Ke’Shawn Vaughn Bio
Ke’Shawn LaMont Vaughn is an American professional football running back born on May 4, 1997, in Nashville, Tennessee. He grew into one of the most productive high school rushers in the state before taking his talents to two Power Five college programs. After declaring for the NFL, Vaughn was selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft and went on to win a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has since spent time with the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers as he continues his professional career.
Listed at 5 feet 10 inches and around 214 pounds, Vaughn has carved out a role as a compact, shifty back with pass-catching skills. His professional journey has taken him across three organizations, and he remains active in the league heading into 2025.
Early Life and Background
Ke’Shawn LaMont Vaughn grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and attended Pearl-Cohn Comprehensive High School. As a senior, he put together one of the most productive seasons in Tennessee high school football history, rushing for 2,646 yards and 45 touchdowns. That performance earned him the Tennessee Gatorade Football Player of the Year award, the highest individual honor for a prep player in the state.
Vaughn was also a standout sprinter for the Pearl-Cohn track and field team, anchoring the school’s state champion 4×100-meter relay during his senior year. A four-star recruit at running back, he chose the University of Illinois over scholarship offers from Louisville, Notre Dame, Purdue, and West Virginia, among others. His combination of track speed and football production made him one of the most sought-after running backs in his recruiting class.
Path to American Football
Vaughn’s road to the NFL started immediately at the college level. He enrolled at Illinois in 2015 and played as a true freshman, rushing for 723 yards on 157 carries with six touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2016, his role shifted slightly, and he finished with 301 rushing yards on 60 carries and three touchdowns before deciding to transfer.
After sitting out the 2017 season at Vanderbilt due to NCAA transfer rules, Vaughn broke out in 2018 with 1,244 rushing yards on 157 carries and 12 touchdowns. That season brought him Associated Press Second-team All-SEC honors and the SEC Newcomer of the Year award, a remarkable turnaround for a player who had been a role player in his first two college seasons. He returned to Vanderbilt for his senior year in 2019, starting all 12 games and adding 1,028 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 29 receptions for 286 yards, and a receiving touchdown before declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn Career
Early Career (2020)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Vaughn in the third round, 76th overall, of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in late July 2020 and activated in early August, just before the regular season began. He appeared in ten games during his rookie campaign, finishing with 26 carries for 109 rushing yards while serving as a depth back behind a veteran rotation.
Vaughn scored his first professional touchdown on a nine-yard reception from quarterback Tom Brady in a Week 4 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He closed his rookie year as part of a Buccaneers team that would go on to win Super Bowl LV, earning Vaughn a championship ring in his first NFL season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Breakthrough (2020-2023)
Vaughn spent the first three seasons of his career with the Buccaneers, developing into a situational running back and special teams contributor. On December 26, 2021, he scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 55-yard run against the Carolina Panthers, the longest rushing score by a Tampa Bay player that season. The run gave a glimpse of the breakaway speed that had defined his high school and college careers.
Through his time in Tampa Bay, Vaughn worked within a crowded backfield that included established veterans and fellow young rushers. The Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV victory over the Kansas City Chiefs gave Vaughn an early career highlight that few players achieve. He was waived by Tampa Bay on December 15, 2023, ending his first NFL stint.
New England Patriots Era (2023-2024)
On December 19, 2023, the New England Patriots signed Vaughn to their practice squad, giving him a chance to learn a new offensive system late in the season. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024, which kept him in New England through the offseason. Vaughn was released by the Patriots on May 13, 2024, before the start of training camp.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2024-Present)
Vaughn signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 7, 2024, joining one of the NFC’s most consistent contenders. He was released on August 26, 2024, and quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad, allowing him to remain in the organization. On August 9, 2025, Vaughn re-signed with the 49ers, continuing his professional career in the Bay Area heading into the 2025 season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Vaughn’s most memorable career moments include his Super Bowl LV championship with the Buccaneers following the 2020 season and his 55-yard rushing touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in 2021. His 2018 SEC Newcomer of the Year award and Second-team All-SEC selection stand as his signature college achievements, while his third-round draft selection in 2020 marked his official arrival at the professional level.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn Career Wins
Ke’Shawn Vaughn’s most prominent career victory came as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad that defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV. That championship remains the headline result of his professional resume and was earned during his rookie season. Across his college and professional career, Vaughn has contributed to winning programs, including a Vanderbilt team that finished his senior year as a competitive SEC squad.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Vaughn helped Illinois to Big Ten competition as a freshman and sophomore before anchoring a productive Vanderbilt offense across the 2018 and 2019 seasons. His 2018 campaign, which included 1,244 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, ranks among the most productive single seasons by a Vanderbilt running back in recent memory.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Ke’Shawn Vaughn’s family background are limited, with no widely verified information available about his parents or extended relatives. His upbringing in Nashville, Tennessee, and his development at Pearl-Cohn Comprehensive High School suggest a strong local support system that helped him reach the NFL.
Personal Life
Vaughn has kept his personal life largely private, and no public information about a spouse or children is currently available. He is known publicly by the nickname style associated with his social media handle, and he remains active on Instagram under the username referenced in his public profile. His focus since entering the league has been on his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
Ke’Shawn Vaughn re-signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 9, 2025, returning to the organization for another training camp. The 49ers, a perennial NFC contender, offered Vaughn an opportunity to compete for a depth role in a backfield that has historically been among the league’s most productive. His re-signing came after a year navigating the practice squad and active roster in San Francisco.
Heading into the 2025 season, Vaughn is positioned as a veteran depth option with experience in both the Buccaneers’ and 49ers’ offensive systems. His track speed, developed during his high school 4×100-meter relay days, and his experience catching passes out of the backfield make him a versatile piece for the 49ers’ offensive game plan. With multiple teams now on his NFL resume, Vaughn enters 2025 looking to secure a consistent roster spot and contribute to another deep playoff push in the NFC.