Ty Chandler Bio
Tykevius Chandler, known professionally as Ty Chandler, is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Chandler first gained statewide attention as a high school standout at Montgomery Bell Academy before building a strong college résumé at Tennessee and North Carolina. He entered the NFL in 2022 after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the draft.
Throughout his football journey, Chandler has been recognized for his versatility as both a rusher and a returner, along with his ability to produce explosive plays in key moments. After spending his first four professional seasons with the Vikings, he signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2026 to continue his NFL career.
Early Life and Background
Tykevius Chandler was born on May 12, 1998, in Nashville, Tennessee, where he grew up immersed in the local sports culture. He attended Montgomery Bell Academy, a well-known private school in Nashville that has produced several notable football players over the years. Chandler quickly developed into one of the most decorated running backs in Tennessee high school football history.
During his prep career, Chandler was named Tennessee Mr. Football twice, earning the prestigious honor as both a junior and a senior. These back-to-back awards highlighted his status as one of the top high school running backs in the state and helped establish him as a sought-after college recruit. His consistent production and leadership on the field set the foundation for his transition to the collegiate level.
Path to American Football
Chandler began his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee, where he played from 2017 to 2020 under head coaches Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt. As a Volunteer, he worked his way into a meaningful role in the offensive backfield and contributed in multiple capacities, including as a receiver out of the backfield. During the 2018 season, he became the first running back in Tennessee school history to record a receiving touchdown in three consecutive games, a milestone that demonstrated his pass-catching ability.
Over four seasons at Tennessee, Chandler rushed for 2,046 yards and 13 touchdowns. Following the conclusion of his senior season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal and committed to the University of North Carolina, joining the Tar Heels as a graduate transfer under head coach Mack Brown. During his lone season at North Carolina in 2021, Chandler rushed for 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns on 182 carries. He scored multiple touchdowns in five games, including a 198-yard performance against Virginia and a 213-yard performance against Wake Forest, in which he ran for four touchdowns. His standout season earned him second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.
Ty Chandler Career
Early Career (2022)
Chandler entered the NFL when he was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 169th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. His rookie season was disrupted by a thumb injury that landed him on injured reserve on October 11, 2022. After being activated on December 28, he appeared in three games, including the Week 18 finale against the Chicago Bears, where he recorded six carries for 20 rushing yards.
Minnesota Vikings Breakthrough (2023–2025)
Chandler opened the 2023 season as the second-string running back behind Alexander Mattison before working his way into a larger role. In Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints, he scored his first professional touchdown on a two-yard rush, a milestone moment in his development. Later that season, in Week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Chandler made his first NFL start and rushed for a career-high 132 yards on 23 carries, signaling his arrival as a legitimate offensive contributor.
Across the 2023 season, Chandler appeared in all 17 games and started the final four contests, finishing the year with 102 carries for 461 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. His blend of vision, acceleration, and pass-catching out of the backfield gave the Vikings a dependable complementary option in the run game.
Chandler began the 2025 season as Minnesota’s third-string running back behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. After suffering a knee injury in the season opener against the Chicago Bears, he was placed on injured reserve on September 11, 2025. He was later activated on December 23, ahead of the team’s Week 17 matchup against the Detroit Lions, allowing him to contribute down the stretch of the season.
New Orleans Saints Era (2026–Present)
On March 17, 2026, Chandler signed a one-year, $1.215 million contract with the New Orleans Saints, opening a new chapter in his professional career. The move gave him an opportunity to expand his role as a running back and kickoff returner within a new offensive system. His signing reflected the Saints’ interest in adding experienced depth and a proven special teams contributor to their backfield.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chandler is known for his balanced skill set as both a runner and a receiver, with the vision to find cutback lanes and the acceleration to break off explosive runs. His track-type versatility allows him to contribute effectively between the tackles and on perimeter plays, while his reliable hands out of the backfield add a dynamic layer to passing concepts. As a kickoff returner, his field awareness and quick decision-making have made him a valuable special teams asset.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Chandler’s most memorable career moments are his first NFL touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in 2023 and his career-high 132-yard rushing performance against the Cincinnati Bengals later that same season. He also made Tennessee Volunteers history in 2018 as the first running back in program history to record a receiving touchdown in three consecutive games. His four-touchdown performance against Wake Forest during his North Carolina season stands as one of the most explosive single-game efforts of his college career.
Ty Chandler Career Wins
While Chandler’s professional résumé is still developing, his most notable victories include his first NFL start and rushing touchdown in 2023, which marked the breakthrough of his Vikings tenure. His college career featured landmark performances, including multiple multi-touchdown games against Power Five opponents during his North Carolina campaign in 2021.
NFL Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Chandler has appeared in multiple NFL games across his Vikings tenure, with his 2023 season serving as his most productive year statistically. He recorded 461 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns that year, demonstrating his ability to handle an increased workload. As of the 2025 season, his career NFL statistics include 710 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns, 30 receptions for 212 receiving yards, and 386 return yards.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Chandler earned back-to-back Tennessee Mr. Football honors, capping a distinguished prep career at Montgomery Bell Academy. His four-touchdown performance against Wake Forest in 2021 and his 198-yard rushing effort against Virginia that same season highlighted his ability to dominate against top-tier competition during his lone North Carolina season.
Ty Chandler Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Chandler grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, where he developed his football foundation before reaching the professional ranks. His background in the city’s competitive high school football scene helped shape his work ethic and skill set from an early age.
Personal Life
Chandler continues to build his professional football career, currently playing as a running back and kickoff returner in the NFL. Public details about his immediate family and personal relationships are limited beyond his Nashville roots and strong connection to his hometown community.
2025 Season Performance
Ty Chandler entered the 2025 season as Minnesota’s third-string running back behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, a depth-chart position that offered limited early-season touches. His campaign was quickly interrupted by a knee injury suffered in the season opener against the Chicago Bears, which placed him on injured reserve on September 11, 2025.
After a lengthy recovery, Chandler was activated on December 23, just ahead of the team’s Week 17 matchup against the Detroit Lions. His return gave the Vikings additional backfield depth during the closing stretch of the regular season and allowed him to contribute as both a rusher and returner in the final weeks of the year.
Looking ahead, Chandler’s 2025 performance and his subsequent signing with the New Orleans Saints in March 2026 suggest a fresh opportunity to compete for a larger offensive role. His combination of experience, special teams value, and proven production in expanded opportunities positions him well to make an impact with his new team in the seasons ahead.
