Dallis Flowers Bio
Dallis Flowers (born June 4, 1997) is an American professional football cornerback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 1 in and competing at 196 lb, he plays on the defensive side of the ball and has also contributed on special teams as a returner. After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL draft, Flowers has carved out a professional career through special teams play and a willingness to move between franchises to stay on the field.
A native of the Chicago area, Flowers played college football at the NAIA level with the Grand View Vikings before finishing his college career at Pittsburg State. He made his NFL debut with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and has since spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears.
Early Life and Background
Flowers was born on June 4, 1997, in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the surrounding region. He attended Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois, where he emerged as a three-year varsity starter wearing jersey number 21. His high school performance earned him a lasting honor from the program.
On September 1, 2023, Oak Park and River Forest High School retired Flowers’ number 21, making him the second football player in school history to be honored with a jersey retirement. That recognition reflected his standing as one of the most accomplished defensive players the program had produced, and it underscored the foundation that would carry him into the college ranks.
Coming out of high school, Flowers initially continued his football career at Grand View University, an NAIA program in Iowa. He later transferred to Pittsburg State University, where he completed his college eligibility in 2021. The two college stops allowed him to develop his cover skills and his speed, traits that would later translate to the professional level.
Path to Professional Football
Flowers built his college resume as a defensive back at Grand View, where his play earned him NAIA First-team All-American recognition in 2018 and 2019. Those honors established him as one of the top small-college cornerbacks in the country during that stretch. After his time at Grand View, he transferred to Pittsburg State for the 2021 season, finishing his college career with the Gorillas.
Despite his two All-American seasons in the NAIA, Flowers went unselected in the 2022 NFL draft. His path to the league therefore depended on signing as an undrafted free agent. That opportunity arrived when the Indianapolis Colts invited him to camp, and he made the most of it by earning a spot on the 53-man roster.
Dallis Flowers Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Flowers signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022, shortly after the 2022 NFL draft. He surprised many observers by making the Colts’ 53-man roster out of training camp and was deployed as the team’s primary kick returner. In that role, he led the league with a 31.1-yard average per return, a performance that earned him a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Heading into 2023, Flowers earned a starting cornerback role alongside Kenny Moore II, a significant step for a player who had entered the league as an undrafted free agent. His season, however, was cut short. He suffered an Achilles injury in Week 4 and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on October 3, 2023.
Indianapolis Colts Tenure (2022–2024)
Flowers’ three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts formed the foundation of his NFL career. As a rookie in 2022, he quickly became one of the league’s most dangerous returners, leading the NFL in yards per kick return. He capped that debut campaign with PFWA All-Rookie recognition, an award voted on by the Pro Football Writers of America.
In 2023, Flowers moved from a returner-only role into a starting cornerback role, signaling the Colts’ belief in his coverage ability. The Achilles injury ended his second campaign early, and he returned in 2024 looking to reclaim his role. His Colts tenure ended the day after a Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024, when he was waived after a difficult outing that included being matched up on a long Brian Thomas Jr. touchdown reception and a Brenton Strange scoring play.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stop (2024–2025)
After being waived by Indianapolis, Flowers signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad on October 15, 2024. He remained there through the rest of the 2024 season and then signed a reserve/future contract with Tampa Bay on January 14, 2025, securing a chance to compete for a spot on the 2025 roster.
His time in Tampa Bay ended on April 29, 2025, when he was waived as part of the team’s roster shaping. Although his stay in Tampa was brief at the top of the active roster, it allowed him to stay inside an NFL building and continue developing professionally.
San Francisco 49ers Stop (2025)
On May 9, 2025, Flowers signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, giving him another opportunity to compete for a roster spot. He participated in the 49ers’ offseason program and into training camp as he tried to earn a place in the secondary.
The 49ers waived him on August 26, 2025, as part of the league’s final round of preseason roster cuts. Even though his tenure in San Francisco did not produce regular-season playing time, the stop kept him in the league and prepared him for the next opportunity.
Chicago Bears Era (2025–Present)
Flowers signed with the Chicago Bears practice squad on September 9, 2025, returning to his hometown area. Eleven days later, on September 20, he was activated to the Bears’ gameday roster and made his Chicago debut against the Dallas Cowboys, recording one tackle in the game. He then signed a reserve/futures contract with the Bears on January 20, 2026, locking in his place with the organization heading into the next phase of the offseason.
Wearing jersey number 37 in Chicago, Flowers has added depth to the Bears’ cornerback group and contributed on special teams. His path back to the active roster in his hometown market represents a meaningful chapter in a career that has demanded patience and resilience.
Driving Style and Strengths
Flowers’ game has long been built on speed, instincts, and tackling in space, traits that made him a dangerous returner as a rookie and a viable starting cornerback the following year. He has the length and physicality to challenge outside receivers, and he has shown enough coverage discipline to earn a full-time starting role when healthy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Flowers’ career milestones, his 2022 selection to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and his NFL-leading 31.1-yard kick return average that same season stand out as the clearest signatures of his professional resume. The retirement of his high school jersey by Oak Park and River Forest in 2023 is another defining honor, and his 2025 homecoming with the Chicago Bears represents a full-circle moment for a player who grew up in the same metropolitan area.
Dallis Flowers Career Highlights
Flowers’ career highlight reel begins with his 2× NAIA First-team All-American recognition at Grand View in 2018 and 2019, which established his draft-eligible profile. His transition from a small-college star to a productive NFL rookie is one of the more compelling undrafted stories of his draft class.
NFL Achievements
In the NFL, Flowers’ biggest verified achievement remains his 2022 PFWA All-Rookie Team nod, earned on the strength of his league-leading 31.1-yard kick return average as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. He has also posted verifiable career statistics of 39 total tackles, 3 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 764 return yards as of the 2025 season. Moving between the Colts, Buccaneers, 49ers, and Bears has given him experience in four different defensive schemes.
Other Performances
Beyond his headline rookie season, Flowers has delivered steady special-teams play and spot defensive contributions across multiple teams. His one-tackle performance in his 2025 Bears debut against the Dallas Cowboys illustrated his continued ability to step in when called upon.
Dallis Flowers Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Flowers grew up in the Chicago, Illinois area and built his football foundation at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Public, verified details about his immediate family are limited, and the available sourcing focuses primarily on his playing career rather than his personal background.
2025 Season Performance
Flowers’ 2025 season was defined by roster movement as much as by on-field production. He began the year in Tampa Bay, was waived on April 29, signed with San Francisco on May 9, and was released on August 26 as part of final cuts. Each stop kept him inside an NFL building and gave him chances to demonstrate his value on special teams and in the secondary.
His most meaningful 2025 chapter came in Chicago, where he signed to the Bears practice squad on September 9 before being activated to the gameday roster on September 20. In his Bears debut against the Dallas Cowboys, he recorded one tackle, providing a small but useful contribution to the defense. His subsequent reserve/futures contract with the Bears, signed January 20, 2026, locked in his place with the organization for the following offseason and offered a measure of stability after a year spent moving between franchises.