Kedon Slovis Bio
Kedon Slovis is an American professional football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 11, 2001, in Scottsdale, Arizona, Slovis played college football for the USC Trojans, the Pittsburgh Panthers, and the BYU Cougars before launching his professional career. He gained national recognition during his freshman season at USC and has since continued to develop across multiple organizations at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Kedon Slovis grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, and attended Desert Mountain High School, where he played two seasons of varsity football. Across his high school career, he passed for 5,549 yards with 50 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions, building the foundation for his future as a quarterback. His high school quarterback coach was Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, whose mentorship helped shape Slovis’s early approach to the position.
In his senior year, Slovis received scholarship offers from 12 colleges. Northern Arizona University was the only in-state program to extend an offer, and Slovis ultimately committed to the University of Southern California in 2018. The USC Trojans had been one of the few Power Five programs to show early interest, which began after quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis visited his high school. Slovis graduated from Desert Mountain a semester early and enrolled at USC in January 2019, beginning his collegiate path at the age of 17.
Path to American Football
Slovis’s rapid rise to the college level began when he was elevated to the top of the USC depth chart as a true freshman in 2019 after starter J.T. Daniels suffered a season-ending knee injury. He responded by setting a USC record for passing touchdowns in his first start against Stanford and went on to throw for 3,502 yards with 30 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions during his debut season. His performance earned him the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award and national attention as one of the most promising young quarterbacks in college football.
After two more seasons at USC, Slovis transferred to Pittsburgh in 2021 and then to BYU in 2022, navigating three college programs over four years while refining his mechanics with renowned quarterback coaches Jordan Palmer and Tom House. His path to professional football was further shaped by the guidance of Kurt Warner and the experience of competing across the Pac-12, ACC, and Big 12 conferences.
Kedon Slovis Career
Early Career at USC (2019–2021)
Slovis entered the 2019 season as the backup quarterback at USC but quickly became the starter following an injury to J.T. Daniels. In his first collegiate start against Stanford, he set a school record for quarterback touchdowns and was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week. He finished the year with 3,502 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and an NCAA freshman record 71.8 completion percentage, leading USC to an 8–4 regular season and a Holiday Bowl berth.
In 2020, Slovis helped guide USC to a Pac-12 South Title and a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game. He led all Pac-12 starting quarterbacks in wins, passing yards, completions, and touchdowns, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors from both the Pac-12 coaches and the Associated Press. His final season at USC in 2021 was more difficult, as the team finished 4–8, and Slovis entered the NCAA transfer portal in December 2021.
Pittsburgh Panthers (2021–2022)
On December 21, 2021, Slovis announced his transfer to Pittsburgh. He was named the starter for the Panthers’ season opener against West Virginia and threw for 308 yards and a touchdown in his debut, securing a 38–31 win in the Backyard Brawl. He followed that performance with 195 passing yards in a loss to Tennessee before missing time with an injury.
Slovis returned from injury to post solid performances against Rhode Island and Georgia Tech, but struggled down the stretch, failing to throw a touchdown over a four-game stretch. He closed the regular season with five touchdowns and three interceptions across wins over Virginia, Duke, and Miami. On December 5, 2022, Slovis announced he would enter the transfer portal again as a graduate transfer.
BYU Cougars (2022–2023)
On December 24, 2022, Slovis announced he would transfer to BYU for his final year of eligibility and the program’s inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference. He debuted for the Cougars with two rushing touchdowns in a 14–0 win over Sam Houston and followed it with four passing touchdowns and another rushing score in a 41–17 victory over Southern Utah.
Against Arkansas, he led two second-half touchdown drives in a 38–31 win, then threw two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 38–27 loss to Kansas. He helped BYU post a 5–2 stretch before a 35–6 loss to Texas, after which shoulder and elbow injuries limited his availability. His final appearance for BYU came against Texas, and Jake Retzlaff took over as starter for the remainder of the season.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2025–Present)
Slovis joined the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on August 28, 2025, and was promoted to the active roster on October 11, 2025, while Kyler Murray was dealing with a foot injury. He made his NFL debut on November 9 against the Seattle Seahawks and also appeared in relief of Jacoby Brissett against the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording one completion for negative two yards. His role with the Cardinals represents his first opportunity on an active NFL roster.
Professional Path and Strengths
Before arriving in Arizona, Slovis signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2024, and was waived on August 25, 2024. He then joined the Houston Texans’ practice squad on August 29, 2024, signed a reserve/future contract in January 2025, and was waived during final roster cuts in August 2025. Known for his accuracy, timing, and poise in the pocket, Slovis has drawn on his experience working with Palmer and Tom House to refine his mechanics.
Notable Events and Milestones
Slovis’s most notable collegiate milestone came during his freshman season at USC, when he set multiple school records including passing yards in a single game with 515 against UCLA. He was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2019 and earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2020. His NFL debut in 2025 marked the realization of a professional career he began building from a young age in Scottsdale.
Kedon Slovis Career Wins
Across his college career at USC, Pittsburgh, and BYU, Slovis contributed to multiple signature victories, including comeback wins over Arizona State and UCLA, and bowl eligibility during his freshman season. His development across three Power Five programs helped him accumulate meaningful experience despite limited starting success at Pittsburgh.
USC Highlights
At USC, Slovis led the Trojans to an 8–5 record as a starter in 2019, including a 52–35 victory over UCLA in which he set the school single-game passing record with 515 yards. In 2020, he guided USC to a Pac-12 South Title and a 5–1 regular-season record before a championship game loss to Oregon.
Other Wins and Performances
At Pittsburgh, Slovis opened with a win over West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl, and at BYU, he led the Cougars to victories over Sam Houston, Southern Utah, and Arkansas during his abbreviated final college season.
Kedon Slovis Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Slovis grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, and has spoken about the influence of his family and high school coach Kurt Warner on his development as a quarterback. His connection to Warner, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, provided an early link to NFL-level preparation and mindset.
Personal Life
Slovis resides in the United States and maintains an active presence on social media. He continues to focus on his professional football career with the Arizona Cardinals.
2025 Season Performance
Slovis joined the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad in late August 2025 and was promoted to the active roster in October amid injuries to Kyler Murray. His elevation came after stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans, giving him his first regular-season opportunity in the NFL.
In limited action, Slovis has appeared in relief for the Cardinals, including a brief debut against the Seattle Seahawks and a cameo against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With a young arm and years of collegiate starting experience behind him, his 2025 campaign represents an opportunity to establish himself within the Arizona quarterback room.