Devin Duvernay Bio
Devin Duvernay (born September 12, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. Duvernay has earned Pro Bowl honors twice and was named First-team All-Pro in 2021 for his work as a return specialist, and he has also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing around 203 pounds, he is widely recognized for his speed, field vision, and reliability in the return game.
Early Life and Background
Devin Duvernay was born on September 12, 1997, in Sachse, Texas, in the United States. He grew up in the same community where he would later become a high school football standout, attending Sachse High School in Sachse, Texas. During his high school career, he built a strong reputation as a receiver and returner, recording 170 receptions for 2,906 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also set the school record for longest kickoff return touchdown with a 109-yard return accomplished as a sophomore.
His performances at Sachse earned him an invitation to the 2016 Under Armour All-America Game, one of the most prominent high school all-star showcases in the country. Although Duvernay originally committed to Baylor University to play college football, he ultimately switched his pledge to the University of Texas at Austin. This decision set the course for his development into one of the Big 12 Conference’s most productive offensive players.
Path to American Football
Duvernay’s path to professional football began with a steady rise through the Texas Longhorns program. As a true freshman in 2016, he played in all 12 games with two starts, finishing with 20 receptions for 412 yards and three touchdowns. His role expanded each season, and by his sophomore year in 2017, he had appeared in all 13 games while contributing nine receptions for 124 yards.
As a junior in 2018, Duvernay started all 14 games and posted 41 receptions for 546 yards and four touchdowns, showing the consistency that NFL scouts look for in a possession receiver. He returned for his senior season in 2019 as the Longhorns’ number one receiver and exploded statistically, compiling 106 receptions for 1,386 yards and nine touchdowns. That senior campaign earned him First-team All-Big 12 honors and positioned him as a top prospect for the 2020 NFL draft.
Devin Duvernay Career
Early Career (2020)
Devin Duvernay was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round with the 92nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns, recording a 12-yard reception in a 38–6 victory. In Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he delivered an early signature moment, taking a kickoff 93 yards for his first career touchdown, although the Ravens lost 20–34.
Throughout his rookie season, Duvernay contributed on offense and special teams. In Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals, he added a 42-yard rush on a jet sweep to go with two catches for 17 yards in a 27–3 win. He finished the year with a season-high three catches for 45 yards in a Week 10 loss to the New England Patriots, establishing himself as a versatile piece of the Ravens’ game plan.
Baltimore Ravens Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Duvernay took on a larger role at the start of the 2021 season after injuries to receivers Miles Boykin and Rashod Bateman. In Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he recovered a fumble by teammate Ty’Son Williams at the Kansas City two-yard line and scored a touchdown in a 36–35 win. The following week against the Detroit Lions, he caught his first career receiving touchdown on a 19-yard reception in a 19–17 victory. He added a second receiving touchdown on a one-handed five-yard grab in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings, helping the Ravens win 34–31 in overtime. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl as a return specialist at season’s end and earned First-team All-Pro honors.
The trade of Marquise Brown during the 2022 offseason moved Duvernay into a full-time starting role alongside Rashod Bateman. In the Week 1 win over the New York Jets, he recorded his first multi-touchdown game with four receptions for 54 yards and two scores. Against the Miami Dolphins the following week, he opened the game with a 103-yard kickoff return touchdown while adding two receptions for 42 yards. A severe foot injury during practice led to a stint on injured reserve beginning December 20, 2022. He finished the year with career highs of 49 catches for 407 yards and three touchdowns and was named to his second Pro Bowl as a return specialist.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2023–2024)
After the 2022 season, roster moves in Baltimore, including the signings of Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor, the drafting of Zay Flowers, and the return of Rashod Bateman, shifted Duvernay back into a return specialist role. He suffered a back injury in Week 14 of the 2023 season and was placed on injured reserve before being activated on January 10, 2024.
On March 13, 2024, Duvernay signed a two-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, beginning a new chapter in his career. He spent one season in Jacksonville before being released by the team on March 12, 2025.
Chicago Bears Era (2025–Present)
On March 19, 2025, Duvernay signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears. He was released on August 27 as part of final roster cuts, then re-signed to the team’s active roster the following day. Duvernay served as the Bears’ primary kick returner during the 2025 season, providing a steady presence on special teams.
A highlight of his Chicago tenure came in Week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings. After Minnesota had scored the go-ahead touchdown with 50 seconds remaining, Duvernay returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to the opposing 40-yard line, setting up the Bears to kick the game-winning field goal.
Driving Style and Strengths
Duvernay’s game is built on speed, balance, and field awareness. He thrives in the return game, where his vision allows him to find creases and his acceleration turns short fields into scoring opportunities. As a receiver, he is a reliable underneath target who can turn jet sweeps and manufactured touches into chunk plays, complementing the offensive concepts used by his coaching staffs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career milestones, Duvernay owns a 103-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Miami Dolphins and a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection as a return specialist and a First-team All-Pro from 2021, honors that underline his standing as one of the league’s top special teams performers during his peak years.
Devin Duvernay Career Wins
Devin Duvernay’s most celebrated individual wins are his two Pro Bowl selections in 2021 and 2022 and his First-team All-Pro selection in 2021. He has also been recognized as First-team All-Big 12 following his 2019 senior season at the University of Texas at Austin, marking him as one of the conference’s premier pass catchers before entering the NFL.
NFL Highlights
Duvernay’s first NFL win came in his debut against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 of the 2020 season. His most recent memorable victory contribution arrived in 2025, when his 56-yard kickoff return against the Minnesota Vikings set up the game-winning field goal for the Chicago Bears. Across his time with the Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago Bears, he has remained a steady special teams contributor in close finishes.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond league honors, Duvernay was a key piece of multiple winning seasons for the Baltimore Ravens and contributed to the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2024 campaign. His college résumé at Texas, including a 1,386-yard senior season, ranks among the strongest individual performances in the program’s recent history.
Devin Duvernay Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Football runs deep in Devin Duvernay’s family. He is the cousin of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, a relationship that places him within one of the most talented football families in the country. Duvernay also has a twin brother named Donovan, who played college football for the Texas Longhorns as a defensive back before transferring to Northwestern State University for his senior season.
Personal Life
Devin Duvernay grew up in Sachse, Texas, and continues to be identified closely with that community. His twin brother Donovan’s football journey has paralleled his own, reflecting a household that values athletics and competition at the highest level.
2025 Season Performance
Devin Duvernay’s 2025 season with the Chicago Bears centered on his role as the team’s primary kick returner. After signing a one-year contract in March and rejoining the active roster in late August, he quickly established himself as a key special teams weapon. His most decisive contribution came in Week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings, when his 56-yard kickoff return in the closing seconds set up the game-winning field goal.
Throughout the year, Duvernay provided consistent field-flipping plays and served as a veteran presence in the locker room. His chemistry with the Bears’ special teams coordinators helped shape the team’s late-game strategy in tight contests.
Looking ahead, Duvernay remains under contract with the Bears through the end of the 2025 season, giving him a clear runway to continue contributing on special teams and to compete for a larger offensive role. His track record of big returns and reliable hands suggests he will remain a factor in the Bears’ plans as the season develops.