Manny Wilkins Bio
Manny Wilkins Jr. (born November 5, 1995) is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football at Arizona State University before launching a professional career that has carried him through the National Football League (NFL) and the United Football League (UFL). Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and weighing 193 lb (88 kg), Wilkins is recognized for his mobility, arm strength, and competitive poise under center.
After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft, Wilkins signed with the Green Bay Packers, was released the following year, and spent three years away from the field before returning with the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2023. He progressed from a backup role to a starting position with the Battlehawks, establishing himself as one of the spring league’s most reliable quarterbacks.
Early Life and Background
Manny Wilkins Jr. was born on November 5, 1995, in Novato, California, in the United States. He grew up in a close-knit family that nurtured his early love of sports. His father, Manny Wilkins Sr., died in 2006 when Manny was 10 years old, an event that shaped his character and determination in the years to come.
Following his father’s passing, Wilkins relocated to Texas with his mother in 2008, where he continued developing as a young athlete. He attended Elkins High School in Texas, playing football in a competitive environment that helped refine his skills. By his mid-teens, Wilkins had been identified as a talented quarterback prospect with the tools to play at higher levels.
He eventually returned to California to live with his aunt and uncle, finishing his high school career at San Marin High School in Novato. There, he took over as the starting quarterback and cemented his reputation as a dual-threat leader, drawing attention from college recruiters across the country.
Path to American Football
Wilkins arrived at Arizona State University as one of the most highly regarded quarterback prospects in Sun Devils’ history. He redshirted his first season and appeared in only three games during his redshirt freshman year, using that time to learn the offensive system and adjust to the speed of the college game.
He then won the starting quarterback job, beating out fellow highly touted prospect Brady White in training camp. The competition pushed Wilkins to sharpen his passing accuracy, his pre-snap reads, and his rushing instincts, all of which became hallmarks of his game.
Across his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, Wilkins started a total of 36 games for the Sun Devils, building impressive passing and rushing totals. His ability to extend plays with his legs and produce explosive runs from the quarterback position made him a constant dual-threat presence in the Pac-12.
Manny Wilkins Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Wilkins’s first extended college action came in 2015, though his role was limited. He did not attempt a pass that season but contributed on the ground with seven rushing attempts for 55 yards, signaling his value as a runner even before he was handed the full starting duties.
As a sophomore, he started 10 games and produced 197 completions on 311 attempts for 2,329 yards and 12 touchdowns, while adding 128 rushing attempts for 246 yards and 5 touchdowns. By his junior year, he had taken ownership of the offense, starting all 13 games and passing for 3,270 yards and 20 touchdowns, complemented by 282 rushing yards and 7 rushing scores. In his senior campaign, he again started all 13 games, completing 247 of 393 attempts for 3,025 yards and 20 touchdowns, while leading the team with 452 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns, finishing his Arizona State career as one of the program’s most productive dual-threat quarterbacks.
Green Bay Packers Era (2019–2020)
After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft, Wilkins signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2019. He was waived on August 31 as the team trimmed its roster, but was re-signed to the practice squad the very next day, keeping his professional hopes alive.
On January 21, 2020, Wilkins signed a reserve/future contract with the Packers, a deal that gave him a chance to compete for a longer-term role. However, on April 27, 2020, he was released by the team, ending his NFL stint. The next three years would test his resolve as he worked to find his way back to the field.
St. Louis Battlehawks Era (2023–2025)
On February 12, 2023, Wilkins signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks, then of the XFL, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. He initially served in a backup capacity, learning the offensive system and adjusting to the pace of the spring league.
He re-signed with the Battlehawks on February 8, 2024, and spent the 2024 season as the second-string quarterback behind veteran starter AJ McCarron. Wilkins appeared in five games that year, including two starts after an injury to McCarron, showcasing the poise and arm talent that had carried him through Arizona State.
On December 20, 2024, Wilkins re-signed with the Battlehawks, now competing in the UFL after the XFL’s merger. He opened the 2025 season as the team’s starting quarterback, a promotion that reflected his steady growth within the organization. His 2025 campaign, however, was cut short by a season-ending Achilles tendon injury suffered in Week 4, and he was not retained in the 2026 UFL draft.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wilkins has long been recognized as a dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm and an underrated ability to extend plays with his legs. At Arizona State and with the Battlehawks, he demonstrated a willingness to push the ball downfield while remaining decisive in the running game, allowing his offensive coordinators to design a wide range of run-pass option concepts. His composure in high-leverage moments and his comfort operating from the pocket and on the move have defined his identity at every level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Wilkins’s career was his rise from a practice-squad member in Green Bay to a starting quarterback in the UFL, a path that required resilience through a three-year professional hiatus. His 2024 midseason starts for the Battlehawks following AJ McCarron’s injury marked his return to leading an offense, and his 2025 promotion to opening-day starter represented the clearest confirmation yet of his standing within the St. Louis organization.
Manny Wilkins Career Wins
Manny Wilkins Jr.’s professional résumé features a starting role in the UFL and an NFL stint with the Green Bay Packers, complemented by a productive college career at Arizona State. His path from undrafted free agent to starting spring-league quarterback reflects steady development rather than a single breakthrough moment.
St. Louis Battlehawks Highlights
Wilkins joined the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2023 and steadily climbed the depth chart, eventually earning the starting quarterback role for the 2025 UFL season. He re-signed with the franchise in both 2024 and 2025, underscoring the organization’s confidence in his leadership and his fit within the offensive scheme.
Manny Wilkins Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wilkins’s father, Manny Wilkins Sr., passed away in 2006 when Manny was 10 years old. The loss had a lasting impact on his upbringing, and he credits his family, including his mother, his aunt, and his uncle, for helping him stay focused on football through a turbulent period of transition between Texas and California.
Personal Life
Wilkins has largely kept his personal life out of the public eye, focusing his public remarks on his work as a quarterback. His family, including his mother and the relatives who helped raise him in Novato, remain a central part of his support system as he continues his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
Wilkins opened the 2025 UFL season as the starting quarterback of the St. Louis Battlehawks, a promotion that came after a 2024 campaign in which he started two games in relief of the injured AJ McCarron. The start represented a significant milestone, confirming his status as the face of the Battlehawks offense and a key building block for the franchise.
His 2025 season, however, was cut short in Week 4 by a season-ending Achilles tendon injury, abruptly ending his momentum as the starter. The injury forced the Battlehawks to adjust their offensive plans for the remainder of the year and raised questions about Wilkins’s recovery timeline heading into the offseason.
Following the 2025 campaign, Wilkins was not retained by the Battlehawks in the 2026 UFL draft, closing a chapter with the franchise that had given him his return to professional football. His 2025 performance, while limited in volume, reinforced his reputation as a resilient, dual-threat leader capable of running an offense at a high level when healthy.