Patrick McMorris Bio
Patrick Allen McMorris is an American professional football safety born on October 18, 2001, in Santa Ana, California. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 205 pounds, he plays the defensive back position in the National Football League. After a productive college career split between the San Diego State Aztecs and the California Golden Bears, McMorris entered the professional ranks when he was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Known for his tackling consistency and coverage instincts, McMorris developed into a reliable safety across multiple collegiate programs. His professional journey has included time with the Miami Dolphins, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals, reflecting the typical movement of a young defensive back seeking a long-term roster spot in the league.
Early Life and Background
Patrick Allen McMorris grew up in Santa Ana, California, where he attended Godinez Fundamental High School. As a junior, he was a top contributor for the program and helped lead Godinez Fundamental to an Orange Coast League title. His strong rushing totals as an underclassman, including 2,287 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns with a 6.5-yard average per carry, signaled his athletic upside even before he focused on the defensive side of the football.
Before his senior year, McMorris transferred to Santa Ana High School, where he closed his high school career with 1,801 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on 141 carries, averaging 12.8 yards per attempt. He also added 99 tackles on defense that season. Rated a three-star recruit, he committed to play college football for the San Diego State Aztecs as a defensive back, the position he would develop into throughout his career.
Path to American Football
McMorris signed with San Diego State and quickly worked his way into the rotation. As a true freshman in 2019, he appeared in nine games and recorded one tackle, giving him an early introduction to college-level play. The following season, in 2020, he played seven games with one start and tallied 10 tackles along with a pass breakup, continuing his progression on defense.
The 2021 season marked his real breakthrough at San Diego State. He won a starting role and started all 14 games, earning first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors. That year he led the Aztecs with 90 tackles and added four interceptions and nine pass breakups, establishing himself as one of the conference’s top safeties. He repeated as a first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2022, recording 61 tackles, six pass breakups, and one interception while serving as a team captain.
Patrick McMorris Career
Early Career at San Diego State (2019-2022)
McMorris spent four seasons at San Diego State, growing from a reserve defensive back into a team leader. After modest production as a freshman and sophomore, he became a full-time starter in 2021 and anchored the secondary with his tackling and ball skills. His two consecutive first-team All-Mountain West selections confirmed his status as one of the premier safeties in the conference.
Across his San Diego State tenure, McMorris built the foundation of his professional profile. His leadership as a captain in 2022 showed the kind of intangibles that scouts value, while his on-field production gave him the visibility to attract attention from programs across the country.
California Golden Bears (2023)
Following the 2022 season, McMorris opted to transfer to the California Golden Bears for the 2023 campaign. The move allowed him to test himself in a new conference and continue refining his game at the Power Five level. He responded with 90 tackles, second most on the team, along with two fumble recoveries and one interception.
He finished his college career having appeared in 55 games, with 40 starts, recording 252 tackles, 23 pass breakups, and six interceptions across all collegiate stops. His strong all-around totals, combined with his willingness to compete in postseason all-star events, helped position him for the next step. He was invited to the Hula Bowl and participated in the NFL Scouting Combine.
Miami Dolphins Era (2024)
McMorris was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round, 198th overall, of the 2024 NFL draft. He joined a competitive defensive backfield and began his professional career with the organization. On August 27, 2024, he was placed on injured reserve, pausing his rookie development. He was activated on November 26, 2024, and returned to the active roster for the back half of the season.
His time with the Dolphins came to an end on August 26, 2025, when he was waived as part of the team’s final roster cuts. The transaction reflected the depth of Miami’s defensive back room and the constant competition young players face to maintain a roster position.
New York Giants Practice Squad (2025)
Shortly after being released by Miami, McMorris was signed to the New York Giants practice squad on August 28, 2025. Practice squad roles offer a chance to continue developing within an NFL system while remaining available for elevation to the active roster. His time with the Giants was short, however, as he was released on September 16, 2025.
Arizona Cardinals Practice Squad (2025)
McMorris next landed with the Arizona Cardinals, signing to their practice squad on September 23, 2025. He was released on October 8, 2025, before being re-signed to the practice squad on December 16, 2025. His second stint with the Cardinals ended on December 24, 2025, when he was released again. These moves reflect the fluid nature of practice squad activity during the NFL calendar.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most notable milestones of McMorris’s career so far are his back-to-back first-team All-Mountain West selections in 2021 and 2022, his invitation to the Hula Bowl, his participation in the NFL Scouting Combine, and his selection by the Miami Dolphins in the 2024 NFL draft. His transfer to California and his 90-tackle season with the Golden Bears also stand out as defining chapters of his path to the NFL.
Patrick McMorris Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Patrick Allen McMorris is the son of Patrick McMorris and Lucy Guerrero. He grew up in Santa Ana, California, in a family with a strong athletic tradition. His brother, Malik, was a student-athlete in the California Golden Bears football program for four seasons from 2015 to 2018 and also competed for the Golden Bears track and field squad during the 2016 to 2019 campaigns. Another brother, Hakim, was a member of the Cal track and field program for five seasons from 2019 to 2023.
The family’s connection to collegiate athletics clearly shaped McMorris’s development as a football player. With multiple siblings having competed at the Pac-12 level, McMorris entered college with a strong athletic support system that helped guide his progression from a Santa Ana prep standout to an NFL draft pick.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a transitional year for Patrick Allen McMorris. After spending the back half of his rookie season with the Miami Dolphins, he was waived in late August as part of the Dolphins’ final roster cuts. He quickly bounced back by joining the New York Giants practice squad, though that stint lasted only a few weeks before he was released in mid-September.
McMorris then signed with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad in late September, providing another opportunity to remain in an NFL environment. After a release in early October, he returned to the Cardinals practice squad in mid-December before being released again later that month. Across these moves, he has continued to log practice reps and stay prepared for a potential elevation to an active roster.
Looking ahead, McMorris’s primary objective for the remainder of the 2025 season is to secure a more stable roster spot and continue refining his craft as a safety. His combination of collegiate production, postseason all-star experience, and multiple NFL practice squad stints keeps him firmly on the radar for teams in need of depth in the secondary.