Jonathan Mingo Bio
Jonathan Ondreal Mingo (born April 20, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 2 in and listed at 220 lb, Mingo wears jersey No. 81 and plays a physical, downfield style that has marked his work at both the college and professional levels. He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels before being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.
After beginning his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers, Mingo was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in November 2024. He continues to develop as a pass catcher at the professional level, working to establish himself as a reliable contributor in the Cowboys’ offensive system.
Early Life and Background
Jonathan Ondreal Mingo was born on April 20, 2001, in Brandon, Mississippi, where he grew up and attended Brandon High School. A native of the Magnolia State, Mingo came of age in a region with a deep tradition of high school football, and he quickly developed into one of the most sought-after receivers in the southeast.
Coming out of high school, Mingo was rated a four-star recruit by national scouting services. He was a highly regarded prospect who drew attention for his combination of size, length, and physicality at the wide receiver position. His recruitment drew offers from several of the Southeast’s top college football programs, including Georgia, Auburn, and Mississippi State.
Ultimately, Mingo chose to stay in his home state and committed to play college football at Ole Miss. The decision allowed him to remain close to family while pursuing his development on the field at the Southeastern Conference level, the most competitive college football conference in the country.
Path to American Football
Mingo’s path to the NFL began in earnest at Brandon High School, where his production and physical tools made him one of the top receiver prospects in Mississippi. His four-star rating and scholarship offers from programs like Georgia and Auburn reflected a recruiting profile that pointed clearly toward a future at a high-level college program.
At Ole Miss, Mingo joined a passing attack that gave him an opportunity to develop as a perimeter threat. As a freshman in 2020, he started all 12 of the Rebels’ games and finished the season with 12 receptions for 172 yards and one touchdown, immediately showing he could handle a starting role in the SEC.
His second season brought further growth, as he caught 27 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns. A foot injury in his junior year cost him seven games but did not derail his trajectory, and he returned in 2022 to start all 13 games, tie for the team lead with five receiving touchdowns, and set an Ole Miss single-game record with 247 receiving yards against Vanderbilt. That performance earned him Second-team All-SEC honors and cemented his status as an NFL prospect.
Jonathan Mingo Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Mingo’s first notable stretch came at Brandon High School, where he built the resume that made him a four-star recruit. He signed with Ole Miss and immediately contributed as a true freshman, starting every game and providing a reliable target in the Rebels’ passing game. The early exposure to a starting role in the SEC gave him valuable experience heading into his sophomore year.
Across his four college seasons, Mingo grew into a featured receiver. He worked through a junior-year foot injury, returned to full form as a senior, and capped his career with a record-setting performance against Vanderbilt and Second-team All-SEC recognition. That 2022 season, in which he posted 51 receptions for 861 yards and 16.9 yards per catch, established him as one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class.
NFL Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Mingo was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round with the 39th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He entered his rookie season as a starting wide receiver alongside veteran Adam Thielen, an arrangement that gave him a steady mentor in the Panthers’ offensive scheme. Working in that role, Mingo finished his rookie year with 43 catches for 418 yards across 15 games and 14 starts, showing the consistency the Panthers had hoped for when they drafted him.
His second NFL season opened with continued opportunity in Carolina, but the year took a turn on November 5, 2024, when Mingo was traded, along with a 2025 seventh-round pick, to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round selection. He finished the 2024 season with 17 receptions for 167 yards, splitting the year between two franchises.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2024–Present)
Mingo’s move to Dallas placed him in a new offensive system and offered a fresh start late in the 2024 season. Working to build a role in the Cowboys’ receiver group, he looked to translate his physical tools into consistent production. The trade also positioned him within one of the NFL’s most visible franchises, raising the profile of his ongoing development.
Heading into the 2025 season, Mingo was placed on injured reserve on August 18, 2025, due to a PCL sprain in his right knee. He was activated on October 21, ahead of the Cowboys’ Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos, allowing him to return to the field midway through the campaign. As of 2025, his career NFL regular-season totals stood at 61 receptions for 610 receiving yards.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mingo plays a physical, contact-oriented style at the wide receiver position. His 6 ft 2 in frame and 220 lb frame allow him to win at the catch point and break tackles after the reception, and his production at Ole Miss showed an ability to generate yards after contact. At the NFL level, he is still refining the route-running polish and consistency required to be a high-volume target, but his size and toughness give him a clear profile as a possession-style receiver who can work the middle of the field.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Mingo’s career came in 2022, when he set an Ole Miss single-game record with 247 receiving yards against Vanderbilt. He was also part of the 2023 NFL draft class as a second-round selection, the 39th overall pick, and was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in November 2024, a move that marked the start of his current chapter in the league.
Jonathan Mingo Career Wins
Jonathan Mingo’s professional resume is still in its early chapters, with his first regular-season receptions coming during his 2023 rookie year with the Carolina Panthers. While individual game-winning touchdown tallies are not part of the verified record at this stage, his season totals and his path to a second-round draft pick reflect a player who has consistently produced when given a starting role.
NFL Highlights
Mingo’s most productive professional season to date came as a rookie in 2023, when he posted 43 receptions for 418 yards in 15 games with 14 starts for the Carolina Panthers. His first extended stretch of NFL action came alongside veteran Adam Thielen, who provided a steady presence in the Panthers’ wide receiver room. In 2024, Mingo split the season between Carolina and Dallas after a midseason trade, finishing the year with 17 receptions for 167 yards as a Cowboy.
His move to the Cowboys in November 2024, packaged with a 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick, remains the most significant transaction of his career. Through the 2025 season, Mingo’s combined regular-season totals stand at 61 receptions for 610 receiving yards.
Other Wins & Performances
At the college level, Mingo earned Second-team All-SEC honors in 2022, the most prominent individual award of his career to date. He also set the Ole Miss single-game receiving record with 247 yards against Vanderbilt that same season, a performance that stands as his signature college achievement.
Jonathan Mingo Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Jonathan Mingo’s family background are limited. He was raised in Brandon, Mississippi, and his recruitment and career path kept him connected to the state throughout his development as a player.
Personal Life
Verified personal-life details for Jonathan Mingo are limited in the available record. He is an American professional football player based in the United States, and his residence during the NFL season is tied to his current team, the Dallas Cowboys.
2025 Season Performance
Jonathan Mingo’s 2025 season began on a challenging note when he was placed on injured reserve on August 18, 2025, due to a PCL sprain in his right knee. The injury kept him out of the early portion of the Cowboys’ schedule and required a recovery period that pushed his return deeper into the year.
Mingo was activated on October 21, 2025, ahead of the Cowboys’ Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos, marking his return to game action in the middle of the season. The activation gave him an opportunity to build momentum in the second half of the schedule and contribute to Dallas’ passing attack after the layoff.
Looking ahead, Mingo’s outlook in Dallas centers on establishing a consistent role within the Cowboys’ offense and stacking productive weeks following his return from injured reserve. With the team in the middle of its 2025 campaign, his production in the back half of the season will shape how the organization views his role going forward.
