Mekhi Garner Bio
Mekhi Garner (born January 11, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback. He played college football for the Navarro Bulldogs, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, and LSU Tigers before entering the National Football League. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 212 pounds, Garner uses his length and physicality to match up with larger receivers at the cornerback position. He began his professional career in 2023 and has spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Arlington Renegades, and Chicago Bears.
Early Life and Background
Mekhi Garner was born on January 11, 2000, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in the Mesquite area of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, where he attended Poteet High School. At Poteet, Garner played defensive back and quickly developed a reputation as a ball-hawking cover corner with the frame and instincts to disrupt opposing passing games.
As a junior at Poteet, Garner recorded 39 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions, and one forced fumble, drawing attention from college recruiters across the region. He originally committed to play college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders before changing course and opting to begin his college career at the junior college level.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school, Garner was rated as a promising defensive back prospect with the size and athleticism that college programs covet at the cornerback position. Rather than enroll directly at a four-year program, he chose to sharpen his skills at Navarro College, a well-known junior college football program in Texas that has produced numerous Division I transfers and professional players.
His path to the highest level of college football was unconventional. After one season at Navarro, Garner moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision by joining the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns of the Sun Belt Conference. He later transferred to LSU, one of the most storied programs in the Southeastern Conference, where he completed his college career and earned an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl before declaring for the NFL draft.
Mekhi Garner Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Garner began his college career in 2018 at Navarro College, where he appeared in 10 games during his freshman season. He posted 48 tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions, and half a tackle-for-loss, establishing himself as one of the most productive defensive backs on the Navarro roster. His strong play at the junior college level made him an attractive transfer target for Football Bowl Subdivision programs.
After his lone season at Navarro, Garner joined the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns in 2019. In his first year with the program, he appeared in only two games and recorded four tackles, working primarily in a reserve role while adjusting to the speed and complexity of the FBS level.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Breakthrough (2020–2021)
The 2020 season marked a turning point in Garner’s career at Louisiana. Originally a backup, he was thrust into a starting role after several players contracted COVID-19, and his performance ensured he remained in the lineup for the rest of the year. He finished the season with 27 tackles, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, one sack, and one tackle-for-loss across 11 games played and eight starts, earning honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference recognition.
In 2021, Garner elevated his play further, starting 11 of 13 games and earning third-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He compiled 31 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, eight pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a sack, solidifying his status as one of the top cornerbacks in the conference and attracting the attention of Power Five programs.
LSU Tigers Era (2022)
Garner transferred to LSU for the 2022 season, joining one of the most competitive defensive backfields in the Southeastern Conference. In his lone season with the Tigers, he started all 13 games and posted 43 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, and a team-leading eight pass breakups. His ability to compete on the outside in the SEC cemented his reputation as a draft-eligible cornerback prospect.
Although Garner had a remaining year of college eligibility, he chose to declare for the 2023 NFL draft and accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl all-star game. His decision to turn pro was based on a strong senior season and his readiness to test himself against NFL-level competition.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2023–2024)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Garner signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. He was released on August 29, 2023, as part of final roster cuts but re-signed to the practice squad the following day. On January 18, 2024, he signed a reserve and future contract with the Eagles, indicating that the organization viewed him as a developmental piece with a future role.
Garner was waived with an injury designation on August 17, 2024, but returned to the Eagles’ practice squad on December 31, 2024. He was released by Philadelphia on January 9, 2025, closing out his initial NFL stint with the organization that gave him his first professional opportunity.
Arlington Renegades and Chicago Bears Era (2025)
On March 6, 2025, Garner signed with the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League, joining the spring football league in search of game reps and a platform to showcase his skills. He was released by the Renegades on March 20, 2025, ending a brief stint in the UFL.
On August 12, 2025, Garner signed with the Chicago Bears, returning to the NFL. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, only to be released by Chicago on August 28, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Garner’s college career came during the 2020 season at Louisiana, when he transitioned from backup to full-time starter in the middle of a pandemic-disrupted year. His third-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2021, followed by a starting season at LSU in 2022 and an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl, marked his rise from junior college prospect to NFL signee.
Mekhi Garner Personal Life
Family Background and Personal Details
Garner was raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, where he attended Poteet High School in Mesquite. He comes from a region known for producing competitive football talent at every level, and he has credited his upbringing in Texas for helping him develop a tough, physical style of play at the cornerback position.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a period of transition for Mekhi Garner, who bounced between the UFL and NFL during the calendar year. His brief stint with the Arlington Renegades in March offered him a chance to play meaningful snaps in the spring, while his August signing with the Chicago Bears represented a return to an NFL training camp. After being waived, re-signed to the practice squad, and released within the span of a few days, Garner finished the 2025 cycle looking for his next professional opportunity.
Across his stops in 2025, Garner continued to showcase the size, length, and coverage instincts that earned him third-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2021 and a starting role at LSU in 2022. His path forward will depend on finding a roster that values his physical profile and developmental upside as an outside cornerback.