Malik Knowles Bio
Malik Knowles (born August 17, 2000) is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats, where he developed into a dynamic dual-threat returner and pass catcher. Knowles signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has since spent time on practice squads and rosters for the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 196 pounds, he has built his professional resume around special teams production and depth-chart versatility at wide receiver.
Early Life and Background
Malik Knowles was born in Lynwood, California, and grew up in Mansfield, Texas, where he lived with his aunt and uncle. The relocation to North Texas shaped his formative years and eventually led him to Lake Ridge High School, where he became a standout multi-sport athlete. His high school program gave him his first consistent exposure to organized football at a competitive level, and the surrounding Texas football culture helped sharpen his competitive drive.
As a senior at Lake Ridge High School, Knowles posted 40 receptions for 846 yards and 15 touchdowns, a stat line that established him as one of the more productive receivers in his region. Rated as a three-star recruit, he drew interest from several college programs before choosing to continue his football career at Kansas State. The decision reflected a fit with the Wildcats’ developmental approach and the opportunity to contribute early as a returner and receiver.
Path to American Football
Knowles’ transition from a productive high school receiver to a college contributor at Kansas State began during his first season in Manhattan, Kansas. He caught 10 passes for 100 yards and scored two touchdowns as a true freshman, showing enough promise to warrant a redshirt plan designed to preserve a year of eligibility. That redshirt season allowed him to add size and refine his route running before taking on a larger role.
By his redshirt freshman year, Knowles had emerged as both a receiver and a kick returner, recording 27 receptions for 397 yards and three touchdowns, while also returning six kickoffs for 222 yards and a touchdown. His redshirt sophomore season added 13 catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns, along with 100 rushing yards and a score on six carries, signaling the kind of versatility that would later define his draft profile. He returned 11 kickoffs for 203 yards that year, building a consistent special-teams resume that complemented his work on offense.
Malik Knowles Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Knowles’ Kansas State career advanced steadily across his four collegiate seasons. As a redshirt junior, he caught 29 passes for 441 yards and four touchdowns, then elevated his profile as a returner by averaging more than 30 yards per kickoff, finishing with 20 returns for 662 yards and two touchdowns. That production earned him first-team All-Big 12 Conference recognition as a returner, a significant milestone that highlighted his value on third-phase plays.
His redshirt senior season in 2022 brought another leap in offensive responsibility. Knowles was named second-team All-Big 12 as a receiver after catching 48 passes for 725 yards and two touchdowns, while also returning 23 kickoffs for 592 yards. Following the season, he declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, closing his college career with more than 100 receptions, over 1,800 receiving yards, and a strong body of work on special teams.
Minnesota Vikings Breakthrough (2023)
Knowles signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023, shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Vikings’ decision to bring him in reflected his projection as a depth receiver and a developmental returner. His first training camp with Minnesota offered an early look at his footwork and route precision at the professional level.
His initial Vikings tenure was interrupted by an injury. Knowles was waived with an injury designation from the non-football injury list on July 24, 2023, and after clearing waivers, he reverted to the reserve list before being placed on injured reserve. He was waived/injured by the Vikings on August 27, 2024, ending his second stint on the active roster, though his kick-return background kept him on team radars around the league.
Green Bay Packers Era (2024)
On October 16, 2024, the Green Bay Packers signed Malik Knowles to their practice squad, adding receiving and return-game depth late in the regular season. The move gave him another opportunity to showcase his kick-return traits inside an NFC North organization. Knowles remained with the practice squad for several weeks while contributing on scout-team looks and special-teams drills.
He was released by the Packers on November 30, 2024, closing a brief but active stretch in Green Bay. Although he did not appear on a regular-season game day roster with the Packers, the practice-squad tenure provided valuable exposure to a different offensive system and further sharpened his preparation habits for future opportunities.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2025)
On June 3, 2025, the San Francisco 49ers signed Malik Knowles to a one-year contract, signaling fresh interest in his dual-threat skill set. The 49ers’ staff evaluated him as a depth receiver with return-game upside, a profile that aligned with his college résumé. Less than two months later, on July 31, the 49ers waived Knowles as part of their roster management process heading into the preseason.
Knowles re-signed with the 49ers on August 20, 2025, returning to the roster as teams finalized their depth charts. He was waived again a few days later, ending his second stint with San Francisco in the same training camp window. The quick movement reflected a competitive camp battle and reaffirmed his status as a depth-and-special-teams prospect.
Driving Style and Strengths
Knowles profiles as a long, physical wide receiver with reliable hands and an aggressive approach as a kick returner. His 6-foot-2 frame gives him a sizeable catch radius, while his college return production shows the kind of field-flipping burst that coaches covet on third-phase plays. Coaches have valued his preparation, body control, and willingness to play through traffic, traits that have helped him land on multiple practice squads.
Notable Events and Milestones
Knowles’ college awards stand as his most prominent career milestones, including first-team All-Big 12 honors as a returner and second-team All-Big 12 recognition as a receiver. Signing with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent marked his official entry into the NFL ranks in 2023. His movement through three NFC organizations within two seasons underlines the steady demand for his skill set, even amid active-roster turnover.
Malik Knowles Career Wins
Across his professional stops with the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers, Malik Knowles has built a resume rooted in depth-chart reliability and special-teams value. While he has not yet posted a verified regular-season stat line as a primary offensive contributor, his practice-squad signings and roster movement reflect the consistent trust teams have placed in his abilities.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Knowles’ most notable performance came during his redshirt junior season, when he earned first-team All-Big 12 recognition as a returner with 20 kickoff returns for 662 yards and two touchdowns. His redshirt senior year added second-team All-Big 12 honors as a receiver, and his senior high school totals of 40 receptions for 846 yards and 15 touchdowns remain a defining performance from his prep career.
Malik Knowles Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Knowles was raised in Mansfield, Texas, by his aunt and uncle after growing up initially in Lynwood, California. Their household provided the stable environment that supported his path into organized football and eventually into a college recruitment process that led him to Kansas State. Public details about his broader family remain limited, and he has not shared extensive information about parents, siblings, or a spouse in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Malik Knowles’ 2025 season storyline centers on his work with the San Francisco 49ers. After signing a one-year contract in early June, he entered training camp as a depth receiver and a candidate for the team’s kick-return rotation. His waiver on July 31 briefly paused that work, but his re-signing on August 20 returned him to the practice environment, where he continued to refine his timing within the 49ers’ offensive scheme.
The final stages of the 2025 preseason ultimately saw him waived again, ending his 49ers tenure for that camp window. Even with that late-summer movement, his training-camp showing kept him firmly within the pool of available depth-and-special-teams talent as teams shaped their Week 1 rosters. The season outlook for Knowles will depend on whether another organization adds him to its practice squad or active roster.
Looking forward, Knowles’ 2025 production will likely be measured less by headline statistics and more by roster stability. A return to a practice squad, a spot on a 53-man roster, or a dedicated kick-return role would each represent meaningful progress, given the volume of movement he has already navigated across three franchises since 2023.