Michael Knapp Bio
Michael Knapp is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for USL League One side Chattanooga Red Wolves. Born on January 30, 2000, in Bloomfield, New Jersey, he developed through competitive youth systems in the New York metropolitan area before reaching the professional ranks. Across his young career, Knapp has competed in the Premier Development League, USL League Two, USL Championship, and USL League One, building a résumé as a versatile central midfielder.
After a notable college stint with the Montclair State University Red Hawks, Knapp transitioned into the lower divisions of the American soccer pyramid, gaining experience with multiple clubs. He was selected in the MLS SuperDraft by Austin FC in January 2022, an early signal that professional scouts viewed him as a prospect with long-term potential. He continues to compete at the third tier of American professional soccer with the Chattanooga Red Wolves.
Early Life and Background
Michael Knapp was born and raised in Bloomfield, New Jersey, a suburban township located in Essex County. He attended Bloomfield High School, where he played prep soccer and began to attract attention from regional academies. Growing up in a competitive youth soccer environment in northern New Jersey, Knapp had access to several elite development pathways that shaped his technical foundation.
During his formative years, Knapp joined the Cedar Stars Academy, a well-regarded youth program that has produced a number of college and professional players. His performances there quickly opened doors at higher levels, and in 2017 he moved into the youth academy of the New York Red Bulls, one of Major League Soccer’s most established development systems. The Red Bulls academy is known for its structured tactical training and emphasis on high-pressing, possession-based play.
Knapp balanced his academy commitments with his high school education at Bloomfield, training with future professionals while continuing to mature physically and tactically. His progression through the Red Bulls pathway marked him as a player with professional potential even before his college career began.
Path to Soccer
Knapp’s first taste of senior football came with the New York Red Bulls U-23 side in the summer of 2018. On July 15, 2018, he appeared in a Premier Development League match against the Ocean City Nor’easters, entering as a late substitute in a 1–2 defeat. The brief appearance confirmed his readiness for adult competition and served as a springboard into collegiate soccer.
In the fall of 2018, Knapp enrolled at Montclair State University and joined the Montclair Red Hawks men’s soccer program. He made his collegiate debut on August 31, 2018, against SUNY Oneonta and went on to start all 17 matches of his freshman season, earning the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year award. During his sophomore year in 2019, he netted his first collegiate goal against St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn and added strikes against the William Paterson Pioneers and TCNJ Lions, finishing with three goals in 18 appearances. His strong second season earned him the NJAC Midfielder of the Year award.
These college accolades, combined with his prior academy experience, positioned Knapp to pursue a full professional career once his time at Montclair State concluded.
Michael Knapp Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Following his standout freshman campaign with the Montclair Red Hawks, Knapp sought summer opportunities to continue his development. In 2019, he featured for FC Motown, a well-known amateur side in the metropolitan area, gaining further exposure to competitive adult soccer. Those appearances helped him refine his game against experienced players and prepared him for the next step in his career.
That same year, he returned to the Montclair Red Hawks for his sophomore season, where his three-goal contribution and conference-wide recognition confirmed his status as one of the program’s top midfielders. The combination of academic competition and summer club football created a productive rhythm that supported his growth.
USL League Two and Championship Breakthrough (2020–2022)
In November 2020, Knapp signed with Morris Elite of USL League Two, a developmental league that has long served as a bridge between college soccer and the professional ranks. The following April, however, a higher-level opportunity emerged when he signed with New York Red Bulls II of the USL Championship on April 23, 2021. Red Bulls II serves as the reserve side for the Major League Soccer club, and the move represented a significant step up.
Knapp made his professional debut for New York Red Bulls II on April 30, 2021, starting against Hartford Athletic in a 2–3 defeat. He spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the club, training and competing in a professional environment while continuing to develop his midfield game. His selection in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Austin FC, announced on January 11, 2022, signaled that his professional trajectory was on the rise.
Rio Grande Valley FC Era (2023)
On January 26, 2023, Knapp joined Rio Grande Valley FC of the USL Championship, the first-team affiliate of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo FC. The move to South Texas gave him the chance to play a full professional season in a competitive conference and to test himself in a new setting away from the Northeast.
His time with Rio Grande Valley provided valuable minutes at the second tier of American professional soccer, allowing him to build consistency as a central midfielder. The experience broadened his tactical understanding and helped him adapt to varied playing conditions across the country.
Chattanooga Red Wolves Era (2024–Present)
On July 19, 2024, Knapp signed with Chattanooga Red Wolves SC of USL League One, the third tier of the American professional soccer system. The move marked a return to regular first-team football after a transitional period in his career. He has since featured for the Tennessee-based club, contributing in midfield as the team competes in the league’s competitive southern conference.
The Chattanooga Red Wolves era represents an opportunity for Knapp to re-establish himself as a consistent starter and to showcase the development he has gained across multiple professional environments. His progression from Red Bulls academy product to a seasoned lower-division professional reflects steady growth.
Driving Style and Strengths
Knapp is recognized as a central midfielder with strong passing range and the ability to dictate tempo through the middle of the pitch. His college awards suggest an aptitude for both creative distribution and the defensive responsibilities required of a modern box-to-box midfielder. Continued exposure at the professional level is helping him refine his positioning, defensive timing, and decision-making under pressure.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Knapp’s career are his professional debut for New York Red Bulls II on April 30, 2021, and his selection in the MLS SuperDraft by Austin FC in January 2022. His conference Rookie of the Year and Midfielder of the Year honors at Montclair State also stand out as early milestones that forecast his professional pathway.
Michael Knapp Career Wins
Michael Knapp’s career is still in its developmental phase, and verified individual honors include the NJAC Rookie of the Year in 2018 and the NJAC Midfielder of the Year in 2019. His selection by Austin FC in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft further highlights his standing within the professional pipeline.
League Highlights
Knapp has competed in the Premier Development League, USL League Two, USL Championship, and USL League One, progressing steadily through the tiers of American professional soccer. His appearances for New York Red Bulls II and Rio Grande Valley FC represent his most extensive professional spells to date.
Other Performances
Beyond league play, Knapp featured for FC Motown in 2019 and represented the New York Red Bulls U-23 in the Premier Development League in 2018, gaining competitive minutes outside of his college commitments.
Michael Knapp Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information regarding Michael Knapp’s family background is limited. What is documented is his upbringing in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and his connection to the broader New York-area soccer development system that has shaped his early career.
Personal Life
Michael Knapp was born and raised in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and later attended Montclair State University, where he balanced academics with a demanding collegiate soccer schedule. Details regarding his marital status, spouse, and children are not publicly documented.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Michael Knapp continues with the Chattanooga Red Wolves of USL League One after signing with the club in July 2024. The 2025 campaign represents his first full calendar year with the Tennessee-based side, offering an opportunity to build rhythm and consistency within the team’s midfield.
Knapp’s experience across multiple professional environments, including the USL Championship with New York Red Bulls II and Rio Grande Valley FC, provides a foundation for contributing to Chattanooga’s ambitions in the league’s southern conference. His versatility as a central midfielder allows the coaching staff to deploy him in a variety of roles depending on tactical needs.
As the season unfolds, Knapp will look to translate his collegiate accolades and professional experience into consistent performances for the Red Wolves. Continued development and visible contributions on the field could shape the next stage of his career in American professional soccer.