Ke’Shawn Vaughn Bio
Ke’Shawn LaMont Vaughn is an American professional football running back born on May 4, 1997, in Nashville, Tennessee. He rose to national recognition as a high school star at Pearl-Cohn Comprehensive High School, where he was named the Tennessee Gatorade Football Player of the Year. Vaughn went on to play college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini before transferring to the Vanderbilt Commodores. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft and has since appeared for the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers.
Early Life and Background
Ke’Shawn LaMont Vaughn grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, where he developed into one of the most productive running backs in the state. At Pearl-Cohn Comprehensive High School, he emerged as a senior standout, rushing for 2,646 yards and 45 touchdowns while earning the Tennessee Gatorade Football Player of the Year award. He was also a track and field athlete, anchoring the state champion 4×100-meter relay during his senior season.
Coming out of high school, Vaughn was rated as a four-star running back recruit. He chose the University of Illinois over scholarship offers from Louisville, Notre Dame, Purdue, and West Virginia, among others. His combination of speed, vision, and goal-line power made him one of the most sought-after backs in his recruiting class.
Path to the NFL
Vaughn began his college career at the University of Illinois in 2015, rushing for 723 yards on 157 carries with six touchdowns as a true freshman. His production dipped in 2016, when he gained 301 yards on 60 carries with three touchdowns, and he decided to transfer to Vanderbilt University in search of a larger role.
After redshirting the 2017 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Vaughn broke out for the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2018, rushing for 1,244 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was named Second-team All-SEC and earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors. As a senior in 2019, he started all 12 games, rushing for 1,028 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 29 receptions for 286 yards and a receiving score, before entering the 2020 NFL draft.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn Career
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–2023)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Ke’Shawn LaMont Vaughn in the third round, 76th overall, of the 2020 NFL draft. After a brief stay on the reserve/COVID-19 list during his first training camp, he was activated and made an early impact in the regular season. In Week 4, Vaughn caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, recording his first professional score. He finished his rookie year with 26 carries for 109 rushing yards in ten games and earned a Super Bowl ring when the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9 in Super Bowl LV.
On December 26, 2021, Vaughn recorded his first career rushing touchdown on a 55-yard run against the Carolina Panthers, the longest rushing score by a Buccaneers player that season. He remained with Tampa Bay through the 2023 campaign before being waived on December 15, 2023.
New England Patriots (2023–2024)
On December 19, 2023, the New England Patriots signed Vaughn to their practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024, securing a chance to compete for a roster spot the following fall. The Patriots released him on May 13, 2024, ending his brief tenure with the franchise.
San Francisco 49ers (2024–Present)
On August 7, 2024, Vaughn signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He was released on August 26 and quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad. He returned to the 49ers again on August 9, 2025, before being released on August 25, 2025, as the team shaped its regular-season roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vaughn is a compact, downhill runner listed at 5’10” and approximately 215 pounds, with a thick lower body that helps him break tackles in short-yardage situations. He pairs quick feet with good burst through the line of scrimmage and has shown reliable hands as a pass catcher out of the backfield, which has allowed him to contribute on third downs and in two-minute drills.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Vaughn’s career are his Super Bowl LV championship with the Buccaneers, his 55-yard rushing touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in 2021, and his 2018 SEC Newcomer of the Year award at Vanderbilt. His third-round selection in the 2020 NFL draft also stands as a milestone, reflecting the high regard in which scouts held him coming out of college.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn Career Wins
Ke’Shawn LaMont Vaughn’s most prominent team achievement came during his rookie season, when he helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9 in Super Bowl LV. While he has not been a featured starter for most of his professional career, he has produced key moments as a rotational back, including his first career rushing score against the Carolina Panthers in 2021.
NFL Highlights
Across his NFL career, Vaughn has appeared for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New England Patriots, and the San Francisco 49ers. His first professional touchdown came on a nine-yard reception from Tom Brady against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4 of the 2020 season, and he recorded his first rushing touchdown with a 55-yard run against the Carolina Panthers in 2021.
Other Performances
At the college level, Vaughn posted a 1,244-yard, 12-touchdown season at Vanderbilt in 2018, earning Second-team All-SEC and SEC Newcomer of the Year recognition. He followed that with a 1,028-yard, nine-touchdown senior season in 2019, cementing his status as a draft prospect.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Ke’Shawn LaMont Vaughn was raised in Nashville, Tennessee, the same city where he attended Pearl-Cohn Comprehensive High School and began building his football reputation. Public information about his immediate family is limited, and he has generally kept his personal life out of the spotlight.
2025 Season Performance
Vaughn returned to the San Francisco 49ers on August 9, 2025, looking to earn a role in the team’s backfield alongside its established rushers. He was released on August 25, 2025, as the 49ers trimmed their roster ahead of the regular season, leaving his status with the organization uncertain heading into the fall.
Throughout his NFL career, Vaughn has been valued for his physical running style, dependable hands, and special-teams willingness, traits that have kept him in consideration for practice squad and reserve roles. Whether he lands back on a 49ers practice squad, signs elsewhere, or settles into a rotational role will shape his 2025 storyline. Given his track record of perseverance through multiple teams since being drafted, Vaughn remains a candidate to contribute in some capacity during the 2025 season.