Devin Singletary Bio
Devin Singletary, nicknamed “Motor,” is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). Born on September 3, 1997, in Deerfield Beach, Florida, he rose to national attention as a college star at Florida Atlantic University before being selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. Across his professional career, he has also spent time with the Houston Texans and remains a respected dual-threat back in the league.
Early Life and Background
Devin Singletary was born and raised in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and attended American Heritage School in nearby Delray Beach. He became a three-star recruit during his high school years and amassed 4,975 rushing yards across his prep career, earning two First-Team All-State selections along the way. His performances drew the attention of several college programs, and he ultimately committed to Florida Atlantic University to remain in his home state.
The childhood nickname “Motor” stuck with him throughout his high school career. The name was shared with his father, Jebedial-Danielson Singletary, as well as his uncle, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, giving the young running back a family-rooted identity that followed him onto the football field.
Path to Professional Football
Singletary enrolled at Florida Atlantic University in 2016 and made an immediate impact as a freshman, rushing for 1,021 yards on 152 carries with 12 touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per carry. The following season, he elevated his game to one of the best in college football, posting standout performances of 244 yards against Western Kentucky and 203 yards against Marshall.
During the 2017 regular season, Singletary led all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players with 162 points scored and ranked fourth nationally with 1,632 rushing yards. He also set the Florida Atlantic single-season record for rushing yardage. In the Conference USA championship game against North Texas on December 2, 2017, he added 164 yards and three touchdowns, then scored three more in the Boca Raton Bowl against Akron to finish the year with 33 total touchdowns. His efforts earned him Conference USA Most Valuable Player honors, third-team All-American recognition from the Associated Press, and a semifinalist nod for the Doak Walker Award.
Devin Singletary Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Devin Singletary was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 74th overall pick in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. He joined a backfield that included veterans LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, and T. J. Yeldon, but quickly earned a prominent role after McCoy was released during final preseason cuts. On September 8, 2019, he made his professional debut against the New York Jets, recording 70 rushing yards on four carries and adding five receptions for 28 yards in a 17–16 win. He scored his first NFL rushing touchdown one week later against the New York Giants before a hamstring injury briefly slowed his rookie campaign.
In 2020, with Frank Gore departed in free agency, the Bills drafted Zack Moss to complement Singletary’s elusive running style. Singletary split carries with Moss but still finished as Buffalo’s top rusher, gaining 687 yards and two touchdowns on 156 carries while also catching 38 passes for 269 yards. His fumble total dropped to just one compared to four during his rookie season, demonstrating improved ball security.
Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2019–2022)
Singletary opened his sophomore NFL season with a 46-yard rushing touchdown against the Miami Dolphins that reached a top speed of 20.29 miles per hour according to NFL NextGen Stats. Although he shared work with Moss and Matt Breida early on, he became the primary halfback down the stretch, recording at least 78 scrimmage yards against Tampa Bay, Carolina, New England, Atlanta, and the New York Jets in the closing weeks. His 23 carries against Atlanta produced 110 yards and two touchdowns, both career highs in a single game. He closed the 2021 regular season with 188 carries for 870 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
In the playoffs, Singletary scored two rushing touchdowns in a 47–17 Wild Card win over the New England Patriots and opened the Divisional Round scoring against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 42–36 overtime loss. The following season, despite a crowded backfield that included rookie James Cook, Singletary remained the lead back. He scored his first touchdown of 2022 on a pass from Josh Allen against Miami and posted 106 yards and a score against the Chicago Bears in Week 16. Across his four seasons in Buffalo, he developed into one of the team’s most reliable offensive weapons.
Houston Texans Era (2023)
On March 21, 2023, Devin Singletary signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans. He began the season as the No. 2 back behind Dameon Pierce and even contributed through the air with a touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz in a Week 4 trick play against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After Pierce went down with an injury, Singletary took over as the starter and delivered a career-high 150 rushing yards with a touchdown in a 30–27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
New York Giants Era (2024–Present)
On March 14, 2024, Singletary signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract with the New York Giants. He entered the season as the lead back but missed time during Week 5 due to injury, which opened the door for rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. to eventually take over as starter under head coach Brian Daboll. He finished the 2024 season with 113 carries for 437 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, along with 21 receptions for 119 receiving yards.
Driving Style and Strengths
Singletary is widely regarded as an elusive, vision-oriented back who excels at finding creases and accelerating through open lanes. His top-end speed was clocked at over 20 miles per hour on a 2021 scoring run, and he pairs that burst with reliable hands as a pass catcher out of the backfield.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Singletary’s career-high 150-yard rushing performance against Cincinnati in 2023 stands out, along with his 2017 FBS-leading 33-touchdown season at Florida Atlantic. He also contributed two rushing touchdowns in a 47–17 playoff victory over New England in January 2022.
Devin Singletary Career Wins
While Devin Singletary has not been featured prominently in individual award lists at the NFL level, his career has been defined by consistent production across multiple teams. His 2017 college campaign earned him Conference USA Most Valuable Player and All-American recognition, and his 2023 AFC Offensive Player of the Week award highlighted his impact with the Texans.
Buffalo Bills Highlights
Across four seasons in Buffalo, Singletary served as the team’s leading rusher in 2020 and as the primary halfback during the back half of 2021. He rushed for 775 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in 2019, then added 687 rushing yards in 2020, 870 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2021, and 819 rushing yards with five scores in 2022. He also contributed multiple touchdowns in the 2021 postseason, including two against the Patriots in the Wild Card round.
Other Wins & Performances
With Houston in 2023, Singletary finished with 216 carries for 898 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, plus 30 receptions for 193 yards. He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week after his Week 10 outburst against the Bengals, reinforcing his value as a feature back.
Devin Singletary Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Devin Singletary comes from a football family. His nickname “Motor” was shared with his father, Jebedial-Danielson Singletary, and his uncle, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, giving him a strong athletic heritage. That family connection to the sport helped shape his early love for the game.
Personal Life
Public information regarding Devin Singletary’s personal life remains limited. He is known by the nickname “Motor,” which has become a recognizable part of his public identity both on and off the field.
2025 Season Performance
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Devin Singletary will be entering the second year of his three-year, $16.5 million contract with the New York Giants. After splitting work with rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. in 2024, his role in the backfield will be a key storyline to watch during training camp and the preseason. The Giants’ offensive outlook under head coach Brian Daboll will play a major role in determining how often Singletary sees the field.
With the contract running through 2027, Singletary has an opportunity to re-establish himself as a featured back and contribute to a developing offense. His experience and pass-catching ability give the Giants flexibility in how they deploy him alongside Tracy and other playmakers.
Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see whether Singletary can return to the kind of production he showed during his 2023 campaign with the Texans. A strong start in 2025 would solidify his place in the team’s long-term plans and reinforce his reputation as one of the more reliable dual-threat backs in the league.