Isaac Guerendo Bio
Isaac Guerendo is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and the Louisville Cardinals before being selected by San Francisco in the 2024 NFL Draft. Standing 6 ft 0 in and weighing 221 lb, Guerendo has quickly transitioned from a college late bloomer into a contributing NFL back.
Early Life and Background
Isaac Guerendo was born on June 28, 2000, in Clayton, Indiana, and grew up in the Indianapolis area. He was raised by his parents, Mario and Jennifer Guerendo. His father, Mario, is an emigrant from the Central African Republic, while his mother, Jennifer, competed in track and field during her high school years, an athletic background that helped shape Isaac’s early sporting interests.
Guerendo attended Avon High School in Avon, Indiana, where he played wide receiver. As a junior, he recorded 19 receptions for 596 yards and six touchdowns. His senior year marked a clear breakout, as he finished with 54 receptions for 1,258 yards and 16 touchdowns. His strong senior campaign earned him recognition as the Indianapolis Star’s Mister Football for wide receivers.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school, Guerendo committed to play college football for the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference. He joined the program in 2019, beginning a college journey that would eventually reshape his professional outlook. The combination of a strong work ethic and his family’s athletic background helped him push through early career transitions from wide receiver to running back.
Guerendo’s development at Wisconsin was gradual, as he adjusted to a new role and learned the physical demands of Big Ten football. After completing his degree in personal finance at Wisconsin in December 2022, he used the NCAA transfer portal to seek a more prominent opportunity for his final season of eligibility, ultimately choosing the Louisville Cardinals.
Isaac Guerendo Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Isaac Guerendo’s college career at Wisconsin began quietly. In his first season in 2019, he carried the ball once for one yard, made one catch for three yards, and returned one kickoff for 49 yards. During the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he carried the ball 11 times for 36 yards, gradually earning more responsibility within the Badgers’ offense.
His role expanded in 2021, when he recorded his first career touchdown on an 82-yard run against Eastern Michigan in Week 2. He finished that season with 160 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, adding two receptions for six yards. In 2022, Guerendo rushed for 385 yards and five touchdowns on 64 carries, while also recording 17 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown. After the season, he entered the transfer portal and closed his Wisconsin career with 582 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 99 carries across 20 games.
Wisconsin Breakthrough (2019–2022)
Guerendo’s most memorable Wisconsin moment came in 2022, when he served as a versatile weapon in the Badgers’ backfield and through the passing game. His growth as both a runner and a pass catcher helped him earn the confidence of the coaching staff, and his decision to enter the transfer portal reflected a clear desire for a larger offensive role.
Beyond the field, Guerendo completed his bachelor’s degree in personal finance from the University of Wisconsin in December 2022. This academic milestone coincided with his transition to Louisville, positioning him as a graduate transfer with both experience and a completed degree heading into his final college season.
Louisville Era (2023)
As a graduate transfer in 2023, Guerendo joined the Louisville Cardinals and quickly became a featured offensive player. In his Louisville home debut in Week 2, he rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and added four receptions for 47 yards. His Week 10 performance against Virginia Tech marked a career high at the time, as he rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns in a win.
Guerendo closed the 2023 regular season on a high note in the Holiday Bowl, rushing for a career-high 161 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries, although the Cardinals fell to USC 42–28. He finished the 2023 campaign with 810 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 132 carries, plus 22 receptions for 234 yards. After the season, Guerendo declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, finishing his college career with strong momentum.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2024–Present)
Isaac Guerendo was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round, 129th overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft. Shortly after the draft, he signed a four-year rookie contract with the team in May 2024. Listed as a running back and kickoff returner, he joined a talented San Francisco roster looking to develop depth at the position.
His first extended opportunity arrived when injuries to running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason created an opening in the 49ers’ offense. Guerendo made his NFL debut in the Week 2 road loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and he later scored his first NFL touchdown on a four-yard rush during the Week 8 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, finishing that game with 102 scrimmage yards. Through his initial NFL season, he contributed 84 rushing attempts for 420 yards and four rushing touchdowns, 15 receptions for 152 receiving yards, and 263 return yards, establishing himself as a versatile playmaker for San Francisco.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Guerendo’s most notable early NFL moments is his first career touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys, a four-yard rush that highlighted his value as a short-yardage and goal-line option. His transition from a wide receiver in high school to a feature running back at Louisville and then to a kickoff returner in the NFL underscores his positional versatility, and his four-year contract with the 49ers signals the franchise’s confidence in his long-term development.
Isaac Guerendo Career Wins
While Isaac Guerendo’s professional trophy case is still developing, he has collected several notable victories at the college level, including a 2023 win over Virginia Tech in which he rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns. His NFL regular-season wins include the Week 8 2024 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, where he tallied his first career touchdown and 102 scrimmage yards.
Wisconsin and Louisville Highlights
At Wisconsin, Guerendo’s most memorable offensive performance came in 2022, when he combined for 385 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 64 carries while also producing as a receiver. His signature Wisconsin moment was his 82-yard rushing touchdown against Eastern Michigan in 2021, which announced his big-play ability.
At Louisville, his standout performance was the 2023 Holiday Bowl against USC, where he rushed for a career-high 161 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Earlier that season, his three-touchdown game against Virginia Tech helped anchor a pivotal conference win.
Isaac Guerendo Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Isaac Guerendo was raised by his father, Mario Guerendo, an emigrant from the Central African Republic, and his mother, Jennifer Guerendo, a former high school track and field athlete. Their athletic and multicultural background has been a steady influence on his career, and Guerendo has spoken about the role his parents played in supporting his path through college and into the NFL.
Outside of football, Guerendo earned a bachelor’s degree in personal finance from the University of Wisconsin, a detail that reflects his planning-oriented approach to life beyond the sport. He is in a relationship with Claire Stone.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Isaac Guerendo is expected to continue his development within the San Francisco 49ers’ running back room. His rookie-year production of 420 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, and 263 return yards, paired with his expanded role following injuries, gives him a clear platform to build on as he enters his second NFL season.
With Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason still central to the 49ers’ offensive plans, Guerendo’s path to touches is likely to come through kickoff returns, situational carries, and spelled reps. His experience from a productive 2023 Louisville campaign suggests he can handle a larger workload if injuries once again open the door.
Across the 2025 season, Guerendo’s outlook hinges on his growth as a pass protector, his consistency in kickoff coverage, and his ability to convert in short-yardage situations. The combination of his speed, college production, and expanded 2024 role positions him as a meaningful contributor for a 49ers team with championship expectations.
