Cornell Powell Bio
Cornell Powell (born October 30, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver. He is widely recognized for an unusual run of team success across the highest levels of the sport, becoming the first player in history to win championships in the NCAA, the United Football League (UFL), and the National Football League (NFL). After a college career with the Clemson Tigers, Powell was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2021 NFL Draft and later added to his trophy collection in the UFL with the DC Defenders.
Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and playing at roughly 217 pounds, Powell has built a career as a reliable possession receiver and dependable special teams contributor. He has spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the DC Defenders, accumulating postseason hardware at nearly every stop along the way.
Early Life and Background
Cornell Powell was born on October 30, 1997, in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. He grew up in the same eastern North Carolina community where he would later become a local football star. Powell attended JH Rose High School in Greenville, where he developed into one of the most productive receivers in the region.
As a senior at JH Rose, Powell was a statistical force, finishing the season with 65 receptions for 1,557 receiving yards and an extraordinary 38 total touchdowns. His production drew the attention of major college programs, and he ultimately committed to Clemson University to continue his football career at the highest collegiate level. His high school résumé foreshadowed the kind of red-zone threat he would become at the next level.
Path to American Football
Coming out of JH Rose High School as a heavily recruited prospect, Powell chose Clemson, a program that was emerging as a perennial College Football Playoff contender during his recruitment. He arrived in a wide receiver room stocked with future NFL talent, which meant his path to the field would require patience and steady development behind established veterans.
At Clemson, Powell spent his first four seasons working primarily as a backup receiver, learning the offensive system and contributing on special teams. He took a redshirt year in 2018 after appearing in only four games, a step that allowed him to extend his college eligibility and continue refining his route-running and blocking. When he finally became a full-time starter in his redshirt senior season, the work he had put in through those developmental years showed in his production.
Cornell Powell Career
Early Career (2016–2020, Clemson Tigers)
Powell played his college football for the Clemson Tigers from 2016 through the 2020 season. For most of that stretch, he operated in a supporting role, but he was part of two national championship squads. Clemson captured the College Football Playoff National Championship following the 2016 season and again following the 2018 season, giving Powell two NCAA titles before he ever took an NFL snap.
In his career at Clemson, Powell totaled 40 receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns across his backup seasons. He broke out as a redshirt senior in 2020, finishing the year with 53 receptions for 882 yards and seven touchdowns. His strong finishing campaign earned him Third-team All-ACC honors and put him on the radar of NFL scouts heading into the 2021 Draft.
Kansas City Chiefs Breakthrough (2021–2024)
Cornell Powell was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round, 181st overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021, and immediately began competing for a roster spot in one of the league’s most talented offenses. Although he was waived at the end of training camp that year, he was quickly re-signed to the practice squad the following day, a pattern that would repeat throughout his early tenure in Kansas City.
Powell continued to bounce between the active roster and the practice squad over the next two seasons, but he remained part of the Chiefs organization throughout their championship runs. He was part of the Kansas City team that won Super Bowl LVII, a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, and then earned a second consecutive championship ring when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. Those back-to-back Lombardi Trophies made him one of the few players in modern NFL history to win consecutive Super Bowls while primarily contributing from the practice squad.
After the Chiefs’ 2023 season ended on February 11, 2024, Powell briefly became a free agent before re-signing with Kansas City on February 21. He was waived again in late August and re-signed to the practice squad in October, but his time with the Chiefs came to a close when he was released on November 19, 2024.
DC Defenders Era (2025)
On March 3, 2025, Powell signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League, marking his first venture into the spring football league. The move gave him an opportunity to play a more prominent offensive role, and he delivered. Powell led the entire UFL in receiving touchdowns with seven, while also recording 418 receiving yards on 29 catches across nine games. That production helped the Defenders capture the 2025 UFL Championship, adding a third distinct professional title to his résumé.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the field, Powell is known for his polished route-running, dependable hands, and competitive toughness in contested catch situations. His background as a backup who had to earn every snap has shaped a workmanlike style, with coaches frequently pointing to his blocking, special teams effort, and locker-room leadership as assets. His experience operating in spread and pro-style systems at Clemson has also helped him transition smoothly between NFL and UFL schemes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Powell’s signature achievement is his unique championship collection, becoming the first player in history to win titles in the NCAA, UFL, and NFL. He owns two Super Bowl rings from the Kansas City Chiefs’ back-to-back championships in Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII, two College Football Playoff National Championship rings from Clemson’s 2016 and 2018 title runs, and a UFL Championship with the DC Defenders. Leading the UFL in receiving touchdowns in 2025 further cemented his place in spring football history.
Cornell Powell Career Wins
Cornell Powell’s trophy case is one of the most varied in American football. Across the NCAA, NFL, and UFL, he has captured five major team championships and added a UFL receiving touchdowns title to his list of individual honors. His championship résumé includes two College Football Playoff National Championships with Clemson, two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs, and a UFL title with the DC Defenders.
NCAA Highlights
Powell was part of two College Football Playoff National Championship teams at Clemson, winning titles following the 2016 and 2018 seasons. Although he served primarily as a reserve during those championship runs, he was a full participant in both title-winning campaigns and earned two national championship rings as a result.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Powell won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII, contributing mostly on the practice squad but staying engaged with the team throughout both postseasons. His work ethic and special teams play helped him remain a valued member of the Kansas City organization even when he was not on the active game-day roster.
Other Wins and Performances
In 2025, Powell won the UFL Championship with the DC Defenders and led the league in receiving touchdowns. He was also named Third-team All-ACC during his redshirt senior season at Clemson in 2020, an individual accolade that helped pave his way to the NFL Draft.
Cornell Powell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Powell’s parents and broader family background have not been widely published, and verified public information on his immediate family is limited. What is confirmed is that he grew up in Greenville, North Carolina, the same community where he starred at JH Rose High School before heading to Clemson.
Personal Life
Powell has kept much of his personal life private, and there is no verified public information available regarding a spouse, partner, or children. He has remained active on social media, where fans can follow his career through his official accounts.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a defining one for Powell on multiple fronts. He began the spring by signing with the DC Defenders, where he emerged as one of the UFL’s most dangerous red-zone targets. His seven receiving touchdowns paced the entire league, and he finished the spring campaign with 29 receptions for 418 yards, helping the Defenders capture the 2025 UFL Championship.
Following the UFL season, Powell returned to the NFL. He signed with the Houston Texans on August 19, 2025, but was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts. He was then signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad on November 25, 2025, before being released on December 2, 2025.
Looking ahead, Powell’s outlook remains bright thanks to the unique résumé he has assembled at a relatively young age. With two Super Bowl rings, two college national championships, and a UFL title already in hand, he continues to pursue opportunities at both the NFL and UFL levels, and his championship pedigree makes him an attractive option for teams looking to add a battle-tested veteran to their receiver group.
