Mekhi Garner Bio
Mekhi Garner (born January 11, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback. Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and listed at 213 lb (97 kg), he plays at cornerback and has competed at the collegiate and professional levels across multiple leagues. Garner is currently a member of the Louisville Kings of the United Football League (UFL).
Across his career, he has been associated with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Arlington Renegades, the Chicago Bears, and the Louisville Kings. He previously played college football for the Navarro Bulldogs, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, and the LSU Tigers.
Early Life and Background
Mekhi Garner was born on January 11, 2000, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and attended Poteet High School in Mesquite, where he lined up at defensive back for the school football program.
As a junior at Poteet, Garner posted 39 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions, and one forced fumble, numbers that drew early attention from college recruiters. He initially committed to play college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders but ultimately chose a different route.
Rather than enroll at Texas Tech, Garner decided to begin his college career at Navarro College, a junior college program in Corsicana, Texas, where he could refine his game before moving on to a four-year school.
Path to American Football
Garner’s path to the professional level began in earnest at Navarro College in 2018. He appeared in 10 games as a freshman defensive back, recording 48 tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions, and half a tackle-for-loss in his only season with the Bulldogs.
After one year at Navarro, Garner transferred to the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns of the Sun Belt Conference. He played two games in his first season with Louisiana and totaled four tackles while working to earn a larger role.
Originally a backup to begin the 2020 season, Garner was thrust into a starting role after several teammates contracted COVID-19. His strong play during that period allowed him to retain the starting job, and he finished the year with 27 tackles, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, one sack, and one tackle-for-loss, earning honorable mention all-conference recognition.
Mekhi Garner Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Garner’s early career was built across two college stops. His 2020 starting stretch at Louisiana served as his first extended opportunity, and he delivered with three interceptions and seven pass breakups as a first-year starter.
In 2021, he played 13 games and started 11, earning third-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. That season he compiled 31 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, eight pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a sack, the production that positioned him for a Power Five transfer.
LSU Tigers (2022)
Garner transferred to LSU for the 2022 season and immediately stepped into the Tigers’ secondary as a starter. He started all 13 games for LSU and posted 43 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, and eight pass breakups, the latter figure leading the team.
Although Garner had a remaining year of college eligibility, he opted to declare for the NFL draft and accepted an invitation to the East–West Shrine Bowl, closing out a productive one-season stint at LSU.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2023–2024)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Garner signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. On August 29, 2023, he was released as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the following day.
On January 18, 2024, Garner signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles. He was waived with an injury designation on August 17, then re-signed to the Philadelphia practice squad on December 31, 2024, before being released on January 9, 2025.
Arlington Renegades (2025)
On March 6, 2025, Garner signed with the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League. He was released by the team on March 20, 2025, after a brief stint with the spring league franchise.
Chicago Bears Era (2025)
On August 12, 2025, Garner signed with the Chicago Bears. He was waived as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, and re-signed to the practice squad the following day.
Garner was released by the Bears on August 28, 2025, closing a short second NFL opportunity.
Louisville Kings Era (2026–Present)
On January 29, 2026, Garner signed with the Louisville Kings of the United Football League, where he currently plays cornerback. The Kings roster lists him as No. 8 and active.
Driving Style and Strengths
Garner has built his game around length and physicality at the cornerback position. He has produced consistent pass-breakup totals at every college stop, including a team-leading eight at LSU in 2022, a marker of coverage instincts and ball skills. His frame allows him to match up with larger receivers on the outside.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Garner’s signature moments is his 2020 starting stretch at Louisiana, when injuries to teammates forced him into the lineup and his play earned him a permanent role. He later earned third-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2021 and started all 13 games at LSU in 2022 before declaring for the 2023 NFL draft.
Mekhi Garner Career Wins
Garner has yet to register a verified win total in the form of formal racing-style victories, as his sport measures success through starts, tackles, interceptions, pass breakups, and team championships rather than head-to-head wins. What is documented is a UFL championship earned as a member of the Louisville Kings in 2026.
Other Wins & Performances
Garner’s standout individual honors include third-team All-Sun Belt recognition in 2021 and honorable mention all-conference honors in 2020. He also accepted an invitation to the East–West Shrine Bowl following the 2022 season.
Mekhi Garner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Garner’s parents and immediate family is not available in verified sources.
Personal Life
Verified details about Mekhi Garner’s marital status, spouse, and children are not publicly documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was a transitional one for Garner. He opened the year with a brief stint on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad before being released on January 9, 2025, then signed with the Arlington Renegades of the UFL on March 6, 2025. His time with the Renegades was short, ending with a release on March 20, 2025.
Later in the summer, Garner returned to the NFL, signing with the Chicago Bears on August 12, 2025. He was waived during final roster cuts on August 26, re-signed to the Bears practice squad the following day, and released again on August 28, 2025.
Through the 2025 season, Garner’s official NFL career statistics show three games played. His outlook going forward shifted to the UFL, where he signed with the Louisville Kings in January 2026.