Irvin Charles Bio
Irvin DeVonta Charles, born on April 13, 1997, is an American professional football wide receiver and gunner in the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 219 pounds, he has carved out a role as a special teams contributor and developmental pass catcher. After beginning his NFL journey with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Charles later joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2026. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks.
Known for his size, blocking, and special teams work ethic, Charles has steadily built a professional career through practice squad promotions, multiple contract signings, and a reputation for toughness on coverage units. His path from a four-star high school recruit to a journeyman NFL roster presence reflects perseverance, adaptability, and a long-term commitment to the game.
Early Life and Background
Irvin DeVonta Charles was born and raised in Sicklerville, New Jersey, a community located roughly 23 miles from Philadelphia. Growing up in a household where he and his father cheered for the New York Jets, Charles developed an early passion for professional football. He has cited former Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall as a major inspiration during his youth, and he wore Marshall’s number 15 while playing football at Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey.
Charles was rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports.com, an evaluation that reflected his size, athleticism, and potential at the wide receiver position. His high school years at Paul VI helped lay the foundation for his college recruitment, and his admiration for Marshall gave him an early template for how a physically imposing pass catcher could succeed at the highest level.
Path to Professional Football
Charles began his college career with the Penn State Nittany Lions, joining the program as part of the 2015 recruiting class. Over two seasons in State College, he saw sporadic playing time, working primarily on special teams while learning the demands of a major college football program. His time at Penn State, however, came to an abrupt end when he was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules prior to the 2017 Fiesta Bowl.
After completing his degree at Penn State, Charles transferred to Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a graduate transfer in search of a fresh start. He returned to competitive football in 2021 and emerged as a productive offensive weapon, recording 39 catches for 792 yards and 12 touchdowns for the IUP Crimson Hawks. That productive season restored his visibility as a professional prospect and ultimately opened the door to an NFL opportunity in 2022.
Irvin Charles Career
Early Career (2022)
On May 6, 2022, the New York Jets signed Irvin DeVonta Charles to a three-year, $2.565 million contract as an undrafted free agent, giving him his first opportunity at the professional level. The early months of his rookie season were turbulent, as he was waived by the Jets on August 29 during final roster cuts. Two days later, however, the team re-signed him to its practice squad, keeping him within the organization.
That practice squad role allowed Charles to develop his craft and adjust to the speed and complexity of professional football. His resilience during this period laid the groundwork for his eventual promotion to the active roster in the following year.
New York Jets Breakthrough (2023)
On January 7, 2023, the New York Jets signed Irvin DeVonta Charles to their active roster on a one-year, $705,000 contract, signaling the team’s belief in his continued development. He made the Jets’ final roster entering the regular season, a significant achievement for a player who had been waived the previous summer. He was waived again on September 16 and re-signed to the practice squad, before being promoted back to the active roster on October 11.
During the 2023 season, Charles appeared in 12 games and carved out a role on special teams, recording seven total tackles while also receiving one target as a receiver without a catch. His ability to contribute on coverage units kept him on the active roster and helped establish his identity as a special teams player at the NFL level.
New York Jets Continued Role (2024)
Charles made the Jets’ roster for the 2024 season and continued to be a steady presence on special teams. Early in the year, he recorded two special teams tackles and blocked a punt from Tennessee Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse during a 24-17 Jets victory, one of the most memorable plays of his professional career to that point. His physicality and awareness in punt coverage were on full display during that contest.
Unfortunately, Charles suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week 14 against the Miami Dolphins, cutting short a promising campaign. The injury required extensive rehabilitation but did not end his professional trajectory. On March 28, 2025, he signed an exclusive rights tender with the Jets, signaling the team’s intent to retain him as he recovered and prepared for the next phase of his career.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2026–Present)
On May 27, 2026, the New York Jets traded Irvin DeVonta Charles to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2028 conditional seventh-round pick, opening a new chapter in his professional career. The move gave him an opportunity to compete for a role in a new organization and provided a fresh start following his recovery from injury. The trade reflected the value teams continued to place on his size and special teams skill set.
Heading into his time with the Seahawks, Charles is listed as an active member of the roster wearing number 85. His combination of size, blocking ability, and special teams experience positions him as a potential contributor on coverage units in Seattle.
Driving Style and Strengths
While wide receiver is his listed position, Irvin DeVonta Charles has built his professional reputation primarily on special teams, where his 6-foot-4 frame, length, and physicality make him an effective gunner and blocker. His willingness to embrace the unglamorous elements of the game, including tackling, punt blocking, and downfield coverage, has defined his NFL value. He has shown the versatility to line up as a pass catcher when called upon, although his primary impact has come in the kicking game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Irvin DeVonta Charles’s most notable professional moments is his blocked punt against the Tennessee Titans in 2024, a play that showcased his instincts and special teams value. He has also accumulated 14 total tackles across his NFL career, a mark that reflects his consistent involvement on coverage units. Signing his first NFL contract as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and earning a starting special teams role with the Jets stand as defining milestones in his professional journey.
Irvin Charles Career Highlights
Irvin DeVonta Charles’s professional career has been built primarily on special teams contributions, with a verified total of 14 total tackles recorded through the 2025 NFL season. While his receiving statistics remain limited, his blocking, tackling, and gunner play have kept him employed at the highest level of professional football. The following sections summarize his known career performances and milestones across the NFL.
NFL Highlights
Charles made his most significant impact during the 2024 season with the New York Jets, recording two special teams tackles and blocking a punt from Ryan Stonehouse in a Week 2 victory over the Tennessee Titans. That blocked punt stands as one of the defining plays of his professional career. Earlier, during the 2023 season, he appeared in 12 games and recorded seven total tackles, along with one receiving target that did not result in a catch.
Other Performances
At the college level, Irvin DeVonta Charles recorded 39 catches for 792 yards and 12 touchdowns during the 2021 season with the IUP Crimson Hawks, a productive campaign that helped restore his profile as a professional prospect. He also saw sporadic playing time as a member of the Penn State Nittany Lions between 2015 and 2017, contributing primarily on special teams before his departure from the program.
Irvin Charles Family
Family Background and Football Roots
Irvin DeVonta Charles grew up in Sicklerville, New Jersey, alongside his father, with whom he shared a passion for the New York Jets. Their shared fandom helped shape his early love for the game and gave him an emotional connection to the franchise he would later join as a professional. His admiration for wide receiver Brandon Marshall, a former Jet, further tied his family-rooted football identity to his professional aspirations.
Personal Life
Publicly available information about Irvin DeVonta Charles’s personal life is limited, and he has generally kept details about relationships, marital status, and family outside of football private. His known personal history centers on his Sicklerville, New Jersey upbringing, his father, and his deep connection to the Jets organization that ultimately gave him his first professional opportunity.
2025 Season Performance
Following his ACL injury late in the 2024 season, Irvin DeVonta Charles signed an exclusive rights tender with the New York Jets on March 28, 2025, ensuring he would remain with the team as he continued his rehabilitation. The 2025 season was effectively a recovery year, with Charles working to return to full health and re-establish himself on special teams and as a depth receiver. The Jets retained him on the roster, signaling their continued belief in his long-term potential and special teams value.
Although detailed in-season statistics for 2025 are limited in publicly available sources, his presence on the roster and his history as a reliable gunner positioned him to compete for a special teams role once healthy. The 2025 campaign served as a bridge year, setting the stage for the 2026 trade that sent him to the Seattle Seahawks. His long-term outlook remained strong, given his size, special teams skill set, and the demand across the league for physical coverage players.