Kedon Slovis Bio
Kedon Slovis (born April 11, 2001) is an American professional football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 2 in and listed at 223 lb, he played college football for the USC Trojans, the Pittsburgh Panthers, and the BYU Cougars before turning professional. After going undrafted in 2024, he spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans before joining the Arizona Cardinals.
Early Life and Background
Kedon Slovis was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, the same city where he would later become a celebrated high school quarterback. He attended Desert Mountain High School, where he played two varsity seasons at quarterback. Across those two years, Slovis passed for 5,549 yards, threw 50 touchdowns, and was intercepted only 11 times, drawing the attention of college recruiters across the country.
His high school quarterback coach was Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, a connection that helped shape his early understanding of the position. During his senior year, Slovis received scholarship offers from 12 colleges, with Northern Arizona University being the only in-state school among them. He committed to the University of Southern California in 2018, choosing the Trojans largely because USC was one of the only Power Five programs to actively pursue him.
Slovis graduated from Desert Mountain a semester early and enrolled at USC in January 2019, giving him a head start on college coursework and spring practice. This early transition allowed him to compete for a role in the Trojans’ quarterback room from day one.
Path to American Football
Slovis’s path to college football’s biggest stage began when USC quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis visited Desert Mountain High School to scout him. That interest came at a time when most major programs had not yet identified Slovis as a top prospect, and the relationship helped secure his commitment to the Trojans. Arizona State offensive coordinator Rob Likens also expressed interest, but was unable to finalize a recruitment before Slovis pledged to USC.
Arriving early gave Slovis a chance to learn the playbook and build chemistry with teammates, and by the start of fall camp he had climbed into the Trojans’ quarterback competition. When starting quarterback JT Daniels suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2019 opener against Fresno State, Slovis was thrust into action and never looked back. He set a USC record for quarterback touchdowns in his first start against Stanford, a performance that earned him Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors and announced his arrival on the national stage.
Kedon Slovis Career
Early Career (2019–2021 at USC)
Slovis’s first season at USC became one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in program history. He finished 2019 with 3,502 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and only 9 interceptions, completing 71.8 percent of his throws, an NCAA freshman record at the time. Those numbers earned him the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award, and he set multiple USC records along the way, including single-game passing yards (515 against UCLA) and most 400-yard passing games in a single season.
His sophomore year in 2020 was equally notable. Slovis led the Trojans to a 5–0 regular season and a Pac-12 South Title, completing 67.0 percent of his passes for 1,921 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 by both the conference coaches and the Associated Press. A shoulder injury suffered on the final play of the Pac-12 Championship Game ended his season and contributed to USC opting out of its bowl game.
Slovis’s junior season in 2021 was a struggle. He finished with 2,153 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions as USC posted a 4–8 record. On December 13, 2021, he entered the NCAA transfer portal, ending his USC career with three years of starts and a reputation as a record-setting passer.
USC Breakthrough (2019–2020)
Slovis’s 2019 debut season announced him as one of the Pac-12’s most exciting young passers. He set a USC record for passing yards in a single game with 515 against UCLA, surpassing a mark Matt Barkley had held since 2012. He also tied or broke school records for completions, attempts, and 400-yard passing games in a season.
The 2020 campaign elevated his profile nationally. Slovis was named to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List alongside eventual Heisman Trophy favorite Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields. He led the Trojans to a Pac-12 South crown and a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon. Despite the 31–24 loss and his season-ending shoulder injury, his leadership throughout the year cemented his standing as one of the conference’s premier quarterbacks.
Pittsburgh Era (2022)
On December 21, 2021, Slovis announced he would transfer to Pittsburgh as a graduate transfer. He was named the Panthers’ starting quarterback in August 2022 and made his debut in the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia, throwing for 308 yards and a touchdown in a 38–31 win. The performance signaled a fresh start after a difficult final season at USC.
His Pittsburgh tenure was uneven. After a strong opening game, an injury forced him to miss time, and once he returned he struggled to find consistency. A four-game stretch without a passing touchdown was a particular low point, and the Panthers finished the year on a strong note thanks in part to a late surge that included five touchdown passes across three wins. On December 5, 2022, Slovis announced he would enter the transfer portal once more.
BYU Era (2023)
On December 24, 2022, Slovis announced his transfer to Brigham Young University for his final year of college eligibility, coinciding with the Cougars’ first season in the Big 12 Conference. He chose to wear jersey number 10 at BYU and quickly established himself as the starter.
Slovis opened the year strongly, throwing two rushing touchdowns in a 14–0 win over Sam Houston and following it with four passing touchdowns and another rushing score in a 41–17 victory over Southern Utah. He led game-winning drives against Arkansas and helped BYU build a 5–2 record. Shoulder and elbow injuries to his throwing arm eventually forced him out of the lineup, and his final appearance came in a 35–6 loss to Texas. Jake Retzlaff took over as BYU’s starter for the rest of the season.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2025–Present)
After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, Slovis signed with the Indianapolis Colts on April 28, 2024. He was waived on August 25 as part of final roster cuts, then joined the Houston Texans’ practice squad on August 29, 2024. He signed a reserve/future contract with Houston on January 21, 2025, but was waived on August 26 as part of final cuts.
On August 28, 2025, Slovis signed with the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on October 11 amid a foot injury to starter Kyler Murray. Slovis made his NFL debut on November 9 against the Seattle Seahawks, then entered a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars for two plays in place of Jacoby Brissett, completing one pass for negative two yards. Through these early appearances, he has recorded 2 passing attempts, 1 completion, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and a passer rating of 56.2.
Notable Events and Milestones
Slovis’s most celebrated collegiate moments include his 515-yard passing performance against UCLA in 2019, which set a USC single-game record, and his leadership of the 2020 Trojans to a Pac-12 South championship. In the professional ranks, his promotion to the Cardinals’ active roster in October 2025 marked his first time on an NFL active roster.
Kedon Slovis Career Wins
While the focus of Slovis’s career has been on individual statistical milestones and team leadership rather than solely on win totals, he has guided teams to significant victories at every collegiate stop. At USC he led the Trojans to multiple bowl-eligible seasons and a Pac-12 South crown, and he opened his Pittsburgh tenure with a rivalry win over West Virginia. His professional career is still in its early stages.
College Highlights
At USC, Slovis led the Trojans to an 8–4 regular season and a Holiday Bowl berth in 2019 and to a Pac-12 South Title in 2020. His debut win over Stanford in 2019 set a school record for quarterback touchdowns in a game, and his 515-yard performance against UCLA later that season remains one of the most prolific single-game efforts in program history. At Pittsburgh, his Backyard Brawl win over West Virginia was the highlight of his Panthers tenure.
Other Wins and Performances
Slovis guided BYU to early-season victories over Sam Houston, Southern Utah, and Arkansas in 2023, giving the Cougars a 5–2 record before his season ended due to injury. In the NFL, his promotion to the Arizona Cardinals’ active roster in October 2025 represents his most significant professional milestone to date.
Kedon Slovis Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Kedon Slovis’s family background is limited. He was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, and his connection to longtime Arizona resident and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, his high school coach, has been a defining influence on his football development. Details about his parents, spouse, or children are not publicly available from verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents Kedon Slovis’s first extended opportunity on an NFL active roster. After being promoted from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on October 11, he joined a quarterback room led by Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett, providing depth during Murray’s recovery from a foot injury. Slovis’s promotion came during a stretch in which the Cardinals were managing injuries and evaluating long-term options at the position.
In his limited regular-season action, Slovis has appeared in two games, completing one of two pass attempts for negative two yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, good for a 56.2 passer rating. His appearances have come in relief roles, reflecting the Cardinals’ depth-chart approach rather than a full-time starting assignment.
Looking ahead, Slovis’s outlook in the NFL will depend on his continued development and the Cardinals’ longer-term plans at quarterback. With a background that includes three college programs, two conference honors, and a record-setting USC career, he has the résumé to compete for a larger role, and the 2025 season provides a foundation for that next step.
