Ryan McKnight Miller Bio
Ryan McKnight Miller is an American professional football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Jackson, Tennessee, Miller played college football for the Furman Paladins before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2023. After two seasons in Tampa Bay, he was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants and continues his NFL career in the wide receiver room.
Early Life and Background
Ryan McKnight Miller was born on February 20, 2000, in Jackson, Tennessee. His father and grandfather each played college baseball, while his other grandfather was a college tennis player and his mother was a cheerleader. That multi-sport family environment helped shape Miller’s early athletic identity.
Miller attended the University School of Jackson, where he played football and basketball and also ran track. Off the field, he was a member of the school band. On the gridiron, he lined up at wide receiver, tight end, middle linebacker, running back, and defensive end, showing rare positional versatility for a young prospect.
A team captain, he was a three-time all-district selection, a two-time all-state pick, and a two-time All-West Tennessee honoree. As a senior, he totaled 69 receptions for 1,149 yards and eight touchdowns, plus 520 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Across his high school career he caught 82 passes for 1,529 yards and 18 touchdowns, finishing as a two-star recruit who chose the Furman Paladins over four other offers.
Path to American Football
Miller arrived at Furman as a true freshman in 2018 and appeared in nine games, making one start, with 10 receptions for 144 yards. The following season he started 11 games and added 11 receptions for 237 yards and three touchdowns, settling in as a dependable pass catcher for the Paladins offense.
In the COVID-19-impacted 2020 campaign, Miller earned first-team All-American recognition from the Associated Press and first-team All-Southern Conference honors, posting 15 catches for 254 yards and six touchdowns in seven games. He repeated as an All-American and first-team All-SoCon choice in 2021, ranking among the top FCS tight ends with 43 receptions for 749 yards and seven scores.
Ryan McKnight Miller Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Miller’s development arc at Furman reads like a steady climb rather than a flash-in-the-pan story. His 2022 senior season was his most productive, with 72 receptions for 762 yards and 12 touchdowns, giving him a second consecutive year as Furman’s leading receiver. That season also brought another all-conference selection and another All-American nod, while he set the Furman record for single-season and career touchdown catches and became the program’s first three-time All-American.
NFL Breakthrough (2023–2025)
After converting from tight end to wide receiver before the 2023 NFL draft, Miller went unselected and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. He was released at final roster cuts on August 29 and re-signed to the practice squad, then elevated to the active roster for Tampa Bay’s Week 13 game against the Carolina Panthers, making his NFL debut in a 21–18 win. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Buccaneers on January 23, 2024.
Miller’s role grew in 2024. Tampa Bay waived him on August 27 before re-signing him to the practice squad and promoting him to the active roster on October 23. On November 4, against the Kansas City Chiefs, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield for his first career score. He added a 13-yard Mayfield touchdown on December 22 against the Dallas Cowboys, lifting his career NFL receiving total past the 100-yard mark.
The 2025 season opened with another Mayfield connection, as Miller caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in Tampa Bay’s 20–19 win over the Houston Texans on September 15. Tampa Bay waived him on December 10, ending his Buccaneers tenure.
New York Giants Era (2025–Present)
On December 11, 2025, the New York Giants claimed Miller off waivers, adding him to their wide receiver group. He re-signed with the Giants on April 7, 2026, locking in his place on the roster heading into the next league year.
Driving Style and Strengths
Miller brings a tight-end build to the wide receiver position, using his 6 ft 2 in frame and 221 lb frame to win contested catches and contribute as a physical blocker in the run game. His experience lining up across multiple positions in high school and at Furman has translated into pre-snap flexibility, allowing coaches to motion him into the slot, detach him on play-action, or feature him on back-shoulder throws.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NFL touchdown against Kansas City on November 4, 2024, marked the moment he went from practice squad elevation to a trusted red-zone option. Earning three Associated Press All-American selections at Furman, a feat that made him the program’s first three-time All-American, stands as the signature individual achievement of his career to date.
Ryan McKnight Miller Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Miller has built a young résumé that includes NFL debut and first-touchdown milestones with Tampa Bay plus his early contributions with the New York Giants. His statistical line as of 2025 includes 14 receptions for 162 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
NFL Highlights
Miller made his NFL debut in a 21–18 Tampa Bay win over the Carolina Panthers in December 2023, his first active-roster game after being elevated from the practice squad. He scored his first career touchdown in a 2024 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-yard pass from Baker Mayfield, then added a second score against the Dallas Cowboys later that December. His most recent touchdown came on a 20-yard Mayfield strike in the Buccaneers’ 20–19 victory over the Houston Texans on September 15, 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Miller’s two-year run as Furman’s leading receiver and his third consecutive All-American season in 2022 anchored one of the most productive stretches in program history. He finished his Paladins career as the school’s all-time leader in single-season and career touchdown receptions.
Ryan McKnight Miller Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Miller comes from a deeply athletic family. His father and grandfather each played college baseball, while his other grandfather was a college tennis player and his mother was a cheerleader. That multi-sport lineage gave Miller early exposure to competitive athletics and helped shape his wide-ranging playing background.
Personal Life
Public details about Miller’s personal life remain limited. He is listed at 6 ft 2 in and 221 lb, stands as an American professional athlete born and raised in Jackson, Tennessee, and has built his NFL career on a steady climb from undrafted free agent to active-roster contributor.
2025 Season Performance
Miller’s 2025 campaign began with a notable Tampa Bay Buccaneers season that opened with a September 15 win over the Houston Texans, where he caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield. Through his Buccaneers appearances, he continued to operate primarily as a rotational wide receiver and red-zone target.
On December 10, 2025, the Buccaneers waived Miller, ending his Tampa Bay tenure. A day later, on December 11, 2025, the New York Giants claimed him off waivers, giving him a fresh opportunity in a new offense. The move placed him back on an active roster and back into regular-season action for the final stretch of the year.
Miller re-signed with the Giants on April 7, 2026, signaling the organization’s belief in his trajectory. Heading into the next league year, he is positioned as a depth receiver with starting upside, especially in red-zone and short-yardage situations where his tight-end background and 6 ft 2 in frame create matchup problems for defensive backs.
