Dare Ogunbowale Bio
Oluwadare “Dare” Ogunbowale is an American professional football running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, beginning his career as a walk-on before developing into a versatile contributor at the professional level. Ogunbowale signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and has since built a career defined by special teams play, pass-catching ability, and occasional emergency duty at kicker.
Early Life and Background
Oluwadare Ogunbowale was born on May 4, 1994, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up in the United States with an American mother and a father who immigrated from Nigeria, giving him a bicultural upbringing in the Midwest. The Milwaukee area shaped his early years, and he attended Marquette University High School, where he was a four-sport athlete competing in football, soccer, basketball, and track.
That multi-sport background helped Ogunbowale develop the speed, footwork, and conditioning that would later define his professional profile. Playing several sports also kept him versatile and competitive, attributes that translated naturally when he focused on football. His family’s athletic environment further encouraged his development, with sports woven into daily life at home and school.
Path to American Football
Ogunbowale walked onto the Wisconsin football team as a cornerback, earning his roster spot without a scholarship. He eventually switched positions to running back, where his frame and skill set were a better fit. Over the course of his college career, he racked up more than 2,000 total yards and 15 total touchdowns, showing steady growth as both a rusher and a receiver out of the backfield.
He was voted team captain during his senior year, a recognition that reflected his leadership and reliability. Following a game against Nebraska in 2014, Ogunbowale was featured in Sports Illustrated after editors mistakenly used a photo of him in place of teammate Melvin Gordon. Although the attention was incidental, it underscored his presence within a high-profile Badgers program. After completing his college career in 2016, he declared for the NFL Draft but went unselected, opening the door to a free-agent path.
Dare Ogunbowale Career
Early Career (2017)
Ogunbowale signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent on May 16, 2017, beginning his professional journey. He was waived on September 2 and quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad the next day, but was released again on October 6. The Texans’ brief first stint was followed by a short stay on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad in late November 2017.
On December 12, 2017, Ogunbowale joined the Washington Redskins’ practice squad, then was promoted to the active roster on December 22. He appeared in limited action before being waived on March 6, 2018. Those quick moves through three organizations in his rookie year were a common experience for undrafted players trying to find a stable home.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Ogunbowale returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 2, 2018, after being waived and brought back to the practice squad several times. He was promoted to the active roster on November 13 and signed a reserve and future contract at the end of December, signaling that the team viewed him as part of its long-term plans.
In the 2019 season, Ogunbowale was voted a team captain, a significant achievement for a player who had bounced between practice squads a year earlier. He finished that year with 35 receptions for 286 receiving yards, along with 11 carries for 17 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. His receiving production from the backfield established him as a reliable third-down option and a core special teams player.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2020–2021)
After being waived by the Buccaneers in early September 2020, Ogunbowale signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 10, 2020. He started the last two games of the 2020 season and finished the year with 32 carries for 145 rushing yards, showing he could handle an increased rushing workload when called upon.
He re-signed with the Jaguars as an exclusive-rights free agent on April 19, 2021, returning for another season. In 2021, Ogunbowale recorded 43 carries for 137 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, plus 13 receptions for 114 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. His two-way production in the backfield and on special teams kept him in the team’s rotation.
Houston Texans Era (2022–Present)
On March 23, 2022, Ogunbowale signed a two-year, $3.3 million contract with the Houston Texans, returning to the organization where his professional career had begun. In 2022, he finished with 42 carries for 123 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, along with 20 receptions for 104 receiving yards. The signing marked a clear homecoming and a chance to settle into a defined role.
On November 5, 2023, Ogunbowale was pressed into action as the Texans’ emergency placekicker after an injury to starting kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. In the fourth quarter, he became the first non-kicker to make a field goal in a regular season game since Wes Welker accomplished the feat in 2004. The Texans won that game against the Buccaneers 39–37, giving Ogunbowale one of the most unique highlights of his career.
The Texans re-signed Ogunbowale on April 22, 2024, keeping him in Houston for another season. In Week 4 of 2024, he scored the game-winning touchdown in a 24–20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, a memorable finish against a former team. He finished 2024 with 30 carries for 112 rushing yards and 19 receptions for 198 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. On March 5, 2025, Ogunbowale re-signed with the Texans on a one-year, $2 million deal and appeared in all 17 games that season, with most of his work coming on special teams.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ogunbowale’s professional identity is built on versatility rather than volume rushing. He has thrived as a pass-catching running back, with 109 career receptions for 850 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, and has been a dependable contributor on coverage and return units. His willingness to step in as an emergency kicker also shows the broad athletic base he developed as a four-sport high school athlete.
Notable Events and Milestones
The standout moment of Ogunbowale’s career came on November 5, 2023, when he made a field goal against the Buccaneers as an emergency kicker, becoming the first non-kicker to convert a regular-season field goal since Wes Welker in 2004. He also delivered a game-winning touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4 of the 2024 season, a 24–20 Texans victory that highlighted his value in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Dare Ogunbowale Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Ogunbowale has accumulated 591 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, 109 receptions, 850 receiving yards, and 2 receiving touchdowns, while also succeeding on his only field goal attempt. His win totals are spread across multiple franchises, and his most celebrated team result was the 39–37 victory over the Buccaneers in 2023, capped by his emergency kicking performance.
NFL Career Highlights
Ogunbowale’s first sustained opportunity came with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018 and 2019, when he was promoted to the active roster and later voted a team captain. His most recent contributions have come with the Houston Texans, where he has been a special teams regular and a short-yardage option. As of 2025, he has appeared in all 17 games for the Texans on a one-year, $2 million contract.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his NFL stops, Ogunbowale posted a productive college career at Wisconsin, where he tallied more than 2,000 total yards and 15 total touchdowns and served as a team captain in his senior season. His high school career at Marquette University High School featured participation in football, soccer, basketball, and track, reflecting the broad athletic foundation that has supported his professional longevity.
Dare Ogunbowale Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ogunbowale was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by an American mother and a Nigerian immigrant father, blending American and Nigerian cultural influences in his upbringing. That family environment, paired with his multi-sport experience at Marquette University High School, helped shape the discipline and work ethic that carried him from walk-on to NFL veteran.
Personal Life
Ogunbowale’s younger sister, Arike Ogunbowale, is a professional basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the Women’s National Basketball Association, extending the family’s athletic reach into another major professional league. The siblings share a connection to Milwaukee and to high-level collegiate competition, with both having attended prominent programs before turning professional.
2025 Season Performance
Ogunbowale re-signed with the Houston Texans on March 5, 2025, on a one-year, $2 million contract, returning for a fourth season with the organization. He appeared in all 17 games during the 2025 season, with the majority of his contributions coming on special teams, where he has built a reputation as a reliable coverage and utility player. While his offensive touches were limited, his presence on the roster reflected the value the Texans place on his experience and versatility.
His role in 2025 echoed his 2023 and 2024 seasons, in which he similarly focused on special teams while remaining ready to contribute offensively when called upon. The Texans’ continued investment in Ogunbowale underscored the importance of dependable depth players who can handle situational roles on offense, special teams, and even emergency kicking duties. With his contract running through 2025, his future with the team will depend on offseason roster decisions and the direction of Houston’s backfield.
Looking ahead, Ogunbowale’s path forward in the NFL will likely continue to hinge on special teams value and roster flexibility rather than feature-back production. His track record of durability, having played all 17 games in 2025, gives him a strong case for another offseason opportunity, whether in Houston or elsewhere in the league.
