Kadarius Toney Bio
Kadarius Toney is an American professional football wide receiver born on January 27, 1999, in Mobile, Alabama. He played college football for the Florida Gators and was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. He has also played in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns, achieving notable success including winning two Super Bowls. Toney is known for his dynamic play styles and strong athletic performance.
Standing 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 194 pounds, Toney has built a reputation as a versatile playmaker capable of contributing as a receiver, runner, and returner. After being traded by the Giants to the Kansas City Chiefs midway through his second season, Toney helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII with his play on special teams, setting a record for the longest punt return in Super Bowl history in the 38–35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. However, due to off-field struggles the following year, he was released prior to the 2024 NFL season. Toney has since also played for the Cleveland Browns.
Early Life and Background
Kadarius Toney was born on January 27, 1999, in Mobile, Alabama. He grew up in the surrounding community and attended Blount High School in Eight Mile, Alabama, where he developed into a standout multi-sport athlete. As a dual-threat quarterback, Toney served as the team’s starter for the last two years of his high school football career, demonstrating the arm strength and running ability that would later define his professional profile.
During his junior season, Toney threw for 3,604 yards while rushing for 896 yards and accounting for 53 total touchdowns, including 37 passing and 16 rushing. His performance earned him an Alabama 6A second-team all-state selection and a spot on the AL.com Coastal Alabama first-team. As a senior, he threw for 2,984 yards while rushing for 894 yards and producing 47 total touchdowns, with 32 passing and 15 rushing. He was named Alabama 6A Back of the Year, made the 2016 AL.com Super All-State Team, was named Offensive MVP of the 2016 AL.com All-Coastal Alabama team, and played in the Alabama-Mississippi All Star Classic. Toney finished his high school career with a 20–5 record as a starter.
Path to American Football
Toney was a consensus three-star recruit as a versatile athlete coming out of Blount High School. He received scholarship offers from South Carolina, Georgia Tech, South Alabama, Alabama, and Florida, eventually choosing to play for the Florida Gators. The decision marked the beginning of a multi-year development process that would see him transition from a raw quarterback prospect into a polished college playmaker.
During his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons at the University of Florida, Toney served as a reserve player for the Gators at wide receiver, running back, wildcat quarterback, and on special teams. Although his role was limited early in his college career, his versatility and athleticism kept him involved in the game plan and allowed him to refine his craft across multiple positions.
As a senior in 2020, Toney’s production increased dramatically. He led the Gators’ potent offense with 70 receptions for 984 yards, averaging 14.1 yards per catch while scoring 10 touchdowns. In 11 starts he also contributed as a runner with 19 carries for 161 yards at 8.5 yards per carry and one touchdown, and as a returner with seven kick returns for 155 yards at a 22.1-yard average and 11 punt returns for 139 yards at a 12.6-yard average with one touchdown. The Associated Press voted him second-team All-America as an all-purpose player, while the SEC league coaches voted him first-team all-conference. Toney was also a finalist for the 2020 Paul Hornung Award, given to the most versatile player in college football.
Kadarius Toney Career
Early Career (2021)
Toney was selected by the New York Giants in the first round with the 20th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He signed a four-year contract worth $13.7 million on June 4, 2021, and was placed on the team’s COVID-19 reserve list at the start of training camp. He started slowly, recording only four receptions through the first three games of his rookie season.
In Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints, Toney recorded six catches for 78 yards in a 27–21 overtime win. In Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, Toney had the best performance of his young career, recording 10 catches for 189 yards and breaking Odell Beckham Jr.’s Giants receiving record for a rookie, though he was ejected for throwing a punch at Cowboys safety Damontae Kazee during the 44–20 loss. Toney missed four weeks of the season due to an oblique injury and was again placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on December 13, 2021. Despite appearing in only 10 games, Toney finished the season with the second-most receiving yards on the Giants with 420 yards on 39 receptions.
New York Giants (2021–2022)
Toney’s second season with the Giants was disrupted by injury from the start. He injured his hamstring in Week 2 of the 2022 season, causing him to miss five games for the team. Before being traded, he recorded only two receptions for zero yards, with one reception for two yards and another for minus two, and no touchdowns.
On October 27, 2022, Kadarius Toney was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a third-round pick, which was later traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for Darren Waller, and a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. The move ended a brief and injury-marred stint with the Giants that nonetheless featured flashes of his rare athletic upside.
Kansas City Chiefs (2022–2024)
In Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Toney scored his first NFL touchdown. In the 2022 season, Toney appeared in nine regular season games and recorded 16 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns. In Super Bowl LVII, Toney set a Super Bowl record by recording a 65-yard punt return in the fourth quarter, surpassing Jordan Norwood’s record of a 61-yard punt return in Super Bowl 50. Toney caught a fourth-quarter touchdown, the first of two successful Corn Dog plays, which helped put the Chiefs ahead for the first time all game. The Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35 to claim the championship.
In July 2023, Toney underwent knee surgery for a torn meniscus suffered during the first practice of training camp. He returned for the season opener against the Detroit Lions but had one reception for a single yard and one carry for minus one yard in the 21–20 loss, recording four drops including two crucial passes: the first bounced to Lions safety Brian Branch and went for a pick-six, while the second would have allowed the Chiefs to make room for a game-winning field goal. Toney acknowledged full blame after the game.
In Week 12, Toney missed his first game of the 2023 season with a hip and ankle injury designation. In a Week 14 game against the Buffalo Bills, Toney was called for an offside penalty late in the fourth quarter, negating a play in which Travis Kelce made a cross-field lateral to Toney for what would have been the go-ahead touchdown with 1:12 remaining, and the Chiefs lost 20–17. In a Week 15 matchup against the New England Patriots, Toney bobbled a pass that resulted in an interception during the fourth quarter, overshadowing the Chiefs’ 27–17 victory. Week 15 was the last game of the 2023 regular season Toney played for the Chiefs, missing weeks 16, 17, and 18 with hip and ankle injuries. He continued to miss the wild card, divisional, and championship rounds, with the championship round additionally carrying a personal reasons designation. On January 28, he courted controversy during an Instagram live broadcast claiming he was not injured and that the Chiefs were falsely placing him on the injury report, later apologizing without retracting the remarks. After being listed as inactive for the Super Bowl, he finished the 2023 season appearing in 13 games and starting two, recording 27 receptions on 38 targets for 169 yards and one touchdown, earning a second Super Bowl title after the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII.
On May 2, 2024, the Chiefs declined the fifth-year option on Toney’s contract, making him a free agent after the 2024 season, and on August 27, 2024, Toney was released by the Chiefs.
Cleveland Browns Era (2024–Present)
On September 9, 2024, Toney signed with the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad. On December 7, he was promoted to the active roster. Following his performance in Week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he muffed a punt and had a taunting penalty, Toney was released by the Cleveland Browns on December 10, 2024.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although Toney is a football player rather than a driver, his on-field style reflects rare versatility and creativity. He has shown the ability to line up at wide receiver, running back, wildcat quarterback, and on special teams, making him a matchup problem for opposing defenses. His acceleration in the open field and punt-return instincts have produced some of his most memorable career moments, including a Super Bowl record-setting return.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Toney’s most notable achievements are his two Super Bowl titles with the Kansas City Chiefs, earned in Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII. His 65-yard punt return in Super Bowl LVII remains the longest in Super Bowl history. He was also a 2020 second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection, and a finalist for the 2020 Paul Hornung Award.
Kadarius Toney Career Wins
Kadarius Toney has won two Super Bowl championships as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, earning rings for both Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII. He has recorded at least one NFL regular-season touchdown and has produced multiple impactful performances in the postseason, particularly during the Chiefs’ championship runs in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
NFL Highlights
Toney’s most significant NFL highlights came during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. His first NFL touchdown came in Week 10 of the 2022 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he went on to finish that season with two touchdowns. His record-setting 65-yard punt return in Super Bowl LVII and his fourth-quarter touchdown catch in the same game stand as his most celebrated career moments.
Other Performances
During his rookie season with the New York Giants, Toney recorded a career-high 189 receiving yards against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, breaking Odell Beckham Jr.’s rookie receiving record for the franchise. He also posted a six-catch, 78-yard performance against the New Orleans Saints in Week 4 of the same season.
Kadarius Toney Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Information about Kadarius Toney’s family background, including details about his parents and any athletic lineage, is not publicly documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Publicly available details about Kadarius Toney’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, or children, have not been confirmed in verified sources. On February 6, 2025, Toney was arrested in Georgia on one count of aggravated assault and one count of obstructing 911 calls, after allegedly strangling a woman in Georgia on January 14, 2025. A warrant was issued for his arrest on January 15, and his bail was set at $25,000 for each count; he was released after paying $50,000 bail the day of his arrest.
2025 Season Performance
As of early 2025, Kadarius Toney’s status for the upcoming NFL season remains uncertain following his December 2024 release from the Cleveland Browns and his February 2025 arrest in Georgia. His prior production with both the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns was limited by injuries, inconsistent playing time, and off-field issues, casting doubt on his immediate professional outlook.
Toney’s resume still includes two Super Bowl titles and a unique record-setting punt return, which could attract interest from teams seeking a veteran playmaker. Whether he returns to an active roster in 2025 will likely depend on the resolution of his legal situation and any opportunities that arise during training camp or the regular season.
Given his age of 26 at the start of the 2025 season and his established history of versatility at wide receiver, running back, and returner, Toney retains the athletic profile that originally made him a first-round draft pick. His 2025 storyline will hinge on his ability to stay healthy, remain available, and reclaim the form that made him one of college football’s most dynamic performers during the 2020 season with the Florida Gators.