Keaontay Ingram Bio
Keaontay Ingram (born October 26, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and listed at 220 pounds, he plays a physical style of running back built on between-the-tackles work and pass-catching ability. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns from 2018 to 2020 before finishing his senior season with the USC Trojans in 2021. Selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, he later joined Kansas City, where he became a Super Bowl champion as part of the Chiefs roster for Super Bowl LVIII.
Early Life and Background
Keaontay Ingram was born on October 26, 1999, in Marshall, Texas, and grew up in nearby Carthage, a small East Texas town known for producing competitive high school football teams. He attended Carthage High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete who played football, ran track, and played basketball. On the gridiron, he quickly established himself as one of the most productive running backs in program history.
As a junior, Ingram helped Carthage win a 4A Division I state title in 2016 and was named Offensive MVP of the championship game. The following season, in 2017, he led the Bulldogs to a perfect 16–0 record, a district title, and a 49–21 victory over Kennedale in the 4A Division I state title game. He finished his high school career as Carthage’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns with 76, while ranking among an elite group of three Carthage athletes to surpass 5,000 career yards and one of two with back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons.
Ingram was a finalist for the Mr. Texas Football High School Player of the Year Award, an Under Armour All-America Game participant, and a four-star recruit who chose the Texas Longhorns over offers from 26 other college programs.
Path to American Football
Ingram arrived at the University of Texas in 2018 and immediately earned a role in the Longhorns backfield, playing 13 games and starting two as a true freshman. He rushed for 708 yards and three touchdowns while adding 27 receptions for 170 yards and two scores. He appeared in high-profile postseason games, including the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma and the 2019 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia.
As a sophomore in 2019, Ingram started 13 games and posted 853 rushing yards and six touchdowns, along with 29 catches for 242 yards and three scores. His four 100-yard rushing games that season were the most by a Texas running back since D’Onta Foreman in 2016. In the shortened 2020 season, he played six games and started three, rushing for 250 yards and one touchdown, and was recognized for his work in the classroom with Academic All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll selections.
Seeking a featured role for his senior season, Ingram transferred to USC, where he gained more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 2021. He rushed for 911 yards and five touchdowns, added 156 receiving yards, and earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention, Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 second team, and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 fourth team honors. He also received USC’s 2021 Jack Oakie “Rise and Shine” Award before declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Keaontay Ingram Career
Early Career (2022–2023, Arizona Cardinals)
The Arizona Cardinals selected Keaontay Ingram in the sixth round with the 201st overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year rookie contract on May 19, 2022, and made his preseason debut against the Cincinnati Bengals. His first regular-season action came in Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks, and the following week he scored his first career NFL touchdown in a 42–34 win over the New Orleans Saints.
As a rookie, Ingram appeared in 12 games and eventually worked his way into a backup role behind the Cardinals’ top running backs after Eno Benjamin was released in November 2022. He continued in that role into the 2023 season before being released by Arizona on November 28, 2023.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2023–Present)
Ingram was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad on November 30, 2023, just days after his release from Arizona. He became a Super Bowl champion when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, capping a memorable first chapter in Kansas City. On February 14, 2024, he signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chiefs.
Heading into the 2024 season, Ingram was waived on August 27 and quickly re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on September 18 before being waived six days later, then re-signed with the practice squad on September 26. He continued to bounce between the practice squad and active roster before signing another reserve/future contract on February 13, 2025, to remain in Kansas City.
Driving Style and Strengths
Listed at 6 feet 0 inches and 220 pounds, Ingram brings a compact, physical frame to the running back position. He is comfortable as a between-the-tackles runner but also has reliable hands out of the backfield, having posted 27 receptions as a freshman at Texas and 156 receiving yards in his lone season at USC. His balance of rushing production, receiving ability, and special-teams willingness has made him a valuable practice squad and rotational piece for the Chiefs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ingram’s biggest professional milestone came as part of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII roster, earning him a championship ring in his first season with the team. He also posted his first career NFL touchdown in 2022 against the New Orleans Saints and finished his rookie year appearing in 12 games, a sign of steady early growth for a late-round draft pick.
Keaontay Ingram Career Wins
Keaontay Ingram is a Super Bowl champion, having been part of the Kansas City Chiefs roster that won Super Bowl LVIII. His individual win totals in college and the NFL are documented across high school championships, college milestones, and the professional ranks.
College and High School Highlights
At Carthage High School, Ingram won back-to-back 4A Division I state titles in 2016 and 2017, earning Offensive MVP honors in the 2016 championship game. At Texas, he contributed to a 2019 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia and a 2019 Alamo Bowl win over Utah. At USC, he helped anchor a Trojans backfield that produced more than 1,000 scrimmage yards in 2021.
Other Wins and Performances
In the NFL, Ingram scored his first career touchdown in a 42–34 win over the New Orleans Saints in 2022. He was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad for much of the 2023 season and earned a Super Bowl LVIII championship ring following the Chiefs’ win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Keaontay Ingram Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ingram’s family has a clear connection to football beyond his own career. He is the older brother of NFL wide receiver Moochie Dixon, who has followed a similar path through the professional ranks.
Personal Life
Keaontay Ingram was born and raised in East Texas and has remained connected to the region throughout his football journey, from Carthage High School to the University of Texas. He is the older brother of current NFL wide receiver Moochie Dixon, and the two have both reached the professional level.
2025 Season Performance
Keaontay Ingram enters 2025 still in the Kansas City Chiefs organization after signing a reserve/future contract on February 13, 2025. His role remains that of a depth running back competing for a spot on the active roster behind Kansas City’s established backfield.
As a veteran of three NFL seasons with experience on both active rosters and practice squads, Ingram offers the Chiefs a dependable emergency option at running back. His ability to contribute on special teams and contribute in short-yardage situations makes him a strong candidate to be elevated during the season as injuries or game plans dictate.
With a championship already on his resume from Super Bowl LVIII, Ingram’s primary goals for 2025 are to remain healthy, secure a stable role on the active roster, and continue building on his early career totals of 134 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 8 receptions, and 47 receiving yards. A productive training camp could position him for his most extensive regular-season action to date.