John Ridgeway Bio
John Robert Ridgeway III (born May 7, 1999) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing around 321 pounds, he plays on the interior of the defensive line. He played college football for the Illinois State Redbirds and Arkansas Razorbacks and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. Ridgeway has also spent time with the Washington Commanders during his professional career.
Early Life and Background
John Robert Ridgeway III was born on May 7, 1999, in Bloomington, Illinois, in the United States. He grew up in Bloomington and attended Bloomington High School, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete. At Bloomington, he played offensive tackle and defensive tackle on the football team, competed in the shot put and discus on the track and field team, and was a four-year letter winner on the wrestling team.
As a senior at Bloomington High School, Ridgeway earned first-team All-Big Twelve Conference honors on offense and first-team All-State recognition on defense. He also won the state heavyweight wrestling championship, an accomplishment that highlighted his combination of size, strength, and athleticism. Those high school achievements helped establish him as a college recruit with the potential to play along the defensive line.
Path to American Football
After high school, Ridgeway began his collegiate career at Illinois State, where he redshirted as a true freshman. During his redshirt season he focused on learning the defensive tackle position after initially being recruited to play on the offensive line. The move proved productive, as he was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) All-Newcomer team as a redshirt freshman after recording 30 tackles with one sack.
In his redshirt junior season, which was shortened and played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ridgeway posted 22 tackles with three tackles for loss and was named first-team All-MVFC. After that campaign he transferred to Arkansas, where he was named the Razorbacks’ starting nose guard going into the 2021 season. He missed the season opener due to an appendectomy but finished the year with 39 tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss. Arkansas finished 9–4, ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll, and won the 2022 Outback Bowl over Penn State before Ridgeway declared for the 2022 NFL draft.
John Ridgeway Career
Early Career (2022)
John Robert Ridgeway III was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round, 178th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft. His time in Dallas was brief, as he was waived on September 17, 2022. Two days later, on September 19, 2022, he was claimed off waivers by the Washington Commanders, where he quickly earned a role on the defensive line.
Washington Commanders Era (2022–2024)
With the Commanders, Ridgeway appeared in 15 games with four starts during the 2022 season, registering 24 tackles, one forced fumble and one pass defensed. He drew national attention in a Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings when a penalty for illegal contact on a Vikings field goal attempt helped Minnesota run out the clock. The following week he forced a fumble against tight end Dallas Goedert that was recovered by linebacker Jamin Davis, helping Washington upset the previously undefeated Philadelphia Eagles.
In 2023, Ridgeway appeared in all 17 games with two starts and posted a career-best 31 tackles, including 16 solo tackles, along with one pass defensed. He recorded a career-high six tackles in Week 7 against the New York Giants, showing steady growth as a rotational defensive tackle.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024–Present)
On August 28, 2024, the Commanders traded Ridgeway and a 2025 seventh-round draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a sixth-round pick. With the Saints in 2024, he appeared in 13 games and made 15 tackles, including one tackle for loss, along with one pass defensed. He was declared inactive for four contests and contributed on field goal and extra point block units, where he recorded a blocked kick against the Atlanta Falcons.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ridgeway brings the size and power expected of a nose tackle, using his frame to anchor against the run and occupy blockers. He has shown the ability to contribute on special teams, particularly as a kick blocker, while continuing to develop his pass-rush moves at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ridgeway’s career has been marked by steady advancement from a fifth-round draft pick to a multi-year NFL contributor. Highlights include his first-team All-MVFC recognition at Illinois State, helping Arkansas win the 2022 Outback Bowl, his forced fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, and a blocked kick against the Atlanta Falcons with the New Orleans Saints.
John Ridgeway Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about John Robert Ridgeway III’s parents and broader family background is limited. He has been described as having grown up in Bloomington, Illinois, where he developed his early athletic foundation before moving on to college football at Illinois State and Arkansas.
Personal Life
John Robert Ridgeway III is not publicly known to be married, and details about his spouse and children have not been widely reported. His professional focus since 2022 has been on establishing himself as a reliable defensive tackle in the National Football League.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, John Robert Ridgeway III is firmly in the mix for the New Orleans Saints along the interior defensive line. The trade that brought him to New Orleans in 2024 also included a 2025 seventh-round draft choice, signaling the Saints’ commitment to building depth at the position.
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