Dante Pettis Bio
Dante Garrison Pettis is an American professional football wide receiver who most recently played for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Born on October 23, 1995, in San Clemente, California, he has built a reputation as a reliable receiver and a dynamic return specialist since entering the league in 2018. Across his NFL career, Pettis has suited up for the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints. His path to the pros was shaped by record-setting play at the University of Washington, where he earned All-American honors.
Early Life and Background
Dante Garrison Pettis was born on October 23, 1995, in San Clemente, California. He grew up in Southern California in a family with deep ties to professional sports. His father, Gary Pettis, played in Major League Baseball (MLB) and has served as a coach for the Houston Astros, exposing Dante to elite-level athletics from a young age. He also has a brother, Kyler Pettis, who became an actor, and a cousin, Austin Pettis, who played in the NFL, giving the family a strong multi-sport background.
Pettis attended JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California, where he was a multi-sport athlete. He played football, basketball, and ran track, developing the speed and athleticism that later defined his professional profile. As a senior, he recorded 50 receptions for 889 yards and 11 touchdowns, drawing the attention of major college programs. He ultimately committed to the University of Washington to continue his football career.
Path to American Football
At the University of Washington, Pettis joined a Huskies program looking for versatile playmakers, and he quickly delivered. As a true freshman in 2014, he posted 17 receptions for 259 yards and a touchdown, while adding 288 punt return yards and a punt return touchdown. His sophomore season brought 30 receptions for 414 yards and a receiving touchdown, along with 271 punt return yards and two return scores, signaling his growing two-way impact.
By his junior year, Pettis had developed into one of the most productive receivers in the Pac-12, finishing with 53 receptions, 822 yards, and 15 touchdown receptions, complemented by 287 punt return yards and two return touchdowns. His senior campaign in 2017 elevated his national profile. Against the Oregon Ducks, he broke the NCAA record for most career punt return touchdowns, and he went on to earn consensus All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association, the Football Writers Association of America, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, and The Sporting News. He finished the year with 63 receptions, 761 yards, and seven touchdown catches, plus an NCAA-leading 428 punt return yards and four return touchdowns. That season he also won the Jet Award, was named first-team All-Pac-12, and led the nation in both punt return yards and average punt return yards.
Dante Pettis Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
The San Francisco 49ers selected Dante Pettis in the second round, 44th overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft, making him the fourth wide receiver taken that year. He made his NFL debut in the season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings, catching two passes for 61 receiving yards and a touchdown while adding two punt returns. Although he was placed on injured reserve on December 29, 2018, after a knee injury, his rookie numbers remained impressive: 27 receptions for 467 yards and five touchdowns.
In his second season with San Francisco, Pettis’s role diminished, and he finished with 11 receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns. On November 3, 2020, the 49ers waived him, ending his time with the team that drafted him.
New York Giants Era (2020-2021)
One day after being waived, on November 4, 2020, Pettis was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants. He was later placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on November 20 and activated on December 1. In his first game as a Giant on December 27, 2020, against the Baltimore Ravens, he recorded two receptions for 33 yards, then caught his first touchdown with New Orleans against the Dallas Cowboys the following week, a 33-yard score. He closed 2020 with four receptions for 76 yards, a 19-yard average, and one touchdown.
In 2021, Pettis was waived on September 1 and re-signed to the practice squad, before being promoted to the active roster on October 19. In a Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers, he recorded five catches for 39 yards and a touchdown, while also completing a 16-yard pass to quarterback Daniel Jones. On November 5, 2021, he was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, bringing his Giants tenure to a temporary halt.
Chicago Bears Era (2022-2023)
On May 11, 2022, the Chicago Bears signed Pettis, giving him a fresh start. He delivered one of his most productive moments with the team on October 14, 2022, catching four passes for 84 yards and the Bears’ only touchdown in a 12-7 loss to the Washington Commanders. He re-signed with Chicago on April 17, 2023, but was placed on injured reserve on August 26 and later released on September 6 with an injury settlement.
On March 15, 2024, Pettis re-signed with the Bears for another stint. He was again placed on injured reserve on August 27 and released a week later, closing his time in Chicago.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024-Present)
On October 15, 2024, Pettis signed with the New Orleans Saints practice squad, and on December 7, he was promoted to the active roster. In eight games for New Orleans, he served as the team’s return man and compiled 12 receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown. On March 11, 2025, he re-signed with the Saints on a one-year contract, was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, and returned to the practice squad on October 2 before being signed back to the active roster on December 3. In the 2025 season, he posted nine receptions for 127 yards in eight games.
Playing Style and Strengths
Dante Pettis is known for his sure hands, smooth route-running, and shiftiness in the open field. His college résumé shows an unusual balance between receiving production and return ability, a combination that has allowed him to serve as both a possession receiver and a field-flipper on special teams. He reads coverage well out of the slot and on intermediate routes, and he has the acceleration to turn short catches into chunk plays.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pettis’s most celebrated milestone came in 2017, when he set the NCAA record for career punt return touchdowns while leading the nation in punt return yards. His NFL highlights include scoring on his first career touch with the 49ers against the Vikings, a five-touchdown rookie season in 2018, and a memorable 84-yard, one-touchdown performance for the Bears against the Washington Commanders in 2022.
Dante Pettis Career Stats and Wins
Through the 2025 season, Dante Pettis has compiled 92 receptions for 1,231 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns in his NFL career. He has also contributed as a return specialist, with consistent production on punts and kicks throughout his time in the league.
College Highlights
At the University of Washington, Pettis totaled 163 receptions for 2,256 yards and 24 receiving touchdowns across his career, while also adding 1,274 punt return yards and nine punt return touchdowns. He set the NCAA record for career punt return touchdowns in 2017 and won the Jet Award as the nation’s top return specialist that same season.
Professional Highlights
Pettis’s most productive NFL season came as a rookie in 2018, when he caught 27 passes for 467 yards and five touchdowns. He has since been a dependable depth receiver and return man across four organizations, with his 2024 and 2025 stints in New Orleans showcasing his value as a return specialist.
Dante Pettis Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Dante Pettis comes from a deeply athletic family. His father, Gary Pettis, played in Major League Baseball and has served as a coach for the Houston Astros. His cousin, Austin Pettis, also played in the NFL, reinforcing a family tradition of professional sports participation. His brother, Kyler Pettis, is an actor, extending the family’s presence into the entertainment industry.
Personal Life
Pettis grew up in San Clemente, California, and has spent much of his adult life between California and the various cities of his NFL teams. He maintains a public presence on social media and is known for a low-key lifestyle away from the field.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Dante Pettis continue his role as a return specialist and reserve receiver for the New Orleans Saints. After re-signing with the team on March 11, 2025, he was released in late August as part of final roster cuts, then returned to the practice squad on October 2 before being elevated to the active roster on December 3. In eight games during the 2025 campaign, he recorded nine receptions for 127 yards, contributing on offense while anchoring the team’s punt and kick return duties.
Pettis’s veteran presence and proven return ability gave the Saints a reliable option in the special-teams phase of the game. His ability to step in as a depth receiver and deliver short-yardage production made him a valuable late-season addition. Heading into the rest of 2025, he remained a flexible piece for the Saints’ roster, capable of contributing in multiple phases of the game.