Genard Avery Bio
Genard Avery, born on April 26, 1995, is an American professional football defensive end who has played in the National Football League since 2018. After a productive college career with the Memphis Tigers, he entered the NFL when the Cleveland Browns selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and listed at 250 pounds, Avery has built his reputation as a hard-working edge defender with a track record of contributions on special teams and in pass-rush situations.
Over the course of his professional career, Avery has suited up for the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Indianapolis Colts. He is a two-time First-team All-American Athletic Conference selection from his time at Memphis and has accumulated more than 100 career tackles along with 8.5 sacks in the NFL.
Early Life and Background
Genard Avery was born and raised in Grenada, Mississippi, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete at Grenada High School. A standout on both sides of the ball, he earned Class 6A All-State honors and was named to the Clarion-Ledger 2013 All-State Team. He was also recognized as the Most Valuable Player of Mississippi 6A Region and was selected to play in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game. The Clarion-Ledger included him on its Targeted 22 list of top prospects.
As a junior, Avery registered 111 tackles and six sacks while forcing five fumbles, establishing himself as one of the premier defensive players in the state. During his senior season, he added 75 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles, while also contributing on offense with 72 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 18 carries. Beyond football, Avery was a Class 6A state champion powerlifter and a four-year track and field letter-winner, showcasing the athletic foundation that would later fuel his professional career.
Path to American Football
Avery committed to the University of Memphis, where he gradually developed into one of the most productive defenders in program history. As a freshman, he posted five tackles, but his role expanded quickly as he gained experience in the Tigers’ defensive scheme. By his junior season, he had produced 81 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions returned for touchdowns, signaling his emergence as a disruptive playmaker.
His senior year cemented his legacy at Memphis. Avery recorded 80 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and added 4.5 sacks, setting a new single-season program record for tackles for loss. He finished his college career with 232 total tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions, rankings that placed him among the all-time leaders at Memphis. Avery earned First-team All-AAC honors in both 2016 and 2017, and he completed his degree in Organizational Leadership in just three and a half years, graduating in December 2017.
Genard Avery Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
Genard Avery began his professional career with the Cleveland Browns after being selected 150th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He signed a rookie contract worth just under $2.7 million, including a signing bonus of $280,000. In his NFL debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he announced his arrival with one strip sack and four total tackles. He went on to play in every game that season, starting five of them, and finished his rookie year with 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
His second season in Cleveland proved more difficult. With the Browns transitioning to a new defensive scheme under Steve Wilks, Avery saw limited action, playing in only two of the first seven games and logging just five defensive snaps. On October 28, 2019, one day before the trade deadline, Cleveland dealt him to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, opening a new chapter in his career.
Philadelphia Eagles Breakthrough (2019-2021)
Avery made an immediate impression in his Eagles debut, recording two tackles and half a sack in a 22-14 win over the Chicago Bears. Although he did not add to his statistics over the final weeks of the 2019 season, the move gave him a fresh start in a defense that valued his versatility. He was inactive for the Eagles’ wild card matchup against the Seattle Seahawks but remained part of the team’s plans heading into the next season.
In 2020, Avery produced one of his most productive single games during a Week 4 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, registering five quarterback hits and a sack. An elbow injury later landed him on injured reserve in late October, but he returned to action in November and finished the year with 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The 2021 season marked his most significant breakthrough, as he was elevated into a starting outside linebacker role. He recorded a career-high eight tackles against the Carolina Panthers and finished the year with 43 tackles and one sack across 16 games, including 12 starts.
Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022)
Following his three seasons in Philadelphia, Avery signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 28, 2022. His tenure in Pittsburgh proved short, as the team released him on August 23, 2022, ahead of the regular season. Just two days later, on August 25, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him to provide depth along their defensive front.
After a brief release, Avery was re-signed to the Buccaneers’ practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on October 11, 2022. His season in Tampa Bay was cut short in Week 14 when he suffered an abdomen injury, leading to a placement on season-ending injured reserve in late December. Despite the injury, the stretch reaffirmed his value as a reliable rotational defender capable of stepping into larger roles when called upon.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2023-Present)
On June 1, 2023, Avery signed with the Indianapolis Colts, beginning his latest professional chapter. He was placed on injured reserve on August 18, 2023, but remained part of the team’s long-term plans. He re-signed with the Colts on March 13, 2024, was released late in the preseason, and was quickly added back to the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster in mid-September.
His 2024 campaign in Indianapolis was again interrupted when he was waived on November 23. Through it all, Avery continued to demonstrate the resilience and professionalism that have defined his seven-year NFL journey, contributing on defense and special teams whenever given the opportunity.
Driving Style and Strengths
Avery is known for his quick first step, high motor, and ability to play multiple positions along the defensive front. His background as a state champion powerlifter gives him the functional strength to hold up against the run, while his track and field experience contributes to his burst and lateral quickness. He has thrived most in roles that allow him to pin his ears back and rush the passer, while also providing reliable snaps on special teams coverage units.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Avery’s career came in his NFL debut, when he recorded a strip sack against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His career-high eight-tackle performance against the Carolina Panthers in 2021 highlighted his growth as a starter, and his Memphis single-season record of 22 tackles for loss stands as one of the most impressive individual achievements in program history.
Genard Avery Career Wins
While defensive ends are rarely defined by win totals in the traditional sense, Genard Avery has contributed to a number of memorable team victories throughout his NFL career. From his debut win over the Steelers to key regular-season victories with the Eagles, Steelers, Buccaneers, and Colts, he has consistently been a reliable rotational piece on defenses that have competed in meaningful late-season matchups.
Professional Highlights
Avery’s most productive statistical stretch came during the 2021 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, when he started 12 of 16 games and posted 43 tackles and one sack. His rookie year with the Cleveland Browns also stood out, as he produced 4.5 sacks and 40 tackles while playing in all 16 games, an impressive feat for a fifth-round selection.
Other Performances
Beyond the NFL, Avery’s two First-team All-AAC selections in 2016 and 2017 highlight his dominance at the collegiate level. His 232 career tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss, and 21.5 sacks at Memphis place him firmly among the all-time greats in the program’s defensive history.
Genard Avery Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Genard Avery grew up in Grenada, Mississippi, in a family with athletic ties that helped shape his competitive drive. His cousin, C. J. Avery, has also been involved in football, reflecting a household and extended family that valued the sport.
Personal Life
Off the field, Avery is known for his disciplined approach to training, a habit rooted in his high school days as a state champion powerlifter. He has spent the majority of his professional career in the Midwest and Southeast, adjusting to new cities and team environments with the resilience of a journeyman defender.
2025 Season Outlook
Entering the 2025 season, Genard Avery is once again a free agent looking for his next NFL opportunity. At age 30, he brings more than seven years of professional experience, positional versatility, and a track record of special teams reliability. His 8.5 career sacks and more than 100 tackles underscore the value he can offer a team in need of edge depth.
Should he land with a club for the 2025 campaign, Avery will be competing for a role as a rotational defensive end and a core special teams contributor. His experience in multiple defensive schemes, including those of the Browns, Eagles, Steelers, Buccaneers, and Colts, makes him a low-risk signing for teams looking to bolster their defensive front late in the offseason.
Regardless of where he plays, Avery’s path from a multi-sport standout in Grenada, Mississippi, to a fifth-round draft pick and a long-tenured NFL veteran remains a testament to perseverance, work ethic, and the steady production that has defined his professional journey.