Maurice Alexander Bio
Maurice Alexander Jr. (born January 10, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He is listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 173 pounds, and he wears jersey number 13. A former dual-threat college quarterback, he transitioned to wide receiver during his junior year at Florida International University and built his professional career through the United States Football League and NFL practice squads.
Alexander went unselected in the 2020 NFL draft but found his footing in the spring league, where he earned All-USFL honors as a return specialist. Since then he has worked his way onto NFL active rosters, and he currently develops his game as a member of the Chicago Bears organization.
Early Life and Background
Maurice Alexander Jr. was born on January 10, 1997, in Florida City, Florida. He grew up in South Florida and attended Booker T. Washington High School in Miami, where he starred at quarterback for the Tornadoes. As a junior he threw for 2,111 yards and 26 touchdowns, earning Second-team All-Miami Dade County honors and being named his team’s Most Valuable Player for 2014.
His senior season elevated his profile across the state. He guided Booker T. Washington to a perfect 15–0 record, throwing for 3,060 yards and 32 touchdowns while adding 466 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. The Tornadoes capped the year with a 34–28 victory over Bingham in the 2015 Burger King State Champions Bowl Series, and Alexander himself rushed for the winning score. He was recognized as the 2015 Dade County Player of the Year, a Class 4A First-team All-State selection, and his team’s Offensive Most Valuable Player.
Alexander is the son of Maurice Alexander Sr. and Kevia Morrison. He has one sibling, Maurkevia, and three cousins who played college football: Shaun Terry and Nate Terry at West Virginia, and James Terry at Kansas State. These family ties gave him an early understanding of the demands of high-level competition.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school as one of Florida’s most productive prep quarterbacks, Alexander was recruited to Florida International University as a dual-threat player. He redshirted the 2015 season and then appeared in eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2016, starting four. He finished that year with 613 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air, along with 109 rushing yards and one rushing score, while serving primarily as a backup to quarterback Alex McGough.
In 2017 he played in eight games for the FIU Panthers and started the Gasparilla Bowl when McGough was injured, completing 16 of 33 passes for 162 yards in a losing effort. The turning point of his college career came before his redshirt junior season, when he switched from quarterback to wide receiver to expand his professional opportunities.
As a converted receiver in 2018, he played in 13 games with nine starts and led the Panthers in receptions with 40, finished second in receiving touchdowns with five, and ranked third in receiving yards with 474. Against UMass he became the first player in FIU history to score both a receiving and a punt return touchdown in the same game, and he was named First-team All-Conference USA as a punt returner. A season-ending injury at Old Dominion shortened his 2019 campaign, but he still produced a 90-yard punt return touchdown against UMass that stood as the longest of that FBS season.
Maurice Alexander Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
After completing his college career, Maurice Alexander Jr. entered the 2020 NFL draft and went unsigned as an undrafted free agent. With no NFL roster spot available, he spent the next two years continuing to train and waiting for a professional opportunity, even as the country dealt with the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic that affected football leagues nationwide.
When spring football returned through the relaunched United States Football League, Alexander found the platform he needed. He was selected with the eighth pick of the 17th round, 139th overall, in the 2022 USFL draft by the Philadelphia Stars, giving him his first professional contract and a chance to showcase his versatility as both a receiver and a returner.
Philadelphia Stars Breakthrough (2022)
Alexander quickly became one of the most exciting young playmakers in the USFL. In Week 2 he was named to the All-USFL Team after a dynamic performance against the Pittsburgh Maulers, recording 186 all-purpose yards with eight receptions for 87 yards and two receiving touchdowns. That breakout game announced him as one of the league’s most dangerous skill players.
Although he was used predominantly as a return specialist, Alexander led the Stars in both kick return and punt return yards for the 2022 season. He finished the year as the USFL kickoff return yards leader, and he was recognized on the All-USFL Team for his impact in the kicking game and as a complementary receiver.
Detroit Lions Era (2022–2024)
On August 3, 2022, Maurice Alexander Jr. signed with the Detroit Lions, beginning a long and winding stint on the NFL fringes. He was waived on August 30 and immediately added to the practice squad, then promoted to the active roster on October 8 before being waived again two days later. He was re-signed to the practice squad on October 12, promoted again on October 22, waived on October 24, and re-signed to the practice squad two days after that, illustrating how teams valued his special teams potential even while active roster spots were scarce.
On January 9, 2023, he signed a reserve/future contract with Detroit to stay in the organization. The same pattern followed in 2023, as he was waived on August 29 and returned to the practice squad the next day, then signed another reserve/future deal on January 30, 2024. In 2024 he was waived on August 27, re-signed to the practice squad on November 13, and promoted to the active roster on November 27, before being waived on November 30 and returning to the practice squad four days later.
Chicago Bears Era (2025–Present)
On January 31, 2025, Maurice Alexander Jr. signed with the Chicago Bears, beginning a new chapter in his NFL journey. He was waived as part of final roster cuts on August 26 and signed to the Bears’ practice squad the following day. He then signed a reserve/futures contract on January 20, 2026, securing his place in the organization going forward.
Driving Style and Strengths
Alexander’s path through professional football has been shaped by special teams value. His track-type strength is the return game, where his field-flipping ability was on display in the USFL with the Philadelphia Stars. He pairs sure hands as a possession receiver with the vision and burst developed during his quarterback days, which allows him to read coverage quickly and align productively with multiple quarterback styles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature accomplishments, Alexander became the first player in FIU Panthers history to score a receiving touchdown and a punt return touchdown in the same game, and he produced a 90-yard punt return touchdown against UMass during the 2019 season that was the longest of that FBS year. He also led the USFL in kickoff return yards in 2022 and earned a Week 2 All-USFL Team nod for his performance against the Pittsburgh Maulers.
Maurice Alexander Career Wins
Maurice Alexander Jr.’s professional resume is anchored more by production and roster contributions than by headline win totals. Across the USFL and the NFL, he has made his mark as a return specialist and a depth wide receiver, while earning conference and league honors at multiple stops.
USFL Highlights
During his lone USFL season with the Philadelphia Stars in 2022, Maurice Alexander Jr. earned All-USFL Team recognition and was named the league’s kickoff return yards leader. His first signature win came in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Maulers, when he piled up 186 all-purpose yards, eight receptions, 87 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns to claim All-USFL Team honors. He paced the Stars in both kick and punt return yards for the season.
Other Wins & Performances
At the college level, his biggest win was leading Booker T. Washington to a 15–0 record and a Class 4A state championship in 2015, capped by a 34–28 victory in the State Champions Bowl Series. He later added a First-team All-Conference USA selection as a punt returner in 2018, underscoring his value in the kicking game at the collegiate level.
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Maurice Alexander Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Maurice Alexander Jr. comes from a football-minded family rooted in South Florida. He is the son of Maurice Alexander Sr. and Kevia Morrison, and he has one sibling, Maurkevia. His extended family includes three cousins who played American football at the collegiate level: Shaun Terry and Nate Terry at West Virginia, and James Terry at Kansas State. Growing up around the sport helped sharpen his competitive instincts from an early age.
Personal Life
Off the field, Maurice Alexander Jr. maintains a presence through social media accounts bearing his well-known nickname, including an Instagram handle at @hardtime__3 and an X account at @_hardtime3. He has kept his personal life largely private, and there are no public details about a spouse or children. His focus outside of football centers on continuing to develop as a professional and contributing on special teams.
2025 Season Performance
Maurice Alexander Jr. entered the 2025 NFL calendar with the Chicago Bears after signing on January 31, 2025. The season represented his most stable NFL opportunity to date, providing him a full offseason with the organization before training camp.
He did not make the initial 53-man roster out of training camp, as he was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and quickly re-signed to the Bears’ practice squad the next day. That transaction kept him within the Bears’ system and available to be elevated as needed throughout the regular season.
Looking ahead, the outlook for Maurice Alexander Jr. centers on using the practice squad as a springboard to a larger special teams role. His return-game track record from the 2022 USFL season, combined with his experience navigating NFL practice squad moves, positions him as a candidate to be promoted to the active roster if injuries create opportunities in the receiving corps or on kick coverage units.