest path to staying in the league, and his PFWA All-Rookie honor from 2024 underscored the level he had already reached as a young professional. With a reserve/futures deal in hand for 2026, he enters the next chapter of his career looking to translate his practice-squad consistency into an expanded role with the Houston Texans.
