Genard Avery Bio
Genard Avery (born April 26, 1995) is an American professional football defensive end currently playing in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Memphis Tigers, he was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. Over the course of his professional career, Avery has spent time with several organizations, including the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Indianapolis Colts.
Listed at 6 feet tall and around 250 pounds, Avery is recognized as a hard-working edge rusher who built his reputation on tackling, pursuit, and forcing turnovers. He remains active on social media and continues to pursue opportunities at the NFL level, most recently with the Indianapolis Colts.
Early Life and Background
Genard Avery was born on April 26, 1995, in Grenada, Mississippi, in the United States. He grew up in Grenada and attended Grenada High School, where he developed into a promising two-way athlete. During his prep years, he earned statewide recognition for his play on the football field, including selection to the Clarion-Ledger 2013 All-State Team and being named the Most Valuable Player of Mississippi 6A Region.
As a junior, Avery registered 111 tackles and six sacks while forcing five fumbles, which earned him Class 6A All-State honors. As a senior, he tallied 75 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles on defense, while also contributing on offense with 72 rushing yards and five offensive touchdowns. Beyond football, Avery was a Class 6A state champion powerlifter and a four-year letterwinner in track and field, which helped shape the strength and athleticism that would later define his NFL career.
Path to American Football
Avery attracted interest from college programs thanks to his combination of production, power, and athleticism. He was named to The Clarion-Ledger’s Targeted 22 list and played in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game, both of which highlighted his standing as one of the top high school prospects in the region.
He chose to continue his football career at the University of Memphis, where he joined the Memphis Tigers program. As a freshman, Avery had five tackles, but he steadily developed into one of the most disruptive defenders in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). His growth at Memphis prepared him for the next step in his football journey and ultimately led to his selection in the 2018 NFL draft.
Genard Avery Career
College Career at Memphis (2014–2017)
Avery played in 50 career games at Memphis, making 34 starts, including every game of his final two seasons. As a junior, he recorded 81 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. He followed that with 80 tackles and 22 tackles for loss as a senior, a Memphis single-season record at the time.
By the end of his college career, Avery had 232 career tackles, which ranked fifth all-time at Memphis, along with four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven passes defended, and two interceptions. His 45.5 career tackles for loss rank second in program history behind Tim Harris, while his 21.5 career sacks rank third behind Martin Ifedi and Tramont Lawless. He graduated from the University of Memphis in December 2017, completing his degree in Organizational Leadership in three and a half years, and earned First-team All-AAC honors in 2016 and 2017.
Cleveland Browns Era (2018–2019)
Avery was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round (150th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft. On May 13, 2018, he signed a rookie contract worth just under $2.7 million, including a signing bonus of $280,000. In the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Avery recorded one strip sack and four tackles in his NFL debut, signaling a strong start to his professional career.
He finished his rookie season with 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks while playing in every game and starting five of them. During his second year, however, Avery fell out of favor under the new defensive scheme of Steve Wilks. Through the first seven games of 2019, he was active for only two contests and was on the field for just five snaps, eventually leading to his departure from Cleveland.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2019–2021)
On October 28, 2019, one day before the NFL trade deadline, the Cleveland Browns traded Avery to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. In his Eagles debut in Week 9, he recorded two tackles and half a sack during a 22-14 win against the Chicago Bears. He remained active for the final seven games of the season but did not record additional statistics and was inactive for the Eagles’ Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks.
In Week 4 of the 2020 season, Avery recorded five quarterback hits and a sack during a 25-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He was later placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury on October 30, 2020, and activated on November 30, 2020, finishing that year with 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Entering the 2021 season, he was given a more prominent role as a starting outside linebacker. He recorded eight tackles against the Carolina Panthers in a 21-18 win, the most tackles he had ever recorded in a single game up to that point, and finished the season with 43 tackles and one sack across 16 games and 12 starts.
Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2022)
On March 28, 2022, Avery signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was released on August 23, 2022, before the start of the regular season. Two days later, on August 25, 2022, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before being released and quickly signed to the practice squad.
Avery was promoted to the Tampa Bay active roster on October 11, 2022. On December 23, however, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering an abdomen injury in Week 14, cutting his Buccaneers campaign short.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2023–Present)
On June 1, 2023, Avery signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He was placed on injured reserve on August 18, 2023, before being re-signed by the team on March 13, 2024. He was later released on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad before being elevated to the active roster on September 17, 2024. Avery was waived on November 23, 2024.
Driving Style and Strengths
Throughout his career, Genard Avery has been recognized for his relentless pursuit, strong tackling form, and ability to force turnovers at the line of scrimmage. His track and field and powerlifting background at Grenada High School helped develop the lower-body strength and explosiveness that became hallmarks of his game, particularly evident in his work as a run defender and edge rusher.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Avery’s most memorable career moments are his strip-sack in his NFL debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018, his standout performance against the Carolina Panthers in 2021, and his record-setting 22 tackles for loss in his senior season at Memphis. Each of these milestones underscored his ability to rise to big moments and contribute to team success.
Genard Avery Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Genard Avery’s immediate family background is not widely publicized, though he grew up in Grenada, Mississippi, where he developed his athletic foundation. His cousin, C. J. Avery, has also been associated with football, reflecting a family connection to the sport.
Personal Life
Outside of football, Avery keeps much of his personal life private. He has built a public presence through social media platforms, including his verified accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. He remains focused on his professional football career and continued development as an NFL defensive end.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Genard Avery is expected to pursue opportunities to rejoin an active roster after being waived by the Indianapolis Colts in late November 2024. With experience across multiple defensive schemes and a history of contributing as both a rotational player and starter, he remains a viable depth option for teams seeking edge-rushing help.
Avery’s 2025 outlook depends heavily on his recovery from past injuries, particularly the abdomen injury that ended his 2022 campaign. If healthy, his track record of producing tackles, sacks, and forced fumbles could position him as a reliable rotational defensive end or outside linebacker for an NFL team.
Teams evaluating Avery in 2025 will note his versatility as both a 4-3 defensive end and a 3-4 outside linebacker, as well as his leadership qualities and durability over multiple NFL seasons. His next opportunity will likely hinge on his performance in offseason workouts, training camps, and any preseason appearances that follow.