Brandon Codrington Bio
Brandon Codrington (born November 17, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback and return specialist for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Central Eagles and signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL draft. A dynamic returner with a knack for game-changing plays, Codrington has built his early professional reputation on speed, field vision, and reliable hands in the special teams phase of the game.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Codrington was born on November 17, 2000, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He grew up in the same city and attended Broughton High School, where he was used on the football team as a return specialist. As a senior, Codrington totaled 320 kickoff return yards, offering an early glimpse of the field-flipping ability that would later define his career.
Coming out of high school, Codrington was lightly recruited, and his path to college football was not secured through major scholarship offers. Several family members had previously attended North Carolina Central University, which created a natural connection and eventually opened the door for him to walk on to the program. That family tie, combined with his high school production as a returner, helped shape the foundation for his future in the sport.
Path to American Football
Codrington’s transition from high school returner to college contributor began when he walked on at North Carolina Central University in 2019. In his first year with the football team, he was mainly used as a return specialist, averaging 18.8 yards per kickoff return and 7.8 yards per punt return. He earned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Specialist of the Week honors after returning a kickoff 75 yards for the game-winning touchdown against Delaware State, finishing the season ranked third in the conference in punt return average and earning third-team All-MEAC recognition.
After the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Codrington returned in 2021 and opened the year with a game-sealing 77-yard punt return touchdown against Alcorn State. That season he was the third-leading punt returner at the NCAA Division I FCS level, averaging 15.0 yards, which also led the MEAC. He also averaged 22.5 yards per kick return, ranked second in the MEAC, and recorded 43 tackles with four pass breakups on defense.
Following his breakthrough junior year, Codrington continued to produce, earning third-team All-MEAC recognition as a return specialist in 2022. In his senior season of 2023, he averaged 19.6 yards per punt return and 17.9 yards per kick return, scoring two punt return touchdowns. He closed his collegiate career having started 41 games, accumulating 93 tackles and 10 pass breakups on defense along with 2,148 return yards and four return touchdowns across 130 total returns.
Brandon Codrington Career
Early Career (2024)
On May 6, 2024, Codrington signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. Although he did not secure a roster spot, he impressed as a returner during the preseason, recording a 63-yard kick return and a 31-yard punt return. The performance was enough to draw attention around the league and ultimately led to another opportunity shortly after the preseason concluded.
His first professional chapter, though brief, validated the projection that followed him out of college. The Jets used the preseason to evaluate return specialists, and Codrington’s combination of burst and ball-tracking skills translated quickly to the professional level. That audition set the stage for a quick transition to his next team.
Buffalo Bills Era (2024–Present)
On August 27, 2024, Codrington was traded to the Buffalo Bills. With the Bills, he carved out a clear role on special teams, logging 619 total return yards on 38 attempts during his debut season. His impact on the coverage and return units was recognized league-wide, and he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team for the 2024 season.
Codrington’s work as a returner helped the Bills field one of the more active special teams units in the league. His average per touch and consistency gave Buffalo a reliable option on kickoffs and punts, and his cornerback background offered positional flexibility. The rookie honor marked a strong opening statement to his professional career.
On November 15, 2025, Codrington was released by the Bills and re-signed to the practice squad three days later. The brief transition reflected the constant roster movement that defines special teams roles at the NFL level, and Codrington returned to the organization in short order.
Notable Events and Milestones
Codrington’s signature early highlight was his rookie season with the Bills, in which he logged 619 total return yards on 38 attempts and earned a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. That recognition stood as a clear milestone for an undrafted player who had walked on to his college team just five years earlier.
Brandon Codrington Career Wins
Brandon Codrington’s professional and collegiate résumé is defined more by impact plays and statistical production than by traditional win totals, given his specialist role. Across his time at North Carolina Central and his rookie NFL season with the Buffalo Bills, he consistently delivered game-changing returns and earned league-wide recognition, including a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection in 2024.
Buffalo Bills Highlights
In his rookie campaign of 2024, Codrington logged 619 total return yards on 38 attempts and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. The production helped establish him as a core special teams contributor and offered a strong foundation for the seasons ahead.
Other Wins & Performances
At North Carolina Central, Codrington was a multi-time All-MEAC selection, including first-team All-MEAC honors as a punt returner in 2021 and third-team All-MEAC nods in 2019 and 2022. He was also selected to the BOXTOROW HBCU All-America team as a punt returner and was a repeat MEAC Specialist of the Week during his college career.
Brandon Codrington Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Codrington’s path to college football was shaped in part by family. Several of his family members had attended North Carolina Central University before him, and that connection helped him walk on to the program in 2019 as a lightly recruited prospect from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Personal Life
Codrington was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. He stands 175 centimeters tall and plays at a listed playing weight of 84 kilograms, the physical profile of a compact, athletic cornerback and returner.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season for Brandon Codrington has been defined by movement between the active roster and the practice squad. After contributing 619 total return yards on 38 attempts as a rookie in 2024 and earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors, Codrington entered the 2025 season looking to build on that strong first impression with the Buffalo Bills.
On November 15, 2025, Codrington was released by the Bills as part of the ongoing roster management common at his position. Three days later, on November 18, 2025, he was re-signed to the practice squad, returning to the organization in a developmental capacity. The quick turnaround reflected the team’s continued interest in his special teams value.
Looking ahead, Codrington’s outlook remains tied to special teams opportunities, where his return ability and cornerback background give Buffalo a flexible piece to develop. With a proven rookie résumé and the trust of the coaching staff, he remains positioned to compete for an expanded role on game day in the seasons to come.