Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi Bio
Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi (born February 15, 1995) is an American football wide receiver and kick returner who has built a professional career through perseverance and opportunity. Currently a member of the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League (UFL), he previously played college football at Phoenix College before embarking on a unique professional journey. His career path has taken him from a Cleveland Browns tryout to international football in Italy, and he was named the Italian Football League Offensive Player of the Year in 2024.
Standing 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) and weighing 181 lb (82 kg), Sheehy-Guiseppi is listed as a wide receiver and return specialist, wearing jersey number 15. His professional story has been widely noted for its unusual entry into the sport, including a period of homelessness and unemployment before his breakthrough opportunity in the National Football League (NFL). He has since competed across multiple professional leagues in North America and Europe.
Early Life and Background
Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi was born on February 15, 1995, in Orlando, Florida, United States. He grew up in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where he attended Lake Havasu High School for two years during his formative teenage years. His early athletic development in Arizona laid the groundwork for his later pursuit of competitive football at the college level.
Sheehy-Guiseppi later moved to Traverse City, Michigan, where he finished his high school education at St. Francis High School. The relocation marked a significant transition in his young life and provided a new environment in which to continue developing as an athlete. His move between schools and states reflected the peripatetic nature of his youth.
Path to American Football
Following high school, Sheehy-Guiseppi first attended Mesa Community College, where he competed on the track and field team. His experience as a sprinter and jumper helped develop the speed and explosiveness that would later define his role as a return specialist at the professional level. Track and field provided an important athletic foundation during his early college years.
He later transferred to Phoenix College, where he joined the football program and found his true athletic calling. In 2016, Sheehy-Guiseppi was named a first-team NJCAA All-American after leading the nation in kick return yardage and touchdowns. That breakout season at Phoenix College set the stage for his professional football aspirations, even as his path to a professional roster proved anything but conventional.
Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Although eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft, Sheehy-Guiseppi went undrafted and did not initially sign with a professional team. He remained out of organized football for two years after his standout 2016 season at Phoenix College, during which time he was jobless and homeless. He slept outside of a gym in Miami, Florida, while continuing to hope for an opportunity to resume his playing career.
His fortunes changed in 2019 when he received a tip about a Cleveland Browns free-agent workout location. Without an official invitation, he traveled to the tryout and, by his own account, gained entry by claiming to know Browns Vice President of Player Personnel Alonzo Highsmith. He impressed the staff enough to earn a second tryout, and the Browns officially signed him on April 5, 2019, marking the start of his professional career.
Cleveland Browns Era (2019)
During organized team activities, Sheehy-Guiseppi competed for the kick returner position against Antonio Callaway, Dontrell Hilliard, and D’Ernest Johnson. His most memorable moment with the Browns came during the first preseason game of the 2019 NFL season against the Washington Redskins, when he returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown. The play provided a signature highlight from his brief stint in Cleveland.
Despite the encouraging preseason performance, Sheehy-Guiseppi was waived by the Browns on August 31, 2019. His release concluded a short but notable NFL chapter that began with an unconventional tryout and ended with an impressive but ultimately insufficient preseason résumé.
New York Guardians Era (2019–2020)
On November 22, 2019, Sheehy-Guiseppi was selected by the New York Guardians in the XFL Supplemental Draft, providing another opportunity to continue his professional career. The selection came just months after his release from the Browns and represented a fresh start in the rebooted XFL.
His time with the Guardians was limited, however, as he was placed on injured reserve on January 8, 2020, and later waived from injured reserve on March 12, 2020. The injury cut short what could have been a more substantial role with the New York-based franchise.
Spring and Minor League Years (2020–2021)
Sheehy-Guiseppi was selected by the Alphas of The Spring League during its October 10, 2020 player selection draft, joining a developmental spring circuit. The Spring League, which did not pay its players, eventually folded in 2021 after a brief run, limiting his opportunities there. He also spent time with the TSL Linemen in 2021, continuing to seek a stable professional home.
On September 12, 2021, he was signed by the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa Redblacks. He never appeared in a regular-season game for the Redblacks and was subsequently released, closing a brief chapter in Canadian football.
Major League Football and Fan Controlled Football (2021–2022)
Sheehy-Guiseppi also appeared in Fan Controlled Football in 2021, an innovative fan-driven league. In 2022, he signed with the Arkansas Attack of the proposed Major League Football, but the league’s season was cancelled during training camp. These stints highlighted the difficulty he faced in finding a lasting professional platform.
Legnano Frogs Era (2023–2024)
On December 17, 2023, Sheehy-Guiseppi signed with the Legnano Frogs of the Italian Football League, beginning the international phase of his career. In March 2024, he made his long-awaited debut and scored two touchdowns in a single game, immediately establishing himself as a dynamic offensive weapon for the Frogs.
For the 2024 season, he led the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, capping a dominant year with the Italian Football League Offensive Player of the Year award. The Legnano Frogs lost in the league playoff quarterfinal, ending their postseason run in the wild-card round.
Dallas Renegades Era (2025–Present)
On December 4, 2024, Sheehy-Guiseppi signed with the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League, a franchise that transitioned to the Dallas Renegades name in 2025. The signing marked his return to a high-profile American spring league and gave him a prominent UFL platform for the 2025 season.
His arrival in Dallas added an experienced playmaker and return threat to the Renegades’ offensive and special-teams units, building on the momentum of his record-setting Italian campaign.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sheehy-Guiseppi’s career-defining moment remains his 86-yard punt return touchdown in the 2019 preseason against the Washington Redskins, a play that announced his arrival on the professional stage. He has since added international distinction, becoming the Italian Football League’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 after leading the Legnano Frogs in major receiving categories.
Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi Career Wins
Although win totals across individual professional leagues are not fully verifiable, Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi has accumulated a string of notable individual achievements and team contributions across the Cleveland Browns, New York Guardians, The Spring League, Fan Controlled Football, Ottawa Redblacks, Arkansas Attack, Legnano Frogs, and the Dallas Renegades. His most decorated individual season came in 2024 with the Legnano Frogs, when he led the Italian Football League in receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Italian Football League Highlights
During the 2024 Italian Football League season, Sheehy-Guiseppi posted league-leading numbers in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns for the Legnano Frogs. He made his debut in March 2024 with a two-touchdown performance, a strong introduction that foreshadowed his dominant campaign. He was named the Italian Football League Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts, though the Frogs were eliminated in the playoff quarterfinal.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his Italian success, Sheehy-Guiseppi produced one of the most memorable highlights of the 2019 NFL preseason with an 86-yard punt return touchdown for the Cleveland Browns. He has also been a constant presence on developmental and spring rosters, including the New York Guardians, TSL Alphas, Fan Controlled Football, TSL Linemen, Ottawa Redblacks, and Arkansas Attack, demonstrating persistence across multiple leagues and continents.
Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi’s immediate family and personal relationships is limited. He grew up moving between regions of the United States, including time in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and Traverse City, Michigan, which shaped his early life. Further details about parents, siblings, spouse, or children have not been publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi joined the Dallas Renegades of the UFL following a career-defining year in Italy. His signing, announced in December 2024, gave the Renegades a dynamic wide receiver and return specialist fresh off a league-leading Italian campaign. The move also represents a return to a high-profile spring football platform in the United States.
As a veteran of multiple professional leagues, Sheehy-Guiseppi is expected to contribute on offense and special teams for Dallas. His track record of explosive plays, including his 86-yard preseason punt return in 2019 and two-touchdown Italian debut in 2024, suggests he could provide momentum-shifting moments throughout the season. His performance will be closely watched as the Renegades pursue a UFL championship.