Steven Sims Bio
Steven Sims Jr. (born March 31, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver and punt returner for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks and entered the league in 2019 as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and listed at 190 pounds, Sims has built his career on speed, quickness, and versatility in the return game.
Early Life and Background
Steven Sims Jr. was born in Houston, Texas, on March 31, 1997. He attended Travis High School in Pecan Grove, Texas, where he played high school football and developed the skills that would later carry him to the college level. Coming out of high school, Sims was rated as a two-star recruit, yet he drew attention from several college programs for his playmaking ability in the passing game and on special teams.
After weighing his options, Sims committed to the University of Kansas over offers from McNeese State, Prairie View A&M, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern, and Stephen F. Austin. He went on to spend four seasons with the Kansas Jayhawks between 2015 and 2018, working as a wide receiver, kick returner, and punt returner. That combination of roles in college helped shape the all-purpose profile that NFL teams would later find attractive.
Path to American Football
Sims used his time at Kansas to grow into a multipurpose offensive and special teams contributor, lining up at receiver while also handling return duties. That dual-threat experience proved central to his transition toward professional football, as it gave him a clear route to a roster spot through special teams value. Following the 2019 NFL Draft, where he went unselected, Sims signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2019, officially beginning his professional career.
Steven Sims Career
Early Career (2019–2020): Washington Redskins Era
Sims wasted little time making an impact in Washington. He recorded his first career reception, a three-yard gain from quarterback Case Keenum, in a Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, adding three carries for sixteen yards on the same day. On October 6, 2019, he scored his first career touchdown on a 65-yard rush against the New England Patriots, giving an early sign of his big-play potential. He added a 91-yard kickoff return touchdown in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions, a play that earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, and he closed his rookie season with 34 receptions for 310 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
In 2020, Sims played the first three games before a knee injury sent him to injured reserve on October 9, 2020. He returned to the active roster on November 7 and went on to play twelve regular-season games, finishing with 27 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown. In Washington’s Wild Card Playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sims caught three passes for 33 yards and scored the only Washington receiving touchdown of the contest. He was released by the team on August 23, 2021.
Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers (2021–2022)
Sims signed with the Buffalo Bills on August 25, 2021, but was released on August 31 as part of the Bills’ final cuts before the regular season. He quickly found a new opportunity, joining the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 1, 2021. On January 19, 2022, Sims signed a reserve/future contract with Pittsburgh, locking in a path to the next training camp.
During the 2022 season, Sims appeared in 12 games for the Steelers and contributed 14 receptions for 104 yards while adding 13 rushing attempts for 70 yards. His work on offense and on special teams helped him remain a steady presence on the roster through that campaign, even as his primary role continued to center on situational plays and returns.
Houston Texans Era (2023–2024)
On March 24, 2023, Sims signed with the Houston Texans, beginning a new chapter in his career. He was released on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted back to the active roster on January 16, 2024. His most memorable moment in Houston came in the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens, when he returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown in a 34–10 loss. Sims re-signed with the Texans on March 21, 2024, and remained with the team until his release on December 20, 2024.
Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals (2024–2025)
On December 23, 2024, Sims was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Ravens, linking him to the team he had just faced in the postseason. He then signed with the Seattle Seahawks on March 25, 2025, before being released on August 26, 2025, with an injury settlement as part of final roster cuts. On December 9, 2025, Sims joined the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad, where he continues to add veteran depth at wide receiver and in the return game.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sims is at his best when operating in space, using his quickness and acceleration to threaten defenses on short and intermediate routes while also creating chunk plays in the return game. His experience as both a receiver and a return man allows coaches to deploy him in a variety of packages, including jet motions and pre-snap shifts that test the edges of a defense. That flexibility has kept him on rosters across multiple organizations, even as he has moved between active rosters and practice squads.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Sims’s 65-yard rushing touchdown against the New England Patriots in 2019 and his 91-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Detroit Lions the same season stand out as early career highlights. His 67-yard punt return touchdown in the Divisional Round against the Baltimore Ravens is another defining play, demonstrating his value in high-leverage postseason moments.
Steven Sims Career Stats
Through his NFL career, Steven Sims Jr. has produced 78 receptions for 704 receiving yards, 2,023 return yards, 174 rushing yards, and 7 total touchdowns, reflecting a profile built on receiving work combined with significant contributions on special teams. Those totals reflect his role as a complementary offensive player and a primary returner across his stops with Washington, Pittsburgh, Houston, Baltimore, Seattle, and Arizona.
Receiving and Return Highlights
Sims posted his most productive receiving season as a rookie in 2019, finishing with 34 receptions for 310 receiving yards and four touchdowns while also adding value as a runner and returner. He remained a steady contributor in 2020 with Washington, including a playoff receiving touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before moving into more specialized return roles in subsequent seasons.
Steven Sims Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Publicly available information about Steven Sims Jr.’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in the Houston, Texas, area and attended Travis High School in nearby Pecan Grove, which shaped his early football development. Further details about his parents, siblings, or wider family connections have not been widely reported.
Personal Life
Steven Sims Jr. is a United States citizen born and raised in Texas. Confirmed details about a spouse, children, or current residence are not available from verified sources at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Steven Sims Jr.’s 2025 season has been defined by movement between rosters and practice squads. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks on March 25, 2025, and remained with the organization through the preseason before being released on August 26, 2025, with an injury settlement as part of final cuts. That release opened the door for him to find another opportunity later in the year.
On December 9, 2025, Sims signed with the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad, giving him a late-season landing spot. Joining the Cardinals allows him to contribute in practice and remain available for elevation, while also keeping him close to the special teams and receiver roles that have defined his career.
Looking at the broader arc, the 2025 campaign has reinforced Sims’s reputation as a dependable veteran presence who can step into multiple roles. His career totals of 78 receptions for 704 receiving yards, 2,023 return yards, 174 rushing yards, and 7 total touchdowns underscore the kind of all-around production he has offered teams since 2019, and his addition to the Arizona Cardinals gives the organization a flexible option as the season moves forward.