Josiah Deguara Bio
Josiah Daniel Deguara (born February 14, 1997) is an American professional football tight end and fullback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 240 pounds, Deguara has built a career as a versatile blocking and receiving option at the tight end position.
Across his professional tenure, Deguara has been valued for his run blocking, special teams contributions, and reliable hands out of the backfield. He has appeared in regular season and postseason games for multiple franchises, earning a reputation as a dependable depth player and locker room presence.
Early Life and Background
Josiah Daniel Deguara was born on February 14, 1997, in Santa Rosa, California, USA. He grew up in the Folsom area and attended Folsom High School, where he played football and developed the hybrid tight end and fullback skill set that would later define his college recruitment.
Coming out of high school, Deguara was listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and a two-star recruit by 247Sports Composite. He chose to continue his football career at the University of Cincinnati over a scholarship offer from the Air Force Academy, a decision that positioned him in an offensive scheme well suited to his dual-threat skill set.
Path to American Football
Deguara’s path to the NFL began in the American Athletic Conference, where the University of Cincinnati featured a pass-heavy offense that allowed him to showcase his receiving ability from the tight end position. Across his collegiate career at Cincinnati, Deguara gained 1,117 yards on 92 receptions, demonstrating the route running and reliable hands that made him an attractive pro prospect.
He produced 13 touchdowns combined across his junior and senior seasons, including a Second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2018 followed by a First-team All-American Athletic Conference honor in 2019. His steady production in a competitive Group of Five conference helped him earn an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, where his testing numbers confirmed the athletic ceiling he had displayed throughout college.
Josiah Deguara Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
The Green Bay Packers selected Deguara in the third round with the 94th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft. He signed his rookie contract on July 24, 2020, and made his professional debut on September 13, 2020, during a Week 1 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, recording one catch for 12 yards.
His rookie season was cut short when he suffered a torn ACL in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve on October 13, 2020. Deguara returned healthy in 2021 and scored his first NFL touchdown on a 25-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a 34–31 loss to the Vikings on November 21, 2021, an early signature moment of his young career.
Green Bay Packers Era (2020–2023)
After his rookie injury and a strong bounce-back campaign in 2021, Deguara continued to develop within the Packers’ offensive system. He served primarily as a blocking tight end and fullback hybrid, contributing on special teams while refining his route tree and pass catching responsibilities.
Throughout his time in Green Bay, Deguara became a trusted rotational piece, valued for his football intelligence, willingness to do the dirty work in the run game, and dependable hands in short-yardage situations. His tenure with the Packers ended after the 2023 season, closing a productive four-year stretch that began with his third-round selection.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2024)
On March 28, 2024, Deguara signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent. He was released on August 27 during final roster cuts and quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad, reflecting the organization’s continued interest in his special teams value.
Deguara was elevated to the Jaguars’ active roster on September 23 for a game against the Buffalo Bills, then signed to the active roster the following week. In 2024 he played in 15 games with the Jaguars, recording 3 receptions for 14 yards while contributing 87 offensive snaps and 243 special teams snaps, a workload that underscored his role as a core special teams contributor.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2025–Present)
On May 5, 2025, Deguara signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year contract extending through the 2026 league year. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the following day, a familiar path for veterans who return to contribute on game day.
On October 15, 2025, Deguara was signed to the Cardinals’ active roster, expanding his role within the offense. He was released on November 4 and re-signed with the Cardinals the following day, continuing his pattern of steady employment and special teams reliability in the desert.
Driving Style and Strengths
While tight ends and fullbacks are not drivers in the traditional sense, Deguara plays with the physicality and intelligence of a lead blocker who thrives in short-yardage and goal line situations. His strengths include in-line blocking, special teams tackling, and crisp route running in the flats and underneath zones.
Notable Events and Milestones
Deguara’s most celebrated moment came on November 21, 2021, when he caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers against the Minnesota Vikings, his first career NFL score. His selection in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft also stands as a defining milestone, validating a college career that began as a lightly ranked recruit from Folsom, California.
Josiah Deguara Career Wins
Across his professional career, Josiah Deguara has appeared in regular season games for the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Arizona Cardinals, contributing as both a tight end and a fullback. While his primary statistical value comes from blocking and special teams, he has produced receptions, touchdowns, and game-winning blocking efforts that have supported team victories.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
Deguara’s first NFL win came in his debut on September 13, 2020, against the Minnesota Vikings. He later scored his first NFL touchdown in 2021 on a 25-yard reception from Aaron Rodgers, an individual milestone that arrived within a competitive NFC North rivalry game.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his Packers tenure, Deguara played in 15 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024, a workload that reflected consistent special teams value and steady availability. He has also been active in practice squad elevations, a behind-the-scenes performance metric that frequently translates to on-field production for tight end and fullback hybrids.
Josiah Deguara Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed public information about Josiah Deguara’s parents and broader family background is not widely documented in verified sources. What is known is that he grew up in the Folsom, California area and attended Folsom High School, a program that has produced numerous collegiate athletes across multiple sports.
Personal Life
While enrolled at the University of Cincinnati, Deguara interned in the operations department of FC Cincinnati, the city’s Major League Soccer franchise, an experience that reflected his interest in sports beyond football. His personal life outside of football, including marital status, has not been publicly confirmed in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Deguara entered the 2025 NFL season with the Arizona Cardinals after signing a one-year contract in May, providing the team with a veteran presence at tight end and fullback. The early portion of his Cardinals tenure included a familiar pattern of practice squad movement, with a waiver, re-signing, and eventual promotion to the active roster on October 15, 2025.
His midseason release on November 4 and quick re-signing the following day reinforced his value as a flexible roster piece capable of contributing on special teams and in offensive subpackages. With the Cardinals navigating their conference schedule, Deguara’s blocking reliability and special teams tackling remain central to his role.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the 2025 season, Deguara’s path back to the active roster suggests the Cardinals view him as a dependable depth contributor. His experience across multiple offenses and proven special teams production position him well for continued opportunities as the season progresses.