Lamont Gaillard Bio
Lamont Rockarius Gaillard (born February 8, 1996) is an American professional football center who has competed in the National Football League (NFL) and in spring football leagues. He played college football at the University of Georgia and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and listed at 305 lb (138 kg), Gaillard has spent his professional career working primarily along the interior offensive line.
Since entering the league, Gaillard has been part of the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, DC Defenders of the UFL, and San Antonio Brahmas organizations. His career path has included active-roster play, practice-squad stints, and brief stops with multiple franchises as he continued to develop as a center at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Gaillard was born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he attended Pine Forest High School. At Pine Forest he played for the Trojans and was recognized as one of the top defensive linemen in the region. As a junior he was named first-team All-Mid-South 4-A Conference after recording 100 tackles with four sacks, drawing attention from major college football programs.
Gaillard was rated a four-star prospect by most recruiting services and committed to play college football at the University of Georgia before his senior year. He participated in the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game, a showcase that featured the top high school seniors in the country. His early combination of size, strength, and quickness helped him project as a college-level interior lineman.
Path to American Football
Gaillard arrived at the University of Georgia as part of the 2014 recruiting class and spent five total seasons with the Bulldogs program. He redshirted his true freshman year, a period that allowed him to add weight and adjust to the strength demands of Southeastern Conference (SEC) football. During that redshirt season the Georgia staff moved him from the defensive line to the offensive line, a position change that ultimately shaped his professional future.
As a redshirt freshman Gaillard appeared in two games at right guard, gaining his first taste of live college action. The following season he started all 13 games for the Bulldogs and was shifted to center before the 2017 campaign. He went on to start every game at center for Georgia in each of his final two seasons, anchoring the middle of one of the top offensive lines in college football.
Lamont Gaillard Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Gaillard was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round, 179th overall, of the 2019 NFL draft. The Cardinals had acquired that pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 2019 exchange that sent head coach Bruce Arians to Tampa Bay. Gaillard signed his rookie contract with Arizona on May 9, 2019, and spent his first professional season on the 53-man roster without appearing in a regular-season game.
In 2020 Gaillard made his NFL debut on September 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, stepping in at center after an injury to starter Mason Cole. He earned his first career start the following week against the Washington Football Team on September 20, 2020. Later that season he took a leave of absence from the Cardinals following the birth of his daughter, with the team placing him on a roster exemption on December 21, 2020, before he returned on December 28. Arizona waived Gaillard on July 21, 2021.
NFL Breakthrough (2021–2022)
On July 22, 2021, Gaillard was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals, beginning a stretch of frequent roster movement. He was waived by Cincinnati on August 22, 2021, and re-signed to the team’s practice squad on September 21, 2021. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Bengals on February 15, 2022, and remained with the organization through the offseason before being waived on August 30, 2022.
Gaillard found another opportunity on November 2, 2022, when he was signed to the Miami Dolphins practice squad. His time in Miami was brief, however, as the Dolphins released him on December 20, 2022. Across his NFL stops with the Cardinals, Bengals, and Dolphins, Gaillard appeared in 13 games and started 2, all of them coming during the 2020 season in Arizona.
DC Defenders Era (2024–2025)
On December 18, 2023, Gaillard signed with the DC Defenders of the UFL, the spring football league that succeeded the XFL and USFL merger. He joined a Defenders roster looking to build continuity along the offensive line, bringing three years of NFL experience to the interior. Gaillard was placed on injured reserve by the Defenders on May 28, 2024, limiting his on-field contribution that spring.
Gaillard remained with the DC Defenders into the 2025 UFL season as he worked to return from injury and reclaim a starting role at center. On April 1, 2025, the Defenders released him, ending his second stint with the franchise. The release opened the door for his next professional opportunity in the same spring football circuit.
San Antonio Brahmas Era (2025–Present)
On May 6, 2025, Gaillard was claimed by the San Antonio Brahmas, giving him a fresh start with a new UFL organization. The move kept him in the spring football landscape while allowing him to compete for a starting center role with a different coaching staff and offensive system. Brahmas coaches added a veteran interior lineman with NFL and UFL experience to their offensive line room.
Gaillard joined the Brahmas as the 2025 UFL season was underway, providing depth and competition at center. His familiarity with multiple offensive schemes, gained across the Cardinals, Bengals, and Dolphins, gave him flexibility to fit into a variety of protections and run-game assignments. The Brahmas era represents his most recent professional chapter as he continues his career in professional football.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a center, Gaillard relies on his combination of size, leverage, and football intelligence to handle nose tackles and shift the point of attack in the run game. His college background starting every game at the position for Georgia highlighted his endurance and communication skills at the line of scrimmage, traits that travel well to any professional offense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gaillard’s most notable NFL milestone came in 2020, when he debuted against the San Francisco 49ers and then earned his first career start a week later against the Washington Football Team. His selection in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft and his transition from practice squad contributor to starting-caliber center both stand out as defining steps in his professional journey.
Lamont Gaillard Career Wins
Gaillard’s professional résumé is built on consistent roster contribution and positional versatility rather than headline statistics. Across his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and Miami Dolphins organizations, he appeared in 13 regular-season games and started 2, with all of his starting opportunities coming during the 2020 season in Arizona.
UFL and Spring Football Highlights
In the spring football ranks, Gaillard has competed for the DC Defenders and the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL. He signed with the Defenders on December 18, 2023, was placed on injured reserve on May 28, 2024, and was released on April 1, 2025. The Brahmas then claimed him on May 6, 2025, marking his latest professional stop.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Gaillard was a multi-year starter for the Georgia Bulldogs, lining up at right guard as a redshirt freshman before locking down the starting center role from 2017 through 2018. He was invited to the 2019 East–West Shrine Game following his senior season, an all-star showcase that gave him one final platform before the NFL draft.
Lamont Gaillard Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gaillard was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the community where he developed into a highly recruited defensive lineman at Pine Forest High School. His path into football was shaped by local youth and high school programs, with the Pine Forest Trojans serving as the foundation for his college recruitment.
Personal Life
Gaillard became a father during the 2020 NFL season, and the Arizona Cardinals granted him a roster exemption following the birth of his daughter so he could be with his family. Public details about his broader personal life, including marital status and long-term residence, have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Gaillard’s 2025 campaign began with the DC Defenders of the UFL, where he was working to return from an injury sustained during the previous spring. He was released by the Defenders on April 1, 2025, ending his time with the organization and creating a quick transition to a new team midseason.
On May 6, 2025, the San Antonio Brahmas claimed Gaillard, inserting him into a new offensive line room as the 2025 UFL season continued. His role with the Brahmas centers on providing experienced depth at center and competing for starting opportunities along the interior.
Looking ahead, Gaillard’s focus remains on establishing himself as a reliable center at the professional level, whether that path continues in spring football or returns to an NFL roster. His combination of SEC pedigree, multiple NFL stops, and UFL experience gives him a flexible skill set as he pursues further playing time in 2025 and beyond.