Ronnie Rivers Bio
Ronnie Rivers (born January 31, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing approximately 198 pounds, he wears jersey number 20 and serves in a rotational backfield role while contributing extensively on special teams coverage units. After a record-setting college career at Fresno State, Rivers entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has since worked his way into a dependable reserve position with the Rams organization.
Ronnie Rivers
Early Life and Background
Ronnie Rivers was born on January 31, 1999, in Castro Valley, California. He grew up in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area and attended Freedom High School in Oakley, California, where he starred for the Falcons football program. During his senior season in 2016, Rivers emerged as one of the most productive running backs in Northern California high school football, rushing for 2,239 yards and scoring 33 touchdowns while posting more than 100 rushing yards in 11 of 13 games.
His senior campaign broke several long-standing school rushing records previously held by former NFL running back Joe Mixon. Rivers was named Bay Valley League Most Valuable Player, East Bay Offensive Player of the Year by the San Jose Mercury News, All-NorCal Offensive Player of the Year by MaxPreps, and All-North Coast Section Player of the Year by Prep2Prep. He led Freedom to an 11–2 record and a runner-up finish in the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division that same year.
Following high school, Rivers accepted a scholarship to Fresno State, where he played for the Bulldogs from 2017 through 2021. He completed five seasons with the program, an opportunity extended in part by the extra year of eligibility granted to athletes following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Path to American Football
Rivers arrived at Fresno State as a true freshman in 2017 and quickly earned a role in the Bulldogs’ backfield. He appeared in all but one of the team’s 14 games that season, making seven starts, and finished the year with 480 rushing yards on 101 carries and five rushing touchdowns. He also added 20 receptions for 129 yards and a receiving touchdown, and was recognized as a Mountain West scholar-athlete for his performance in the classroom.
Across his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, Rivers developed into one of the most complete running backs in the Mountain West Conference. He was a two-time first-team All-Mountain West selection and finished his Fresno State career holding school records for career touchdowns scored (52), rushing touchdowns (40), receiving touchdowns by a running back (12), receiving yards by a running back (1,417), and pass receptions by a running back (150). He also ranked third in program history with 3,417 career rushing yards and second in career rushing attempts (672).
Ronnie Rivers Career
Early Career (2022)
After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, Rivers was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2022. He did not appear in the Cardinals’ first preseason game and was released on August 14, 2022, before being signed by the Seattle Seahawks ten days later. Rivers carried the ball two times for six yards in the Seahawks’ final preseason contest, a 27–26 loss to Dallas, and was waived on August 28.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2022–Present)
On September 15, 2022, Rivers signed with the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 26, 2022, and went on to appear in eight games as a rookie, rushing nine times for 21 yards and catching five passes for 29 yards. He earned his first NFL start against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8, finishing with eight carries for 21 yards and four receptions for 15 yards in a 31-14 loss.
Rivers entered the 2023 season as the Rams’ third running back on the depth chart. He suffered a knee sprain in Week 6 and was placed on injured reserve on October 18, 2023, before being activated on December 21. He finished the year with 32 carries for 129 yards and five receptions for 22 yards across nine games played.
During the 2024 campaign, Rivers continued to serve as a rotational back and core special teams player for Los Angeles, logging just over 75 percent of his snaps on coverage units while recording four total tackles. In Week 18, he made his second career start at running back and rushed a career-high 13 times for 52 yards in a 21-20 victory over San Francisco. He closed the season with 22 carries for 99 rushing yards and five receptions for 34 receiving yards.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rivers is recognized for his pass-catching ability out of the backfield, durability, and reliability on special teams. He has carved out a role as a third-down back and coverage specialist, and his record-setting production as a receiver at Fresno State highlights his natural hands and route-running skills for the position.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Rivers’ signature professional moments are his first NFL start against the 49ers in 2022, his first-team All-Mountain West honors at Fresno State, his MVP performance in the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl, and a 2024 career-high rushing output in the regular-season finale against San Francisco. He also set multiple Fresno State career records that may stand for years to come.
Ronnie Rivers Career Wins
Rivers has built a steady professional resume as a reserve running back and special teams contributor, with team victories in multiple seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. His most notable regular-season win came in the 2024 finale against San Francisco, while his college highlight reel includes the Bulldogs’ 31-20 Las Vegas Bowl victory over Arizona State and a 40-37 upset of then-No. 13 UCLA in 2021.
Los Angeles Rams Highlights
With the Rams, Rivers has appeared in regular-season games every year since 2022, contributing on offense and special teams. His Week 18 2024 start against the 49ers stands as one of his most visible professional performances, and he has been active for Los Angeles in both home and international contests, including a 35-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London during 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Rivers led Freedom to an 11-2 record and a North Coast Section Open Division runner-up finish in 2016. At Fresno State, he helped the Bulldogs reach the Mountain West Conference Championship Game as a freshman and later captured Las Vegas Bowl MVP honors as a sophomore.
Ronnie Rivers Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Ronnie Rivers’ immediate family and parental background is limited. He grew up in the East Bay region of Northern California and developed his football foundation in that community before launching his college and professional career.
Personal Life
Rivers maintains an active presence on social media under the handle featured on his official Instagram account, where he shares insights into his training and life with the Los Angeles Rams. He is not publicly known to be married, and details about a spouse or children have not been confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Rivers agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Rams on March 16, 2025, securing his place on the roster heading into the new season. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts but was re-signed the following day to the team’s practice squad, demonstrating the organization’s continued confidence in his special teams value and backfield depth.
On October 18, Rivers was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster, and he signed to the active roster permanently on November 5. He played in 11 games during the regular season, totaling nine carries for 46 yards while contributing two tackles on special teams. He was active for the Rams’ international game against Jacksonville in London, a 35-7 victory over the Jaguars.
Following the 2025 campaign, Rivers re-signed with the Rams on a one-year contract on March 25, 2026, extending his tenure in Los Angeles. His continued role as a special teams ace and emergency backfield option underscores his value to the franchise moving forward.
