Dan Chisena Bio
Dan Chisena (born February 25, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 202 pounds, he is known for his speed, special teams work, and positional versatility after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Chisena played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions after beginning his college career as a scholarship sprinter on the Penn State track team.
Early Life and Background
Dan Chisena was born in Paoli, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He attended Downingtown East High School, where he lettered in both football and track and field. As a senior football player, he earned first-team All-Ches-Mont League honors after hauling in 41 passes for 553 yards and three touchdowns, a performance that drew the attention of college programs looking for an athlete with a blend of size and speed.
On the track, Chisena was one of the top sprinters in Pennsylvania. At the 2015 PIAA Class AAA Outdoor State Championship, he won gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×100 relay, showcasing the straight-line speed that would later become a major part of his football profile. That same blend of speed and competitive toughness shaped his path toward a college scholarship opportunity.
Path to American Football
Chisena arrived at Penn State as a walk-on for both the football and track teams, and he redshirted his freshman year on the gridiron. NCAA rules later forced him to choose between sports, and he accepted a track scholarship, focusing on sprinting for two seasons. At the 2017 Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships, he placed third in the 400 meters and helped the Nittany Lions win the 4×400 relay at the 2017 Indoor Championships.
After tearing his hamstring in early 2018, Chisena returned to football, where his coaches were eager to see how his elite speed would translate to the field. As a junior, he appeared in two games before being awarded a football scholarship for his senior season during Penn State’s spring game, a moment highlighted by a 59-yard touchdown reception. As a senior, he played in all twelve games and finished with three catches for 66 yards, which was enough to attract NFL scouts.
Dan Chisena Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Chisena signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2020, and made the 53-man roster out of training camp, initially as a converted safety valued for his special teams potential. He made his NFL debut in the season opener on September 13, 2020, against the Green Bay Packers, and he played exclusively on special teams as a rookie. On October 4, 2020, he recovered a muffed punt by DeAndre Carter in a 31–23 win over the Houston Texans, and he finished his first season with six tackles and one fumble recovery across 14 games.
Injuries reshaped his next two seasons. Chisena was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2021, then activated and waived on October 9, 2021, before being re-signed to the active roster on October 12. In 2022, he was waived on August 30 and signed to the Vikings’ practice squad the following day, ending his first stint in Minnesota as a respected special teams contributor.
Vikings Return and NFL Journeyman Years (2023–2024)
On January 23, 2023, Chisena signed a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was released on August 26, 2023. He returned to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad on October 11, 2023, only to be waived on November 21. The next day, November 22, 2023, the Arizona Cardinals added him to their practice squad, promoted him to the active roster on December 2, and released him back to the practice squad on December 5, beginning a stretch in which he bounced between several teams in a single calendar year.
On January 10, 2024, Chisena joined the Baltimore Ravens practice squad before becoming a free agent at season’s end. He signed a reserve/future deal with the Arizona Cardinals on February 6, 2024, was waived on August 27, re-signed to the practice squad, and was released on October 11. That whirlwind tour of practice squads and short stints helped him build a reputation as a trusted special teams piece across multiple coaching staffs.
Carolina Panthers Era (2024–Present)
Chisena signed with the Carolina Panthers practice squad on October 16, 2024, and was promoted to the active roster on December 17. With Carolina, he was returned to his original wide receiver role, and he finished the season with 3 receptions for 38 yards. On March 12, 2025, he signed a one-year deal to remain with the Panthers, only to be waived with an injury settlement on July 29 before being re-signed to the practice squad on September 23.
Chisena then signed a reserve/future contract with Carolina on January 12, 2026, locking in his place on the Panthers’ offseason roster. His path back to a wide receiver role marked a meaningful step in a career that had largely been defined by special teams duty since his Vikings rookie year.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chisena is best known for his sprinter-level speed, reliable open-field tackling, and willingness to play through contact on coverage units. Coaches have valued his versatility, having used him at safety early in his career before sliding him back to wide receiver, and his track background gives him an edge as a gunner and on kickoff coverage.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NFL highlight came on October 4, 2020, when he recovered a muffed punt against the Houston Texans, and he later made his first regular-season offensive contributions with the Panthers in 2024, finishing with 3 receptions for 37 receiving yards and 15 total tackles. His journey from undrafted free agent to multi-team veteran illustrates the grind of a bottom-of-roster NFL career.
Dan Chisena Career Wins
As a special teams contributor and rotational wide receiver, Dan Chisena’s career has been measured more in steady roster survival than in statistical milestones. Through the 2024 season, his career totals stand at 3 receptions for 37 receiving yards, 15 total tackles, and 1 fumble recovery, numbers that reflect a player who has carved out a role on coverage units while still showing flashes on offense.
NFL Highlights
Chisena’s first NFL win as a key contributor came in his debut season opener on September 13, 2020, against the Green Bay Packers, a game that launched his professional career. He later added the Houston Texans win in October 2020, where his fumble recovery served as his signature special teams play. His transition to the Carolina Panthers in late 2024 produced his first sustained offensive opportunities, with his three receptions coming in a limited but meaningful sample of late-season snaps.
Dan Chisena Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Chisena grew up in a tight-knit Pennsylvania community, with Paoli serving as his birthplace and Downingtown as his hometown, where he developed the work ethic that carried him through college and the NFL. He came from a supportive athletic environment that encouraged multi-sport development, helping him reach the state level in sprinting and earn college attention in two sports.
Personal Life
Public details about Chisena’s personal life remain limited, as he has kept his focus on football and away from the spotlight. He has been described in team media as a quiet, team-first presence in locker rooms, with family and close friends credited for helping him navigate the uncertainty of practice-squad movement throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Chisena was slated to compete for a depth role in the Carolina Panthers wide receiver room after signing a one-year deal on March 12, 2025. His release with an injury settlement on July 29 and quick return to the practice squad on September 23 made the 2025 campaign a fight for roster security rather than a featured offensive role. The Panthers’ decision to bring him back on a reserve/future contract in January 2026 confirmed that his special teams value and developmental ceiling still mattered to the organization.
Statistically, his 2025 box score remained modest, as his contributions continued to come on coverage units and as a depth receiver. That said, his ability to bounce back from injury and remain in the Panthers’ plans illustrated the trust the coaching staff placed in his speed and tackling. With another offseason ahead, Chisena entered 2026 aiming to push for a more stable spot on Carolina’s active 53-man roster.