Gus Edwards Bio
Augustus Edwards, widely known as Gus Edwards, is a Liberian professional football running back currently in the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 13, 1995, in Monrovia, Liberia, he moved to the United States as a young child and rose through the college ranks before reaching the NFL. He carries the nickname “Gus the Bus” because of his large frame and his physical, between-the-tackles running style. He is recognized for his power running, durability, and ability to pick up tough yardage in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Edwards first entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2018, where he spent the bulk of his early career and became a reliable contributor in the team’s run game. After six seasons in Baltimore, he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in March 2024. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 238 pounds, he has carved out a role as a bruising back whose running style has been a defining feature of his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Gus Edwards was born in Monrovia, Liberia, on April 13, 1995, during the country’s First Liberian Civil War. The conflict tore Liberia apart and caused widespread loss of life, shaping the early years of many families, including his own. At the age of five, Edwards moved to the United States with his family, settling in the New York City area and beginning a new chapter away from the war-torn country of his birth.
He grew up in Staten Island, New York, and attended Tottenville High School, where he played high school football and developed into a notable recruit. As a three-star prospect, he drew attention from several national recruiting outlets, including ESPN, 247Sports.com, Rivals.com, and Scout.com. He originally gave a verbal commitment to Syracuse, but a coaching change there prompted him to reopen his recruitment and eventually commit to the University of Miami.
Path to the NFL
Edwards played college football for the Miami Hurricanes from 2013 to 2016, where he worked his way into a role within the program’s running back rotation. After his time at Miami, he transferred to Rutgers and played for the Scarlet Knights in 2017 as a graduate transfer, finishing his college career with a final season in the Big Ten. His path to the NFL was not a traditional one, and he entered the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent.
On May 4, 2018, Edwards signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent, opening the door to his professional career. Although he was briefly waived in early September 2018, he quickly returned to the team via the practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in mid-October. That promotion set the stage for his rapid emergence as a contributor in Baltimore’s backfield.
Gus Edwards Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
Edwards made his professional debut in Week 6 of the 2018 season in a 21-0 victory over the Tennessee Titans, carrying the ball 10 times for 42 yards. He quickly became a focal point of the Ravens’ run-heavy offense, highlighted by a 17-carry, 115-yard performance with a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. By late November 2018, he had strung together consecutive 100-yard rushing games, becoming the first Baltimore rookie running back to accomplish that feat since Jamal Lewis in 2000. He closed his rookie year as the team’s leading rusher with 718 yards and two touchdowns, finishing fifth among all rookie running backs in rushing yards.
In his second season, Edwards continued to be a steady presence in the Ravens’ offense, capped by a Week 17 performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in which he ran 21 times for 130 yards in a 28-10 win. He finished 2019 with 133 carries for 711 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, reinforcing his value as a physical, north-south runner.
Baltimore Ravens Breakthrough (2020-2023)
Edwards re-signed with the Ravens on a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender in July 2020 and remained a key part of the team’s rushing attack. He put together several strong performances, including a 101-yard effort on just seven carries against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13 and a two-touchdown game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 14. In 2020, he played all 16 games, starting six, and finished with 144 carries for 723 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns while also contributing as a receiver out of the backfield.
In March 2021, the Ravens placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Edwards, and he later signed a two-year contract extension worth 10 million dollars. His 2021 season was cut short when he suffered a torn ACL during practice on September 9, 2021, ending his year and sending him to injured reserve. He returned in 2022, opening the season on the reserve/PUP list before being activated in October and scoring two rushing touchdowns in his first game back against the Browns. He played nine games in 2022, starting four, and finished with 87 carries for 433 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
The 2023 campaign marked the high point of Edwards’s career statistically. After J. K. Dobbins suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1, Edwards became the lead back and set new career highs across the board. He posted a career-long 80-yard reception against the Detroit Lions in Week 7, recorded three rushing touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8, and added two more scores the following week against the Seattle Seahawks. He finished 2023 with 198 carries for 810 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, along with 12 receptions for 180 receiving yards, ranking fifth in the NFL in rushing touchdowns that season.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2024-Present)
On March 13, 2024, Edwards signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, beginning a new chapter in his career. He entered Week 1 as the team’s starting running back, sharing the backfield with J. K. Dobbins, before losing the starting role as Dobbins emerged as the primary ball carrier. An ankle injury sent Edwards to injured reserve in mid-October 2024, and he was activated ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Tennessee Titans on November 9. He was released by the Chargers on March 10, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Edwards is best known for his physical, between-the-tackles running style and his ability to grind out yards after contact. His combination of size, leg drive, and low pad level makes him a natural fit for short-yardage and goal-line situations, and he has consistently delivered in those spots throughout his career. He is also a capable pass catcher out of the backfield, with enough hands and route-running ability to function as a complementary receiving option, even though the majority of his production has come on the ground.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Edwards’s career came in November 2018, when he became the first Baltimore rookie running back to post back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Jamal Lewis in 2000. He also played in his first playoff game during the 2018 Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Chargers, and later set a career high with three rushing touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals in 2023. His 13 rushing touchdowns that season tied for the fifth most in the NFL and stand as the single most productive scoring year of his career.
Gus Edwards Career Stats
NFL Regular Season Statistics
Across his NFL career through the 2024 season, Gus Edwards has compiled 3,760 rushing yards on a 4.7-yard average with 30 rushing touchdowns, while adding 33 receptions for 380 receiving yards. His most productive statistical season came in 2023, when he set career highs in carries, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, receptions, and receiving yards.
Gus Edwards Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Gus Edwards was born in Liberia during the country’s First Liberian Civil War and moved to the United States with his family at the age of five. He was raised in Staten Island, New York, and is of Liberian nationality. Beyond these details, limited public information is available about his broader family or personal relationships.
2025 Season Outlook
Following his release from the Los Angeles Chargers on March 10, 2025, Gus Edwards entered the 2025 offseason as a free agent. With a career resume that includes more than 3,700 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns, he remains a proven short-yardage and goal-line option for any team in need of a physical back. His experience in run-heavy offenses, particularly with the Baltimore Ravens, makes him a logical fit for schemes that lean on a power running game.
As the 2025 season approaches, questions remain about where Edwards will land and how he will be used. A return to a familiar scheme that emphasizes between-the-tackles running would appear to suit his strengths best. Regardless of the destination, his track record of production, his durability through much of his career, and his reputation as a punishing runner should keep him in demand as training camps approach.