Kendre Miller Bio
Kendre Miller (born June 11, 2002) is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs before being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing around 220 pounds, Miller has built a reputation as a hard-running back with breakaway speed and reliable hands as a receiver out of the backfield.
Early Life and Background
Kendre Miller was born on June 11, 2002, in Mount Enterprise, a small town in East Texas. He grew up in the same community where he would later become a local legend on the football field, and his small-town roots shaped his tough, physical approach to the game. From an early age, he gravitated toward football, spending countless hours developing his craft in pickup games and youth leagues around Rusk County.
Miller attended Mount Enterprise High School, where he became one of the most productive running backs in Texas high school football. As a senior, he rushed for 2,508 yards and 34 touchdowns, a performance that put him on the radar of college recruiters across the region. His combination of size, vision, and explosive acceleration made him a priority target for several programs.
After completing high school, Miller committed to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth to play college football for the Horned Frogs. The decision to join TCU allowed him to stay relatively close to home while competing at the highest level of college football. His development in the TCU system would set the stage for his eventual leap to the professional ranks.
Path to American Football
Miller’s path to professional American football began in earnest at TCU, where he had to earn his touches in a crowded backfield. As a true freshman in 2020, he appeared in a limited role and rushed for 388 yards on 54 carries, scoring two touchdowns. The shortened season gave him a glimpse of what was possible, and he used the experience to add strength to his frame.
In his sophomore season of 2021, Miller ranked second on the team with 623 rushing yards on 83 carries, adding seven touchdowns. He showed flashes of the all-purpose ability that would later define his draft profile, including pass-catching out of the backfield and special-teams value. Coaches at TCU began to view him as a future lead back, and his workload steadily increased throughout the year.
The 2022 season marked Miller’s true arrival as one of the top running backs in college football. He took over as TCU’s starting running back and ran for 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging an outstanding 6.2 yards per carry. His dominant season helped power the Horned Frogs to a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff National Championship Game appearance. Following the campaign, he earned First-team All-Big 12 honors and declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, where the New Orleans Saints selected him with the 71st overall pick in the third round.
Kendre Miller Career
Early Career (2023)
Miller’s professional career began when he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round, 71st overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft. He entered a backfield that included veterans Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams, so his rookie role was largely complementary. He made his NFL debut as a rotational back and special-teams contributor, with the Saints easing him into the offense as the season progressed.
As a rookie, Miller appeared in eight games and finished with 41 carries for 156 yards and one rushing touchdown, while also adding ten receptions for 117 yards as a pass-catcher. He scored his first professional touchdown in Week 18 against the Atlanta Falcons on a three-yard rush, a small but meaningful milestone in his first season. His rookie year gave him a foundation of NFL experience, and the Saints viewed him as a long-term building block in their offensive backfield.
New Orleans Saints Era (2023–Present)
Miller’s role with the Saints expanded heading into 2024, but his season was disrupted by an injury. He began the 2024 campaign on injured reserve and was activated by the team ahead of Week 6. In six appearances, including two starts, he rushed 39 times for 148 yards and one touchdown, while also recording five receptions for 33 yards. Despite the limited action, he showed flashes of the burst and physicality that made him a Day 2 draft pick.
The 2025 season brought another setback for the young running back. Miller made seven appearances for New Orleans, recording 47 rushes for 193 yards and one touchdown. On October 20, 2025, he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears, ending his season. The injury halted what had been a promising stretch, but the Saints remained committed to his development as a core part of their backfield plans.
Driving Style and Strengths
Miller is known for his combination of speed, vision, and physicality between the tackles. He excels at pressing the line of scrimmage before cutting sharply into open space, and his ability to break tackles in traffic has been a hallmark of his game. He is also a dependable receiver out of the backfield, an increasingly important trait for modern NFL running backs. Special teams have been another area of value, with the Saints utilizing him as a kickoff returner to maximize his open-field speed.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Miller’s career came in his senior season at Mount Enterprise, when he rushed for 2,508 yards and 34 touchdowns, a performance that cemented his status as a top recruit. At TCU, his 1,399-yard, 17-touchdown 2022 campaign stands as a signature achievement and helped lead the Horned Frogs to the national championship game. His first NFL touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18 of his rookie year marked another memorable milestone, and his selection as the 71st overall pick in the 2023 Draft represents the realization of years of hard work.
Kendre Miller Career Highlights
Although still early in his professional career, Miller has already built a résumé that includes conference-level recognition and a third-round draft selection. His 2022 season at TCU stands as the cornerstone of his highlight reel, with first-team All-Big 12 honors and a College Football Playoff run. In the NFL, he has flashed the same playmaking ability, even as injuries have limited his opportunities to this point.
College and NFL Highlights
At TCU, Miller’s 1,399 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022 established him as one of the most productive backs in the country, and his 6.2 yards per carry average reflected his big-play ability. In the NFL, he has combined rushing and receiving production, posting 134 carries for 497 yards and three rushing touchdowns through his first three professional seasons, along with 15 receptions for 150 yards. His first NFL touchdown against Atlanta in 2023 remains a highlight of his young career.
Other Performances
Beyond his primary role as a running back, Miller has contributed on special teams as a kickoff returner, giving the Saints a versatile weapon on coverage units. His combination of explosiveness and tackling ability in space has also made him a factor on kick coverage. These complementary roles have allowed him to stay on the field even when the offensive backfield has been crowded with veteran talent.
Kendre Miller Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kendre Miller hails from Mount Enterprise, Texas, a small East Texas community where football is a central part of local life. His upbringing in a tight-knit town helped instill the work ethic and toughness that have defined his playing style. While details about his parents and extended family are not widely documented, his roots in East Texas have remained a steady influence throughout his career.
Personal Life
Off the field, Miller has largely kept his personal life private as he focuses on his professional career. He is based in the New Orleans area during the NFL season, where he works with the Saints’ training staff and coaching staff. As of the most recent reporting, he is not publicly known to be married, and he does not have any children. His focus has remained on his recovery from a torn ACL sustained in 2025 and his long-term development as a featured piece of the Saints’ offense.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was expected to be a breakout year for Kendre Miller, with the Saints giving him an expanded role in the offensive backfield plans. Through the early weeks of the season, he appeared in seven games and posted 47 rushes for 193 yards and one touchdown, showing the burst and physicality that had marked his college career. He was beginning to emerge as a consistent contributor alongside the rest of New Orleans’ running back group.
Unfortunately, his season was cut short in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears, when Miller suffered a torn ACL that led to his placement on injured reserve on October 20, 2025. The injury ended a promising stretch and forced the Saints to adjust their offensive approach for the remainder of the year. For Miller, the focus now shifts to a careful rehabilitation process and a return to full strength for the 2026 campaign.
Looking ahead, Miller remains a key part of the Saints’ long-term plans despite the injury setback. His 2022 production at TCU and the flashes he has shown in limited NFL action suggest significant upside once he is healthy. The Saints are expected to continue building around his skill set, and his recovery will be one of the most-watched storylines for the franchise heading into the next league year.