Darnell Mooney Bio
Darnell Mooney is an American professional football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Tulane Green Wave, he was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. As of the 2026 league year, he plays for the New York Giants.
Born on October 29, 1997, in Gadsden, Alabama, Mooney has built his career on speed, route running, and reliable hands. He began his NFL journey in Chicago before signing a major contract with the Atlanta Falcons and later joining the Giants as a veteran target.
Early Life and Background
Darnell Mooney grew up in Gadsden, Alabama, where he attended Gadsden City High School. He played both football and basketball for the Gadsden City Titans, developing the athleticism that would later define his professional career. His time as a multi-sport athlete helped sharpen his coordination and competitive edge.
Coming out of high school, Mooney was not heavily recruited as a football prospect, but his speed and frame caught the attention of the Tulane Green Wave coaching staff. He headed to New Orleans to play college football and continued to develop his skills at the collegiate level.
Path to American Football
At Tulane, Mooney steadily grew into one of the Green Wave’s most reliable offensive weapons. He led the team in receiving during both his junior and senior seasons, catching 48 passes in each of those years. Across his college career, he totaled 19 touchdowns and showed the kind of consistency NFL scouts value.
His draft preparation included a standout performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds. That time, paired with his college production, convinced the Chicago Bears to select him with the 173rd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Darnell Mooney Career
Early Career (2020)
Mooney signed a four-year rookie contract with the Chicago Bears on July 21, 2020, and immediately made an impact as a rookie. In his NFL debut, a 27-23 victory over the Detroit Lions, he caught three passes for 38 yards. The following week, he scored his first career touchdown on a 15-yard reception against the New York Giants.
He finished his rookie season strong, eventually setting the Bears franchise record for most receptions by a rookie with 46 catches, surpassing Hall of Famer Harlon Hill’s 1954 mark. A late-season ankle injury forced him to miss the Bears’ playoff game against the New Orleans Saints, but his first year established him as a rising playmaker.
Chicago Bears Breakthrough (2021–2023)
For the 2021 season, Mooney emerged as Chicago’s top receiving threat, posting 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns. His best performance came in the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, where he caught 12 passes for 126 yards, cementing his status as a number-one option.
In 2022, Mooney started the first 12 games before an ankle injury in Week 12 sent him to injured reserve on November 29. He finished that season with 40 receptions for 493 yards and two touchdowns. The following year proved more difficult, as he ended 2023 with career lows of 31 receptions, 414 yards, and one touchdown. A Week 15 concussion cost him the final two games, and he entered the offseason as a pending free agent.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2024–2025)
On March 15, 2024, Mooney signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons, marking the biggest move of his career. He quickly delivered, recording his first career multi-touchdown game in Week 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football, finishing with nine catches for 105 yards and two scores.
Across his Falcons tenure, Mooney served as a key complementary receiver alongside the team’s other offensive weapons. His tenure in Atlanta ended on March 9, 2026, when he was released by the club.
New York Giants Era (2026–Present)
On March 17, 2026, Mooney signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the New York Giants, where he wears number 17. The move gave the Giants a proven veteran pass-catcher with starting experience. He joined the team as an active roster member heading into the new league year.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Mooney’s signature achievements is his 2020 Bears rookie reception record, surpassing a mark that had stood since 1954. He also posted his first career multi-touchdown game in 2024 with Atlanta and signed a three-year, $39 million deal with the Falcons that same offseason, underscoring his value as a starting-caliber wide receiver.
Darnell Mooney Career Wins
Through the 2025 season, Mooney has compiled 309 receptions for 4,028 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns in his NFL career. While individual game victories are not formally tracked for wide receivers, his production has translated into key contributions for each team he has played.
NFL Career Highlights
His single-season high came in 2021 with the Bears, when he recorded 81 receptions for 1,055 yards. His first career multi-touchdown game arrived in 2024 with the Falcons, a sign of his growing red-zone role. Through six NFL seasons, he has remained a dependable target and a consistent threat on intermediate and deep routes.
Other Performances
Mooney’s college resume at Tulane included 19 career touchdowns and back-to-back team-leading reception totals in 2018 and 2019. Those seasons helped him earn an invitation to the NFL Combine, where his 4.38-second 40-yard dash boosted his draft stock.
Darnell Mooney Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Darnell Mooney’s parents and extended family are not widely documented. He grew up in Gadsden, Alabama, and his athletic foundation traces back to his high school years at Gadsden City, where he played football and basketball.
Personal Life
Mooney has kept most of his personal life private. There is no publicly verified information about a spouse or children. He has continued to live and train in the United States as his NFL career has progressed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was Mooney’s second year with the Atlanta Falcons under the three-year contract he signed in March 2024. He continued to operate as a key part of the Falcons’ passing attack, providing veteran reliability and route-running precision. His role expanded as the season progressed, with consistent targets coming his way each week.
Mooney’s production remained steady, helping balance Atlanta’s offense alongside its other skill-position players. He finished the 2025 campaign as one of the team’s primary receivers, reinforcing the value of his free-agent signing.
Following the season, Mooney was released by the Falcons on March 9, 2026, opening the door for his next chapter. With his career statistics nearing 4,100 receiving yards and counting, he entered free agency still viewed as a productive starting-caliber wide receiver. His signing with the New York Giants on March 17, 2026, set the stage for the next phase of his NFL journey.
