D.J. Montgomery Bio
D. J. Montgomery (born November 17, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 1 in and listed at 201 lb, he plays on the offensive perimeter and has contributed on both active rosters and practice squads since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019. In addition to his time with the Colts, Montgomery has spent time with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Houston Texans, and the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League. He played college football for the Austin Peay Governors after beginning his collegiate career at Holmes Community College.
Early Life and Background
D. J. Montgomery was born on November 17, 1996, in Madison, Mississippi, where he attended Madison Central High School. Growing up in central Mississippi, he developed as a multi-sport athlete before concentrating on football, and his hometown of Madison became the foundation for his early athletic identity. Madison Central’s football program gave him the stage to showcase his speed and ball skills, traits that would later define his route-running at the next level. Family and community support in Madison helped him pursue the sport with seriousness as he approached college recruitment.
After high school, Montgomery chose to begin his college career at Holmes Community College, a junior college in Mississippi, in order to develop physically and refine his receiver technique. The two-year program allowed him to grow into a more complete pass catcher before transitioning to a four-year program. His time at Holmes Community College was formative, exposing him to a higher practice tempo and a more sophisticated offensive scheme than he had experienced in high school.
Path to Professional Football
Montgomery’s rise through the ranks began in earnest at Holmes Community College. As a sophomore, he caught 36 passes for 991 yards and ten touchdowns and was named first-team All-State. That production established him as a three-star prospect and opened the door to a transfer to Austin Peay, where he would play his final two seasons of college eligibility.
At Austin Peay, Montgomery immediately earned a starting role. In his first season with the Governors, he finished second on the team with 19 receptions for 228 receiving yards and three touchdowns. As a senior, he elevated his production, hauling in 42 passes for 797 yards and ten touchdowns, a stat line that pushed him toward professional consideration despite not being among the top-tier draft prospects at his position. He declared for the 2019 NFL Draft and went undrafted, eventually signing as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns on May 3, 2019.
D.J. Montgomery Career
Early Career (2019)
Montgomery signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2019, marking his first entry into an NFL organization. He joined a Browns receiver room stacked with established veterans, which made the path to playing time challenging for a rookie free agent. During his first training camp, Montgomery suffered a hamstring injury that required placement on season-ending injured reserve on August 21, 2019. The setback cost him his entire debut season and limited his on-field development with the Browns.
When he returned healthy in 2020, the Browns waived him on August 19, 2020, ending his initial stint in Cleveland. Although brief, his time with the Browns provided him with his first taste of an NFL training camp and the standards expected of a professional receiver. The waiver also quickly led to his next opportunity.
New York Jets Era (2020–2022)
Montgomery was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on August 30, 2020, just days after being released by Cleveland. Although he was released before the start of the regular season, he re-signed with the Jets’ practice squad and remained there for the entirety of the 2020 campaign. On January 4, 2021, he signed a reserve/futures contract with the team, securing a place in the organization’s offseason plans.
In 2021, Montgomery was waived at the end of training camp on August 31 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was elevated to the active roster on December 12, 2021, for the Jets’ Week 14 game against the New Orleans Saints, earning his first regular-season game day call-up. After the season, he signed a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2022, was waived on May 10, re-signed on May 24, and was ultimately waived again on July 26, 2022. His Jets tenure demonstrated persistence through repeated practice-squad moves and a single game-day elevation.
Indianapolis Colts First Stint and Houston Texans (2022)
Montgomery signed with the Indianapolis Colts on August 3, 2022, briefly joining their roster during the preseason. The Colts waived him on August 22, 2022, ending a short first stint in Indianapolis. The release did not, however, take him out of the league.
On December 14, 2022, Montgomery was signed to the Houston Texans’ practice squad, giving him a late-season opportunity in a new offensive system. The Texans’ practice squad assignment kept him active in the NFL pipeline heading into the next year.
Michigan Panthers and Return to Indianapolis (2023–2025)
Montgomery signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League on June 1, 2023, briefly moving to the spring football league to gain on-field reps. He was released from his USFL contract on August 18, 2023, in order to sign with an NFL team. That same day, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts, beginning his second stint with the organization.
With the Colts, Montgomery was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad before being signed to the active roster on December 14, 2023. In 2024, the Colts released him on August 27 and re-signed him to the practice squad, after which he signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025. He was placed on injured reserve on August 13, 2025. Through the 2023 NFL season, his career totals included 6 receptions for 92 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown.
D.J. Montgomery Career Wins
As a wide receiver, D. J. Montgomery’s professional career is measured in receptions, yards, and touchdowns rather than race wins. Through the 2023 NFL season, he had recorded 6 receptions for 92 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown across his time on active rosters. His single game-day elevation with the New York Jets and subsequent active-roster appearances with the Indianapolis Colts represent the headliners of his regular-season statistical portfolio.
Other Performances
Montgomery’s college performance at Austin Peay, where he recorded 42 receptions for 797 yards and ten touchdowns as a senior, is the most productive statistical stretch of his career. His 36 catches for 991 yards and ten touchdowns as a sophomore at Holmes Community College earned him first-team All-State honors and served as a springboard to the Division I level. A brief appearance with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL also gave him a taste of spring-league play in 2023 before his return to the NFL.
D.J. Montgomery Family
Personal Life
D. J. Montgomery was raised in Madison, Mississippi, the community that shaped his early athletic development. Publicly available details about his broader family life, including parents, spouse, and children, have not been widely confirmed in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
D. J. Montgomery signed a reserve/future contract with the Indianapolis Colts on January 6, 2025, securing his place with the organization heading into the new league year. His path into the 2025 season was complicated by a placement on injured reserve on August 13, 2025, an early setback that kept him off the field during the opening of training camp and the preseason. The reserve/future deal and continued connection to the Colts’ system, however, suggested a continued investment in his development within the organization.
Montgomery’s outlook in Indianapolis remained tied to his ability to recover from the injury and to compete for a depth role in the receiver room. The Colts’ investment in him through practice-squad promotions and active-roster elevations over the previous two seasons underscored the franchise’s familiarity with his skill set. Whether on the active roster or practice squad, his work in 2025 was framed by persistence and the pursuit of consistent in-season playing time.