Chris Rowland facts for kids
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Rowland in 2025
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| No. 12 – DC Defenders | |||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | December 19, 1997 Nolensville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Weight: | 170 lb (77 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tennessee) |
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| College: | Tennessee State (2016–2019) | ||
| Undrafted: | 2020 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Chris Rowland was born on December 19, 1997. He is an American football player who plays as a wide receiver for the DC Defenders in the UFL. Before joining the UFL, Chris played college football for the Tennessee State Tigers. He also played for teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and Philadelphia Stars.
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Early Life and High School Football
Chris Rowland went to Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee. While playing for Ravenwood, he mostly played as a running back. After finishing high school in 2016, he decided to play college football at Tennessee State University.
College Football Career
Chris Rowland played college football for the Tennessee State Tigers from 2016 to 2019.
Amazing Achievements in College
In the 2019 college football season, Chris Rowland was the only player in Division I to score a touchdown in four different ways:
- From a kick return
- From a punt return
- By catching the ball (reception)
- By running with the ball (rush)
He also broke a record for the most catches in a single season at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). This record was previously held by the famous player Jerry Rice. Because of his great performance, he was named a first-team all-conference player as both a receiver and a kick returner. He also received the Deacon Jones Trophy, which is given to the best player at an HBCU.
College Statistics Overview
Chris Rowland had a very successful college career. Here's a quick look at his stats:
- 2016: He played in 11 games, catching 16 passes for 236 yards. He also returned kicks and punts.
- 2017: He played in 10 games, catching 17 passes for 178 yards and scoring 1 touchdown.
- 2018: He played in 8 games, catching 57 passes for 727 yards and scoring 5 touchdowns. He also scored a touchdown from a punt return.
- 2019: This was his best year. He played in 12 games, catching 104 passes for 1,437 yards and scoring 8 touchdowns. He also scored touchdowns from a rush, a kick return, and a punt return.
Overall, in his college career, Chris played in 41 games, caught 194 passes for 2,578 yards, and scored 14 receiving touchdowns. He also had 1 rushing touchdown, 1 kick return touchdown, and 1 punt return touchdown.
Professional Football Journey
After college, Chris Rowland began his professional football career.
Time with the Atlanta Falcons
After the 2020 NFL draft, Chris Rowland signed with the Atlanta Falcons on April 27, 2020. He was first part of their practice squad. He was called up to play in two games during the 2020 season. In August 2021, he left the Falcons.
Brief Stint with the Tennessee Titans
On November 10, 2021, Chris Rowland joined the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans. He was with the team for a short time before being released on November 23.
Playing for the Philadelphia Stars
In March 2022, Chris Rowland was chosen by the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL draft. He played for the Stars in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The Stars team later stopped playing after the USFL merged with another league called the XFL.
Joining the DC Defenders
On January 15, 2024, Chris Rowland was picked by the DC Defenders in a special draft for the new UFL. He quickly became an important player for the team.
In June 2024, he was named to the All-UFL team, which means he was one of the best players in the league. He signed again with the Defenders in October 2024. In June 2025, Chris was again named to the All-UFL team, this time as both a receiver and a return specialist. He also helped the DC Defenders win the UFL championship in 2025!
Career Statistics Highlights
Chris Rowland has shown his skills in both the NFL and the UFL.
NFL Regular Season Stats
In the NFL, Chris played in 2 games for the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. He had 2 kick returns for a total of 53 yards.
USFL and UFL Career Stats
Chris Rowland has played many games in the USFL and UFL. Here are some of his key stats:
- 2022 (Philadelphia Stars, USFL): He played in 9 games, catching 21 passes for 215 yards and 1 touchdown. He also had 4 kick returns for 114 yards.
- 2023 (Philadelphia Stars, USFL): He played in 3 games, catching 9 passes for 83 yards and 1 touchdown. He also had 13 kick returns for 322 yards.
- 2024 (DC Defenders, UFL): He played in all 10 games, catching 20 passes for 262 yards and 3 touchdowns. He led the league in kick returns with 45 returns for 1,223 yards, including one touchdown. He also had 12 punt returns for 142 yards.
- 2025 (DC Defenders, UFL): He played in all 10 games, catching 42 passes for 522 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had 18 kick returns for 393 yards and 11 punt returns for 114 yards. The Defenders won the UFL championship this year.
Overall, in his USFL and UFL career, Chris has played in 32 regular season games. He has caught 92 passes for 1,082 yards and 8 touchdowns. He has also returned 80 kicks for 2,052 yards and 1 touchdown, and 23 punts for 256 yards.
USFL and UFL Playoff Stats
Chris Rowland has also played in playoff games:
- 2022 (Philadelphia Stars, USFL): He played in 2 playoff games, catching 5 passes for 98 yards and 1 touchdown. He also had 2 kick returns for 59 yards.
- 2025 (DC Defenders, UFL): He played in 2 playoff games, catching 10 passes for 87 yards and rushing for 1 touchdown.
