Marquez Callaway Bio
Marquez Antonio Callaway is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and entered the National Football League in 2020 as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed at 205 pounds, Callaway has spent his professional career moving between practice squads and active rosters across the league.
Known for his reliable hands and special-teams value, Callaway has produced 83 career receptions for 1,069 receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns through his NFL seasons. He is currently a free agent after his most recent stint in professional football.
Early Life and Background
Marquez Antonio Callaway was born on March 27, 1998, in Warner Robins, Georgia. He grew up in the same central Georgia community where he would later become a local football standout. Warner Robins is a city with a strong high-school sports culture, and Callaway developed his athletic foundation there from a young age.
Callaway attended Warner Robins High School, where he starred as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball. On the gridiron, he developed into a high-level wide receiver prospect, while on the basketball court he served as a key contributor and displayed leadership. Former coaches and teammates have described him as a humble and hard-working student-athlete who was well-liked in the community.
Rated as a 4-star recruit, Callaway drew scholarship offers from several prestigious college football programs, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan State, and Notre Dame. He ultimately committed to play for the Tennessee Volunteers, choosing the Southeastern Conference over the rest of his suitors.
Path to the NFL
Callaway enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 2016 and played for the Volunteers through the 2019 season. During his four years in Knoxville, he played under head coaches Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt. He was a steady presence in the Tennessee receiving corps and developed into one of the most productive pass-catchers in the program.
In his college career, Callaway totaled 92 receptions for 1,646 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. His senior year was his most decorated, as he was named Second-team All-SEC in 2019 in recognition of his production and consistency. That recognition helped position him as an NFL prospect despite not being widely projected as a high draft pick.
Following the 2020 NFL Draft, Callaway went unselected. Rather than give up on his professional hopes, he signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020, beginning a winding professional journey that has taken him through multiple organizations.
Marquez Callaway Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Callaway made his NFL debut in Week 2 of the 2020 season against the Las Vegas Raiders, contributing on both offense and special teams. His first professional reception came in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions, a 16-yard catch in a 35–29 victory. Later that season, in a game against the Carolina Panthers on October 25, 2020, Callaway caught Drew Brees’ 7,000th career completion, finishing that contest with eight receptions for 75 yards, both team highs. He was placed on injured reserve in December 2020 before being activated later that month, ending his rookie year with 21 receptions for 213 receiving yards across 11 games.
In 2021, Callaway’s role within the Saints offense expanded significantly. He caught his first NFL receiving touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Jameis Winston in a Week 3 win over the New England Patriots, and later recorded his first multi-touchdown game in a Week 5 victory over the Washington Football Team. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15, he posted six receptions for 112 receiving yards in a 9–0 shutout win. He played all 17 games in 2021, finishing with 46 receptions for 698 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns.
New Orleans Saints Stint (2022–2023)
Callaway’s 2022 season saw his production dip as the Saints rotated their receiving corps. He appeared in 14 games and finished with 16 receptions for 158 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown. After the season, the Saints did not extend him a qualifying offer, and he became a free agent on March 15, 2023, opening the door to a turbulent stretch of short-term deals across the league.
Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders (2023)
On March 24, 2023, Callaway signed with the Denver Broncos in an effort to reset his career. He was waived by the Broncos on August 29, 2023, during final roster cuts. The very next day, he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad, but was released on October 10, 2023, before appearing in a regular-season game for the team.
Return to New Orleans and Pittsburgh Steelers (2023–2024)
On November 21, 2023, Callaway returned to the New Orleans Saints on a practice squad deal. He appeared in three games for the Saints during the 2023 season but was not signed to a reserve/future contract, making him a free agent again at year’s end. On January 17, 2024, he signed a reserve/futures contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, only to be released on July 30, 2024. He briefly re-signed with the Saints on August 1, 2024, but was released just ten days later.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2024–2025)
On October 16, 2024, Callaway joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad, finally landing with a team that kept him on the roster into the offseason. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 14, 2025, signaling the Buccaneers’ interest in retaining him for the following season. However, on April 29, 2025, Tampa Bay released him as part of its roster reshaping, sending him back into free agency.
San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders (2025)
Callaway signed with the San Francisco 49ers on July 31, 2025, but was released just three days later on August 3. He then signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on August 11, 2025, marking his second stint with the organization, before being released on August 25, 2025, during final preseason cuts.
BC Lions (2026)
On February 3, 2026, Callaway signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, taking his career north of the border. On May 12, 2026, he was released by the Lions as part of their initial round of preseason roster cuts, leaving him once again as a free agent.
Driving Style and Strengths
Callaway has built his professional career on dependable hands, route discipline, and special-teams versatility. He is comfortable working the intermediate areas of the field and has shown the ability to step into larger roles when given extended opportunity, as he did during the 2021 season in New Orleans. His value as a practice-squad veteran has kept him in demand across multiple organizations throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Callaway’s career came on October 25, 2020, when he caught Drew Brees’ 7,000th career completion. He was also named Second-team All-SEC in 2019, his lone major individual collegiate award, and produced a career-best 112 receiving yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15 of the 2021 season.
Marquez Callaway Career Wins
Callaway’s professional career is defined more by consistent availability and team contribution than by championship hardware. His career statistical totals include 83 receptions, 1,069 receiving yards, 7 receiving touchdowns, and 243 return yards across his NFL seasons. While he has not been a featured starter for an extended period, he has regularly appeared in offenses in need of a sure-handed reserve.
NFL Highlights
Callaway’s most productive NFL season came in 2021, when he set career highs with 46 receptions, 698 receiving yards, and 6 receiving touchdowns for the New Orleans Saints. That year established him as a legitimate depth receiver with starting-caliber production. His 2020 rookie season was more limited statistically, with 21 receptions for 213 receiving yards, but it included the milestone catch of Drew Brees’ 7,000th completion.
Other Performances
Outside of the NFL, Callaway signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League in February 2026, briefly extending his professional football career into the CFL. He was released by the Lions in May 2026 during preseason cuts.
Marquez Callaway Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Callaway’s immediate family is limited, and he has kept his personal and family life largely private throughout his professional career.
Personal Life
Callaway is a United States citizen who was raised in Warner Robins, Georgia. He is known for his work ethic and humility, traits often highlighted by former coaches and teammates from his Warner Robins and Tennessee days.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved to be another transitional year for Callaway. After signing a reserve/future contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in January 2025, he was released on April 29, 2025, before the start of the regular season. He briefly signed with the San Francisco 49ers in late July 2025 before being released days later, and then joined the Las Vegas Raiders in mid-August 2025, only to be released on August 25 as part of final roster cuts.
Across his 2025 stops, Callaway was unable to secure a roster spot on an active 53-man roster, continuing a familiar pattern of late-summer movement between organizations. His value remained tied to his veteran experience, special-teams ability, and track record of production when given opportunity.
Looking ahead, Callaway’s next opportunity came in February 2026 when he signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, signaling his willingness to continue his professional career in a new league. Whether he returns to an NFL roster or builds on his CFL stint remains to be seen, but his resilience and durability have kept him in professional football longer than most undrafted players.