John Ridgeway Bio
John Robert Ridgeway III (born May 7, 1999) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and listed at 321 pounds, he wears jersey number 95 for the Saints and plays a rotational role along the interior defensive line. He previously spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders after entering the league as a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Ridgeway played college football for the Illinois State Redbirds before transferring to the Arkansas Razorbacks, where his senior season helped launch his professional career. Across his NFL stops he has worked as a nose guard and defensive tackle, contributing on defense and on field goal and extra point block units. He is also widely known by the suffix-style name John Ridgeway III, reflecting the family tradition referenced in his full legal name.
Early Life and Background
John Robert Ridgeway III was born on May 7, 1999, in Bloomington, Illinois, and grew up in the same central Illinois community. He attended Bloomington High School, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete with a clear football identity. At Bloomington, he played both offensive tackle and defensive tackle for the football team, giving him a rare early appreciation for trench play on both sides of the ball.
Beyond football, Ridgeway competed in the shot put and discus on the track and field team, building the kind of lower-body power that would later define his professional profile. He was a four-year letter winner on the wrestling team and won the state heavyweight wrestling championship, a credential that underscored his balance, leverage, and finishing strength. As a senior, he was named first-team All-Big Twelve Conference on offense and first-team All-State on defense, marking him as one of the most decorated two-way linemen in the area that year.
His combination of size, athleticism, and wrestling background made him a sought-after recruit, and he ultimately chose to begin his college career at Illinois State, located within driving distance of his hometown. That decision set the stage for his development as a full-time defensive lineman.
Path to American Football
Ridgeway began his collegiate career at Illinois State, where he redshirted as a true freshman and used the year to add strength while learning the defensive side of the ball. Although he was initially recruited to play on the offensive line, the Illinois State staff shifted him to defensive tackle, a position that better fit his frame and his wrestling instincts. The move quickly paid off, as he was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) All-Newcomer team after recording 30 tackles with one sack in his redshirt freshman season.
As he progressed at Illinois State, Ridgeway became one of the conference’s most disruptive interior linemen. In his redshirt junior season, which was shortened and played in the spring of 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he posted 22 tackles with three tackles for loss and earned first-team All-MVFC honors. That recognition established him as a priority transfer target for programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
After the 2021 spring season at Illinois State, Ridgeway transferred to Arkansas to compete in the Southeastern Conference. The step up in competition was significant, but his prior conference accolades and pro-style frame made the move a natural one. His performance in the SEC ultimately convinced NFL teams that he was ready for the next level.
John Ridgeway Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Ridgeway’s early football career unfolded almost entirely in Bloomington, first at Bloomington High School and then at Illinois State. Across his high school years, he accumulated honors in football, track and field, and wrestling, an unusual combination that reflected both his athleticism and his competitive drive. The state heavyweight wrestling title stood out as the most distinctive achievement of that period, and it remains a talking point among those who followed his amateur development.
At Illinois State, Ridgeway developed into a reliable interior presence, earning All-Newcomer honors as a redshirt freshman and All-MVFC first-team recognition as a redshirt junior. His college trajectory followed a steady upward curve, with each season bringing expanded responsibility and more production. By the time he declared for the NFL draft, he had established himself as a pro-ready nose guard prospect with starting upside.
Arkansas Razorbacks Breakthrough (2021)
Ridgeway arrived at Arkansas ahead of the 2021 season and was named the Razorbacks’ starting nose guard heading into the year. He missed the season opener while recovering from an appendectomy but returned to play a central role on the defensive line. He finished the 2021 season with 39 tackles, two sacks, and four tackles for loss, anchoring the middle of a defense that helped Arkansas post a 9-4 record and a #21 ranking in the final AP Poll.
The Razorbacks capped the season with a victory in the 2022 Outback Bowl over Penn State, a win that gave Ridgeway a strong postseason resume as he prepared for the NFL draft. His one season at Arkansas served as both a transition to a higher level of competition and a showcase for NFL evaluators. Following the bowl game, he declared for the 2022 NFL Draft, closing out his college career on a high note.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2022)
Ridgeway was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round, 178th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft. The selection reflected his upside as a developmental nose guard with the size and strength to handle double teams at the professional level. Dallas saw him as a depth piece who could contribute on early downs and on special teams while he continued to refine his pass-rush technique.
His tenure in Dallas was brief. He was waived on September 17, 2022, less than a month into his rookie season. The short stay did not, however, end his NFL opportunities, as another team quickly added him to its defensive line rotation.
Washington Commanders Era (2022–2024)
Ridgeway was claimed off waivers by the Washington Commanders on September 19, 2022, giving him an immediate chance to extend his rookie year. He appeared in 15 games with four starts for Washington in 2022, finishing the season with 24 tackles, one forced fumble, and one pass defended. Among the highlights was a forced fumble against tight end Dallas Goedert that was recovered by linebacker Jamin Davis, a turnover that helped the Commanders beat the previously undefeated Philadelphia Eagles.
In 2023, Ridgeway took another step forward, appearing in all 17 games with two starts and posting a career-best 31 tackles, 16 of them solo, along with one pass defended. He recorded a career-high six tackles, three of them solo, in a Week 7 game against the New York Giants, demonstrating the kind of steady run-defense production teams look for from rotational defensive tackles. Across his time in Washington, he became a reliable special teams contributor on field goal and extra point block units in addition to his defensive snaps.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024–Present)
On August 28, 2024, the Commanders traded Ridgeway and a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a sixth-round pick. The deal gave him a fresh opportunity in the NFC South and reunited him with a defensive scheme that asked interior linemen to anchor against the run. In 2024, he appeared in 13 games for the Saints, making 15 tackles with one tackle for loss and one pass defended, while being declared inactive for four contests.
Beyond his defensive role, Ridgeway contributed on field goal and extra point block units, recording a blocked kick against the Atlanta Falcons. On March 11, 2026, he signed a two-year, $6.2 million extension with the Saints, a deal that signaled the organization’s long-term confidence in his role along the interior defensive line. He enters the target season as an established rotational piece with significant special teams responsibilities.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ridgeway’s game is built around leverage, power, and balance, tools sharpened by his years as a state championship wrestler. He is at his best as a run-defending nose guard, where he can anchor against double teams, occupy blockers, and free linebackers to make plays. His size allows him to match up with both guards and centers, and his track and field background shows up in his ability to disrupt the point of attack. As a pass rusher, he relies on quick hands and a strong base rather than elite speed, a profile that fits cleanly into early-down and short-yardage packages.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Ridgeway’s early NFL career came in 2022, when he forced a fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles that helped Washington hand Philadelphia its first loss of the season. He also recorded his first career blocked kick as a Saint, swatting an Atlanta Falcons kick in 2024. The signing of his 2026 extension marked another milestone, validating his growth from a fifth-round rookie into a multi-year NFL contributor.
John Ridgeway Career Wins
Defensive tackles are typically measured less by traditional win totals and more by production in tackles, tackles for loss, and disruptive plays. Across his NFL career through the 2024 season, Ridgeway has accumulated 81 total tackles, one forced fumble, and three pass deflections, with the bulk of that production coming during his Commanders tenure. His impact on special teams, particularly as a field goal and extra point blocker, adds another layer to his overall value.
Team Highlights
With the Washington Commanders, Ridgeway’s most notable highlight was the forced fumble against Dallas Goedert that helped seal a win over the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. He also posted a career-high six tackles against the New York Giants in 2023, a performance that highlighted his consistency against the run. With the New Orleans Saints, his first major highlight came in the form of a blocked kick against the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, a play that demonstrated his continued value on special teams units.
Other Performances
Beyond his NFL resume, Ridgeway’s most distinguished pre-professional performance came during the 2021 season at Arkansas, where he helped the Razorbacks finish 9-4, ranked #21 in the AP Poll, and win the 2022 Outback Bowl over Penn State. His first-team All-MVFC selection in 2020 and his MVFC All-Newcomer honor the year prior remain the cornerstone individual awards of his college career.
John Ridgeway Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Ridgeway’s full name, John Robert Ridgeway III, reflects a family tradition of carrying the name across generations, with the “III” suffix marking him as the third in his line. Public details about his parents and extended family are limited, and he has generally kept his family life private. His upbringing in Bloomington, Illinois, however, remains a central part of his identity, and he has spoken about the community’s role in shaping his work ethic and athletic development.
Personal Life
Off the field, Ridgeway is known for his grounded Midwest roots and his connection to Bloomington, where he continues to be recognized for his high school and athletic accomplishments. He has not publicly shared details about a spouse or children, and he tends to keep his personal relationships out of the spotlight. His social media presence centers on his professional football career rather than personal milestones.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Ridgeway was firmly established as a rotational defensive tackle and core special teams player for the New Orleans Saints. His 2024 production, 15 tackles with one tackle for loss and one pass defended in 13 games, suggested a player ready to take on a slightly larger defensive role while continuing his work on field goal and extra point block units. The 2026 extension, signed before the end of the prior cycle, indicated the Saints viewed him as a building block rather than a short-term addition.
Throughout the season, Ridgeway was expected to handle early-down and short-yardage responsibilities, particularly against power-running opponents. His ability to anchor against double teams and disrupt at the line of scrimmage gave New Orleans a steady presence in the middle of its defensive front. Special teams remained a key part of his weekly role, with coaches leaning on his size and timing to challenge opposing kickers.
Looking ahead, the combination of his recent extension, his refined run-defense technique, and his continued growth as a pass rusher pointed to an upward trajectory. The 2025 campaign offered Ridgeway a chance to expand his snap count, build on his prior career-best tackle totals, and cement his status as a long-term contributor on the Saints’ interior defensive line.
