Marquez Valdes-Scantling Bio
Marquez Reshard Valdes-Scantling, also known by his initials MVS, is an American professional football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on October 10, 1994, in St. Petersburg, Florida, he has built his career on speed and downfield playmaking since entering the league in 2018. Over the years, Valdes-Scantling has played for the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, and San Francisco 49ers, contributing on offense and special teams at every stop.
Standing 193 centimeters tall and weighing 93 kilograms, Valdes-Scantling combines a tall frame with the straight-line speed that has long defined his game. He is best known for his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he was part of two Super Bowl winning rosters, and for a stretch of dramatic deep catches during his early years in Green Bay.
Early Life and Background
Marquez Reshard Valdes-Scantling was born on October 10, 1994, in St. Petersburg, Florida. He grew up in the Tampa Bay area and attended Lakewood High School, where he developed into a promising wide receiver. As a senior at Lakewood, he recorded 50 receptions for 800 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns, totals that marked him as one of the more productive pass catchers in the region.
That senior season helped put Valdes-Scantling on the radar of college recruiters, and he went on to play at the next level after graduating. The foundation built in St. Petersburg, both physically and technically, shaped the receiver he would later become in professional football.
Path to American Football
Valdes-Scantling began his college career at NC State, where he played football from 2013 to 2014. After two seasons with the Wolfpack, he transferred to South Florida, where he continued his development from 2015 to 2017. Under transfer rules at the time, he had to sit out the 2015 season before returning to the field, a setback he used to refine his approach.
His combination of size and straight-line speed made him a projectable NFL prospect. In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected him with the 174th overall pick in the fifth round, an investment that reflected the team’s belief in his raw tools. He signed his rookie contract on May 7, 2018, and soon began his professional career.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Valdes-Scantling made his NFL debut in the Green Bay Packers’ season opener against the Chicago Bears on September 9, 2018, recording a 21-yard kick return in a 24–23 victory. He caught his first professional reception the following week against the Minnesota Vikings and started his first game in place of the injured Randall Cobb in a Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills. A breakout followed in Week 5 against the Detroit Lions, when he posted seven receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown, and he added a three-catch, 103-yard performance the next week against the San Francisco 49ers. He finished his rookie season with 38 receptions for 581 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, ranking seventh among rookies in receiving yards.
In 2019, Valdes-Scantling opened the year with a strong showing against the Denver Broncos, catching six passes for 99 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Later, against the Oakland Raiders in Week 7, he broke loose for 133 receiving yards on two catches, including a 74-yard touchdown. He closed 2019 with 26 receptions for 452 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns overall.
Green Bay Packers Breakthrough (2020–2021)
The 2020 season was highlighted by several deep connections. In Week 1 against the Vikings, Valdes-Scantling caught four passes for 96 yards and a touchdown during a 43–34 win. Against the 49ers on Thursday Night Football in Week 9, he added two receptions for 53 yards and two scores. A week later against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he produced four receptions for 149 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown, in a 24–20 win. He finished the regular season on a difficult note against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11, when a 47-yard catch helped set up a game-tying field goal, but a lost fumble in overtime allowed the Colts to kick the game-winning field goal. In the NFC Championship Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he recorded four catches for 115 yards and a touchdown in a 31–26 loss.
The 2021 season was disrupted by injury, and Valdes-Scantling was placed on injured reserve on October 2 before being activated on November 6. Upon his return, he delivered a strong performance against the Vikings in Week 11, finishing with four receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown in a 34–31 loss. He closed the year with 26 receptions for 430 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2022–2023)
On March 24, 2022, Valdes-Scantling signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. He quickly became a regular contributor, recording 42 receptions for 687 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns across 17 games, including 11 starts. In the AFC Championship Game, he caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown to help the Chiefs defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20. He then won his first Super Bowl championship in a 38–35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, though he was targeted once without a reception in the game.
The 2023 regular season was quieter statistically, as Valdes-Scantling caught 21 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown. Still, his impact showed up in critical moments. In the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens, his 32-yard catch on third down just before the two-minute warning helped Kansas City run out the clock in a 17–10 win. In Super Bowl LVIII, he had three receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs’ 25–22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, earning his second Super Bowl ring. The Chiefs released him on February 28, 2024.
Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, and 2024 Season
On May 14, 2024, Valdes-Scantling signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. After the Bills acquired Amari Cooper in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, he was released on October 15. While in Buffalo, he caught two passes for 26 yards on nine targets. Shortly after his release, on October 22, 2024, he signed with the New Orleans Saints. In Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons, he produced three receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns, a reminder of his deep-threat ability. Across his time with the Bills and the Saints that season, he totaled 19 receptions for 411 yards and four touchdowns.
Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers (2025)
On March 12, 2025, Valdes-Scantling signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts. Days later, on August 27, 2025, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad, was promoted to the active roster on September 3, and was placed on injured reserve on October 17 due to a calf injury. He was released the following day.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2025–Present)
On November 4, 2025, Valdes-Scantling signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad, continuing a journeyman season that has seen him move across multiple rosters. He was promoted to the active roster on December 15, giving Pittsburgh additional depth at wide receiver heading into the late stages of the 2025 campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Valdes-Scantling’s game is built around vertical speed and the ability to stretch defenses down the field. His size and length make him a reliable target on back-shoulder and contested catches, while his straight-line burst helps him create separation on go routes and crossing patterns. The combination of physical traits and route detail has allowed him to contribute as a deep threat and as a complementary possession receiver when asked.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of his career are the 74-yard touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in 2019, the 78-yard score against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, and his two-touchdown performance against the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. His two Super Bowl rings with the Kansas City Chiefs, including a touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, stand as the headline milestones of his professional career.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Career Wins
Across his professional career, Marquez Reshard Valdes-Scantling has been part of winning teams at every level of the NFL, including two Super Bowl championships with the Kansas City Chiefs. While individual receiving numbers have varied from season to season, his role as a deep threat and his championship experience define the arc of his career.
Super Bowl Highlights
Valdes-Scantling earned his first Super Bowl ring as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, a 38–35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. A season later, in Super Bowl LVIII, he helped the Chiefs edge the San Francisco 49ers 25–22, finishing that game with three receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown. Those two championships place him among the active NFL players with multiple Super Bowl titles early in his career.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career with the Green Bay Packers, Valdes-Scantling contributed to several key regular-season wins, including the 2018 season opener against the Chicago Bears and a 42–24 victory over the Oakland Raiders in 2019. His late-career touchdown outburst against the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 also stood out as one of his more productive single-game performances.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Valdes-Scantling’s parents and broader family background is limited, and there are no widely documented details of a deep family football lineage beyond his own development in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Personal Life
Valdes-Scantling has kept most of his personal life out of the public eye. There are no widely confirmed reports of a spouse or children, and his public presence has focused primarily on his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been defined by movement across rosters for Valdes-Scantling. After signing with the Seattle Seahawks in March and being released in late August, he quickly joined the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in early September. A calf injury led to a brief injured reserve stint in mid-October and a subsequent release.
On November 4, 2025, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad, providing depth and experience as Pittsburgh navigated the back half of its schedule. He was promoted to the active roster on December 15, giving the Steelers another veteran receiver for the closing stretch of the year.
Looking ahead, Valdes-Scantling’s role with the Steelers centers on contributing as a deep threat and a reliable special teams presence. His two Super Bowl rings and proven ability to stretch the field make him a low-risk addition for a Pittsburgh team looking to sharpen its passing attack down the stretch.