Chad Ryland Bio
Chad Michael Ryland is an American professional football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Born on October 15, 1999, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Ryland played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles and the Maryland Terrapins before entering the NFL. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, where he spent his rookie season before joining Arizona in 2024.
Known for his strong leg and calm execution in high-pressure moments, Ryland gained league-wide recognition during his rookie year for a memorable 56-yard game-winning kick against the Denver Broncos. After being released by New England in 2024, he quickly revitalized his career with the Arizona Cardinals, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors in October of that season.
Early Life and Background
Chad Michael Ryland was born on October 15, 1999, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the same community where he would later become a celebrated high school kicker. Ryland attended Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon, where he initially played only soccer and baseball, with no intention of joining the football team.
That changed during his junior year, when his father convinced him to try out for the football team as a placekicker. Ryland made the squad and quickly proved his talent, earning all-league and all-county selections at the position in both of his high school seasons. To sharpen his skills, he and his father often sneaked onto the school’s athletic field after hours, sometimes leaving briefly when asked but always returning so he could continue practicing.
Rising through the national kicking ranks, Ryland was rated a five-star kicker and the 24th-best high school kicker in the country by Kohl’s Kicking Camps. His dedication and family support during those formative years laid the foundation for his future collegiate and professional success.
Path to Professional Football
Coming out of Cedar Crest High School, Ryland joined Eastern Michigan University as a walk-on. He wasted little time making an impact, winning the starting placekicker job as a true freshman. In just his second college game, he delivered one of the most memorable moments of his early career, drilling a 24-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to upset heavily favored Purdue by a score of 20-19.
Although his accuracy dipped over the course of that freshman season, Ryland steadily improved each year at Eastern Michigan. He earned second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors after both the 2020 and 2021 seasons and set a school record with 104 points in 2021, connecting on 19 of 22 field goal attempts and all 47 of his point-after tries. By the time he departed Eastern Michigan, he had become the program’s all-time leading scorer with 309 career points.
Seeking a new challenge, Ryland transferred to the University of Maryland for his final collegiate season in 2022. Appearing in every game, he converted 19 of 23 field goal attempts, including a strong 3-for-6 mark from beyond 50 yards, and was named second-team All-Big Ten. His consistent production at both schools convinced NFL scouts that he had the leg strength and accuracy to compete at the next level.
Chad Ryland Career
New England Patriots Era (2023–2024)
The New England Patriots selected Chad Michael Ryland in the fourth round, 112th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft. The pick reflected the team’s belief in his strong leg and his four years of starting experience at the collegiate level. Ryland took over the kicking duties immediately and quickly experienced the highs and lows of professional football during his rookie campaign.
His defining moment came on Christmas Eve night in Week 16 against the Denver Broncos. After missing an earlier field goal and a point-after attempt, Ryland calmly drilled a career-long 56-yard field goal with two seconds remaining to give the Patriots a 26-23 victory. Despite that clutch performance, he finished the 2023 season having made just 16 of 25 field goal attempts (64 percent) and 24 of 25 extra points, with his field goal percentage ranking last in the NFL among qualified kickers.
Heading into the 2024 preseason, Ryland lost the starting kicking competition to veteran Joey Slye and was waived by New England as part of final roster cuts on August 27, 2024. The Patriots era ended after one season, but his standout Christmas Eve kick remained a highlight of his early professional resume.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2024–Present)
On October 2, 2024, Chad Michael Ryland was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. Just two weeks later, on October 15, he was promoted to the active roster following an injury to veteran kicker Matt Prater. The opportunity marked a turning point in his young career.
Ryland made an immediate impact in Arizona. During October 2024, he was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month after converting 8 of 9 field goal attempts, including three game-winning kicks. His reliability and accuracy helped stabilize the Cardinals’ kicking game during a critical stretch of the season.
In December 2024, Ryland’s versatility was on full display when he was asked to handle punting duties after punter Blake Gillikin was injured. His willingness to contribute in multiple special teams roles earned praise from the Arizona coaching staff and solidified his value to the organization heading into the next season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ryland’s most iconic professional moment remains his 56-yard game-winning field goal for the New England Patriots against the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve 2023. He also became Eastern Michigan’s all-time leading scorer with 309 career points and was recognized as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in October 2024 after drilling three game-winning kicks for the Arizona Cardinals.
Chad Ryland Career Highlights
Across his college and professional career, Chad Michael Ryland has established himself as a clutch kicker with a powerful leg. At Eastern Michigan, he set a single-season scoring record with 104 points in 2021 and became the program’s all-time leading scorer. In the NFL, his memorable 56-yard walk-off field goal for New England and his three game-winning kicks during his first month with Arizona stand out as signature performances.
Chad Ryland Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Chad Michael Ryland was raised in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, by a supportive family that played a central role in his athletic development. His father was especially influential, persuading him to try out for the Cedar Crest High School football team as a junior and regularly helping him train after school hours. That family-driven dedication helped shape Ryland’s work ethic and competitive mindset.
Ryland has kept much of his personal life private, focusing public attention on his professional career. As of the most recent information available, he is not publicly known to be married, and details about his relationships have not been widely reported. His strong family foundation continues to be a key part of his identity both on and off the field.
2025 Season Outlook
Entering the 2025 NFL season, Chad Michael Ryland is firmly established as the Arizona Cardinals’ primary placekicker following a strong finish to 2024. After earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors in October and handling additional punting duties in December, he enters the new season with growing confidence and a clearer role within Arizona’s special teams unit.
The Cardinals will look to build on the momentum Ryland created late in the 2024 campaign, particularly his accuracy from beyond 40 yards and his ability to deliver in clutch situations. With a full offseason to refine his mechanics and build chemistry with the Cardinals’ coaching staff and special teams coordinator, Ryland is expected to handle field goal, extra point, and potential kickoff duties throughout the year.
If Ryland can maintain the consistency he showed during his standout October stretch and continue to expand his range, he has a strong chance to solidify himself as one of the more reliable kickers in the NFC. The 2025 season represents an opportunity for him to put his early career challenges fully behind him and establish long-term stability with the Arizona Cardinals.