Gerald Everett Bio
Gerald Rashard Everett (born June 25, 1994) is an American professional football tight end who has spent nearly a decade in the National Football League. He is best known for his time with the Los Angeles Rams, where he was a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft, and for stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers, and Chicago Bears. A versatile pass catcher and willing blocker, Everett has produced career totals of 292 receptions, 2,869 receiving yards, and 19 receiving touchdowns across the regular season.
Standing 6 ft 3 in and listed at 252 lb, Everett has played primarily as an in-line tight end and in the slot, providing quarterbacks with a reliable intermediate target. His journeyman path through four colleges and four NFL franchises has shaped his reputation as a hardworking, adaptable veteran.
Early Life and Background
Gerald Rashard Everett was born on June 25, 1994, in Atlanta, Georgia, and grew up in the surrounding Decatur area. He attended Columbia High School, where he graduated before continuing his education and athletic career at the next level. His upbringing in the Atlanta area exposed him to a deep sports culture, and he spent his formative years playing youth athletics at the Gresham Park Recreation Complex.
Surprisingly, football was not Everett’s first love in high school. He played three seasons of varsity basketball and ran track for the Columbia Eagles, and he did not suit up for the football team until his senior year. That late introduction to the gridiron belied the athletic foundation he had already built through basketball and sprint events, traits that later helped him transition into a tight end role at the college level.
Path to Professional Football
Everett’s route to the NFL was unusually winding, spanning four college programs. He began at Bethune–Cookman in 2012, then moved to Hutchinson Community College in 2013, and transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2014. When the UAB football program was shut down, he landed at the University of South Alabama, where he played for coach Joey Jones’s South Alabama Jaguars from 2015 to 2016.
At South Alabama, Everett blossomed into a draft prospect. As a junior in 2015, he recorded 41 receptions for 575 yards and eight touchdowns, earning first-team All-Sun Belt recognition. He followed that with 49 catches for 717 yards and four touchdowns as a senior in 2016, claiming another first-team All-Sun Belt nod. He received an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he helped the South defeat the North 16–15, and analysts ranked him among the top tight ends in his draft class.
Gerald Everett Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Everett was selected in the second round with the 44th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2017 NFL draft, becoming the first player ever drafted out of South Alabama. On June 13, 2017, the Rams signed him to a four-year, $6.04 million contract that included $3.27 million in guarantees and a $2.53 million signing bonus. He made his NFL debut in the Rams’ season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, hauling in a 39-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff during a 46–9 victory.
He finished his rookie year with 16 receptions for 244 yards and two touchdowns, including his first career score on a four-yard reception from Goff in a road win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2018, he appeared more frequently in the offense and finished with 33 catches for 320 yards and three touchdowns. He was a significant contributor in the Rams’ memorable 54–51 Monday Night Football victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11 of 2018, catching two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2017–2020)
Everett’s most celebrated stretch came during the Rams’ deep postseason runs. In the 2018 NFC Championship Game, he had two receptions for 50 yards in the 26–23 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints that sent Los Angeles to Super Bowl LIII. Although he was targeted once in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, he did not record a reception in the 13–3 loss.
During the 2019 season, Everett posted his first 100-yard receiving game, finishing with 136 receiving yards on Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5, though the Rams fell 29–30. He appeared in 13 games that year and recorded 37 receptions for 408 yards and two touchdowns. In 2020, he played all 16 games and added 41 receptions for 417 yards and one receiving touchdown, while also recording his first career rushing touchdown in a Week 4 win over the New York Giants.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2021)
On March 21, 2021, Everett signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks, beginning the second chapter of his career. He became a featured part of the passing attack, playing in 15 games with 12 starts and setting a then-career high with 48 receptions for 478 yards and four touchdowns. His production in Seattle established him as a dependable veteran target.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2022–2023)
On March 22, 2022, Everett signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. In his first season with the Chargers, he played in 16 games with 11 starts and set new career highs with 58 receptions and 555 receiving yards, while tying his career best with four touchdown catches. In the AFC Wild Card Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he caught six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in a narrow 31–30 loss.
In 2023, Everett started 10 of the 13 games he played and recorded 46 receptions for 376 yards and three touchdowns, providing a steady veteran presence for the Chargers’ offense.
Chicago Bears Era (2024–2025)
On March 15, 2024, Everett signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Bears, joining a young offense in need of experienced pass catchers. In the 2024 season, he appeared in 17 games and made four starts, finishing with eight receptions for 36 yards in a reduced role. On February 21, 2025, Everett was released by the Bears, opening the next chapter of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Everett’s career is highlighted by his appearance in Super Bowl LIII with the Rams, his first 100-yard game against Seattle in 2019, and his standout Senior Bowl performance where he became the first player ever drafted from South Alabama. He has also recorded career highs of 58 receptions and 555 receiving yards in a single season, achieved during his first year with the Chargers.
Gerald Everett Career Wins
Although tight ends are rarely judged primarily by team victories, Everett has been part of several winning locker rooms. He played in three playoff games with the Rams, including a conference championship win and a Super Bowl appearance, and contributed to a memorable Monday Night Football shootout victory over Kansas City in 2018. With the Chargers, he helped the team reach the postseason in 2022.
Playoff Highlights
Everett made his playoff debut in the Wild Card Round against the Atlanta Falcons during his rookie season with the Rams, recording a four-yard reception. His most impactful postseason showing came in the AFC Wild Card Game with the Chargers in 2022, when he caught six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gerald Everett Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public details about Everett’s family remain limited. He was raised in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and developed his athletic foundation at the Gresham Park Recreation Complex, an experience that shaped his early love for sports.
2025 Season Outlook
After being released by the Chicago Bears on February 21, 2025, Everett entered the 2025 offseason as a free agent looking to extend a career that began in 2017. As a veteran tight end with 292 career receptions, 2,869 receiving yards, and 19 receiving touchdowns, he offers teams a proven pass catcher and a willing blocker. With 292 career receptions and experience in four offensive systems, he remains a capable NFL contributor seeking a new opportunity.