Ryan Flournoy Bio
Ryan Flournoy is an American professional football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 205 pounds, he plays the receiver position and wears jersey number 19. He was selected by the Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft after a winding college career that took him through three different programs.
After entering the league as a late-round pick, Flournoy steadily developed into a contributor on the Cowboys offense. Through his first two professional seasons, he has shown flashes of becoming a larger piece of the team’s passing attack.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Flournoy was born on October 27, 1999, in Hazel Crest, Illinois, and grew up in the same community on Chicago’s South Side. As a child, he rooted for the Chicago Bears and watched highlights of legendary Bears players such as Gale Sayers and Walter Payton. By the age of five, Flournoy had decided that he wanted to play in the NFL, and he began playing football the same year.
He attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School in nearby Flossmoor, Illinois, where he lined up at wide receiver. Flournoy also competed on the track team. After a slow start in his high school career, he delivered a strong senior season, finishing with 28 receptions for 480 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite those numbers, he drew limited interest from college recruiters and ultimately signed with the University of Central Missouri, an NCAA Division II program.
Path to American Football
At Central Missouri, Flournoy redshirted his first year in 2018. His second season was disrupted by injury, but he still managed 17 receptions for 170 yards while competing through a partially torn ACL. The 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Flournoy used the opportunity to transfer to Iowa Western Community College in 2021.
With Iowa Western, he became the team’s leading receiver, finishing with 32 catches for 545 yards and five touchdowns and helping the Reivers reach the NJCAA national championship game. After that breakout year, Flournoy received a single NCAA Division I offer from Southeast Missouri State, an FCS program. He transferred there in 2022 and quickly became a focal point of the offense, earning first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors.
Ryan Flournoy Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Flournoy’s college career truly launched at Southeast Missouri State. In his first year with the Redhawks, he recorded 61 receptions for 984 yards and seven touchdowns and was named a team captain, becoming one of the conference’s most productive receivers. His play earned him a spot on the All-OVC first team and put him on the radar of NFL scouts.
Returning for a final collegiate season in 2023, Flournoy was named to The Athletic’s college football “Freaks List” heading into the year. Despite missing time with a broken hand, he repeated as a first-team all-conference selection, ending his senior year with 57 receptions for 839 yards and six touchdowns. He graduated in December 2023 with a degree in general studies and was invited to the Hula Bowl, the East–West Shrine Bowl, and the 2024 Senior Bowl, where he was one of the only FCS players in attendance and the first Southeast Missouri State player selected for the game since 1998.
Dallas Cowboys Debut (2024–Present)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Flournoy in the sixth round, 216th overall, of the 2024 NFL draft. As a rookie, he appeared in 11 games and posted 10 receptions for 102 receiving yards, serving primarily as a depth option in the receiver rotation. His first NFL season was more about development than statistical production.
In 2025, Flournoy was waived by the Cowboys on August 28, then re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted back to the active roster on September 13. By Week 5, he had broken out against the New York Jets, catching six passes for a then career-high 114 yards, more receiving yards than he had recorded in his entire rookie season. In Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals, he hauled in his first career touchdown, a five-yard pass from quarterback Dak Prescott. Later, in a Week 14 Thursday Night Football matchup at the Detroit Lions on December 4, 2025, he set new career highs with 12 targets, 9 receptions, and 115 receiving yards, cementing his growing role in the offense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Flournoy’s first NFL touchdown, his career-high 114-yard game against the Jets, and his Week 14 explosion in Detroit stand as the defining moments of his young professional career. His appearance at the Senior Bowl as a rare FCS invitee also marked a milestone in his draft journey, making him the first Southeast Missouri State player at the game in more than two decades.
Ryan Flournoy Career Wins
As a wide receiver, Flournoy’s primary statistical milestones are measured in receptions, yards, and touchdowns rather than wins. Through the early portion of his NFL career, his verified production includes 50 receptions, 577 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, and 25 rushing yards, with his first professional touchdown coming in 2025.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond individual stats, Flournoy helped Iowa Western reach the NJCAA national championship game in 2021 and was twice named first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference at Southeast Missouri State. His selection to The Athletic’s college football “Freaks List” in 2023 also reflected his standing among the nation’s most physically intriguing prospects.
Ryan Flournoy Family
Personal Life
Public details about Ryan Flournoy’s immediate family are limited. He grew up in Hazel Crest, Illinois, and developed his love of football while watching Chicago Bears legends such as Gale Sayers and Walter Payton. Information about his parents, spouse, or children has not been publicly confirmed in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Flournoy’s 2025 season has been defined by perseverance and a rapid rise into a larger offensive role. After being waived and re-signed to the practice squad in late August, he returned to the active roster in mid-September and steadily increased his snap count. His Week 5 performance against the New York Jets announced his arrival, and he has continued to produce down the stretch of the season.
By Week 14, Flournoy had set new career highs in targets, receptions, and receiving yards at Detroit, demonstrating a clear connection with quarterback Dak Prescott. His 50-reception, 577-yard, four-touchdown body of work places him among the more productive second-year receivers in the Cowboys’ system.
Looking ahead, Flournoy’s emergence gives Dallas another reliable target alongside its top pass-catchers. With his size, route-running, and growing chemistry with Prescott, he is positioned to remain a meaningful contributor for the Cowboys’ offense into the latter portion of the 2025 season and beyond.
