Kirk Merritt Bio
Kirk Merritt (born January 5, 1997) is an American professional football running back and wide receiver for the Houston Gamblers of the United Football League (UFL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed at 215 pounds, Merritt has built his career on versatility, contributing as both a runner and a pass catcher at every level. He currently wears jersey number 22 for the Gamblers and continues to compete in professional spring football.
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Merritt spent time with the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints organizations before transitioning to the UFL. His college journey, which included stops at Oregon, Texas A&M, East Mississippi Community College, and Arkansas State, helped shape the player he is today. Known for his sure hands in the passing game, Merritt earned back-to-back All-Sun Belt Conference honors during his final two college seasons.
Early Life and Background
Kirk Merritt was born on January 5, 1997, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in nearby Destrehan, Louisiana, and attended Destrehan High School, where he developed into a multi-purpose offensive weapon. As a senior, he piled up a combined 1,058 rushing and receiving yards and scored 11 total touchdowns, drawing the attention of major college programs from across the country.
Merritt was rated a four-star recruit coming out of high school and was considered one of the top skill-position prospects in his class. He ultimately committed to play college football at the University of Oregon, choosing the Ducks over scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, and Texas A&M. That early recruiting attention set the stage for a college career that would include several stops and a major turnaround story.
Path to American Football
Merritt began his collegiate career at the University of Oregon, where he played in 12 games as a freshman. He caught five passes for 61 yards and added three rushes for 13 yards before deciding to leave the program after his first year. His Oregon experience, while brief, gave him a taste of top-tier college competition.
Merritt transferred to Texas A&M following his freshman season. He sat out the 2016 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules before being dismissed from the Aggies in April 2017. After his release, he landed at East Mississippi Community College, where he caught 52 passes for 628 yards and four touchdowns in a single season. That production earned him a transfer to Arkansas State University, where he would put together the most productive stretch of his college career.
Kirk Merritt Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Merritt became an immediate starter for the Arkansas State Red Wolves and quickly emerged as one of the top pass-catching threats in the Sun Belt Conference. In his first season with the program, he led the conference with 83 receptions and 1,005 receiving yards while adding seven touchdown catches, earning first-team All-Sun Belt Conference recognition. His ability to line up in the slot and on the outside gave Arkansas State a reliable target in every down-and-distance situation.
As a redshirt senior in 2019, Merritt repeated as a first-team All-Sun Belt selection. He finished the year with 70 receptions for 806 yards and a career-best 12 receiving touchdowns, cementing his status as one of the conference’s most productive wide receivers. Those two seasons established Merritt as a polished route runner with strong hands and the speed to separate from defensive backs at the next level.
Miami Dolphins Era (2020–2021)
Merritt signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on April 25, 2020, shortly after the 2020 NFL Draft concluded. He was waived on September 4, 2020, during final roster cuts, but quickly rejoined the organization on the practice squad two days later. Throughout the 2020 season, he shuttled between the practice squad and the active roster, earning elevations for Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals and Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills. He also spent time on the practice squad/COVID-19 list in December 2020 before being restored shortly afterward.
In January 2021, Merritt signed a reserve/future contract with the Dolphins, signaling that the organization wanted to keep him in the fold for the following season. However, he was waived again on August 31, 2021, and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. His time in Miami ultimately ended without a permanent spot on the 53-man roster, but the experience gave him valuable insight into NFL-level preparation and weekly routines.
New Orleans Saints Era (2022–2023)
On January 24, 2022, Merritt signed a reserve/future contract with his hometown New Orleans Saints, beginning a new chapter close to where he grew up. He was waived on August 30, 2022, and re-signed to the practice squad the following day, again showing the persistence that has defined his professional path. Merritt was promoted to the active roster on December 23, 2022, earning his first sustained regular-season opportunity with the Saints.
His time in New Orleans continued into 2023, but on September 19, 2023, he was waived and re-signed to the practice squad. A week later, on September 26, he was released from the practice squad, ending his Saints tenure. Over the course of his NFL career through 2023, Merritt recorded one reception for 13 receiving yards, reflecting the limited but persistent role he carved out on practice squads and in short stints on active rosters.
Houston Gamblers Era (2024–Present)
On January 26, 2024, Merritt signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League, transitioning to spring football as a running back. His role expanded within the Houston offense, and he quickly became part of the team’s regular rotation. In April 2024, he was placed on injured reserve before being activated on May 31, and he later re-signed with the organization on August 19 to continue his tenure into the next campaign.
Following the rebranding of the Roughnecks to the Houston Gamblers, Merritt has continued to serve in a versatile offensive role, lining up at both running back and wide receiver. His pass-catching background from Arkansas State has translated well to the UFL’s wide-open offensive schemes, and he remains an active contributor for the franchise.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining milestones of Merritt’s career came during his first season at Arkansas State, when he became the first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. He then repeated the honor the following year with 12 receiving touchdowns, matching the production that had first put him on the recruiting map. Earning two consecutive All-Sun Belt selections stands as the most decorated stretch of his football career.
Kirk Merritt Career Highlights
Although Merritt’s professional win totals are not tracked in the same way as some other sports, his career is highlighted by production at the college level and persistence at the professional level. At Arkansas State, he posted 153 receptions for 1,811 receiving yards and 19 receiving touchdowns across two seasons, serving as the Red Wolves’ top receiving threat. In the UFL with the Houston Gamblers organization, he has continued to contribute as a versatile offensive piece, taking handoffs, running routes, and helping move the chains in key situations.
Other Performances
During his lone season at East Mississippi Community College, Merritt caught 52 passes for 628 yards and four touchdowns, numbers that helped him secure a transfer to a Football Bowl Subdivision program. His freshman year at Oregon saw him play in 12 games, providing a foundation of experience against high-level competition that has stayed with him throughout his career.
Kirk Merritt Family
Personal Life
Details about Kirk Merritt’s personal and family life are not widely documented in publicly available sources. He was born and raised in the greater New Orleans area, and his decision to sign with the New Orleans Saints in 2022 reflected his strong ties to his Louisiana roots. Public information about his parents, marital status, and children has not been confirmed, and those details are therefore not included here.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Kirk Merritt remains with the Houston Gamblers of the United Football League as an active member of the roster. The team re-signed him in August 2024, signaling organizational confidence in his role within the offense heading into the new campaign. With a full offseason to recover from his 2024 injured-reserve stint, Merritt is positioned to be a more consistent contributor in the running back and wide receiver rotations.
His 2024 production with the Houston organization gave the coaching staff a clearer sense of how to deploy his skill set, particularly as a pass-catching option out of the backfield. The Gamblers’ offense, which values versatile skill players, gives Merritt an opportunity to expand his touches and continue building on his professional resume. If he stays healthy, he is likely to factor into the team’s weekly game plan on both early downs and passing situations.
Looking ahead, Merritt’s primary goal in 2025 is to remain healthy and establish himself as a featured piece of the Houston Gamblers’ offense. With his background as a two-time All-Sun Belt receiver and his NFL practice-squad experience, he has the resume to handle a larger role. Continued consistency in the UFL could also open the door to additional opportunities, whether back in the NFL or with another professional organization.