Richie Grant Bio
Richie Grant is an American professional football safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCF Knights and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing around 200 pounds, Grant has built his reputation as a versatile defensive back known for tackling, ball production, and dependable coverage.
After four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, a brief stop with the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, and a subsequent signing with the New England Patriots, Grant continues his NFL career as a veteran safety. His path from a two-star recruit in Florida to a second-round pick and multi-year starter reflects steady development and durability.
Early Life and Background
Richie Grant was born on November 9, 1997, in Lumberton, Mississippi. He spent the first years of his childhood in his hometown before his family relocated to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, when he was nine years old. The move gave him an early introduction to a new community and to organized athletics in the Florida panhandle.
Grant attended Choctawhatchee High School, where he played defensive back and wide receiver on the football team and also competed in track and field. He was rated a two-star recruit by 247Sports, a modest ranking that did not slow his college recruitment. Grant committed to play college football at the University of Central Florida over offers from Georgia State, Tennessee-Chattanooga, the Citadel, and Kennesaw State.
Grant’s uncle, Terry Grant, played running back at the University of Alabama and later suited up for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, giving Richie an early family connection to high-level football.
Path to American Football
Grant enrolled at UCF and redshirted his true freshman season, preserving a year of eligibility while adjusting to the college game. As a redshirt freshman, he worked into the Knights’ defensive backfield rotation, learning the daily demands of a top-flight defensive scheme.
His real emergence came as a redshirt sophomore, when he was named a starter and exploded with 109 tackles and six interceptions to go along with three forced fumbles and nine passes defended. The performance earned him first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors and announced him as one of the premier safeties in the Group of Five ranks.
Over the next two seasons, Grant stayed on the same award-winning track. He added another first-team All-AAC selection in 2019 and a third straight honor in 2020, when he posted 72 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He finished his UCF career as a Jim Thorpe Award finalist and a Bednarik Award semifinalist, then declared for the 2021 NFL draft.
Richie Grant Career
Early Career (2021)
The Atlanta Falcons selected Richie Grant in the second round with the 40th overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on June 18, 2021, a deal worth 8.3 million dollars that included a 3.4 million dollar signing bonus. As a rookie, Grant served primarily in a backup role, learning the Falcons’ defensive system and contributing on special teams while adjusting to the professional level.
Atlanta Falcons Breakthrough (2022–2023)
In 2022, Grant was named the Falcons’ starting strong safety and held that role for the entire season. He started all 17 games and finished second on the team with 123 tackles, while also adding seven passes defended, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. The performance cemented him as a reliable every-down defender in Atlanta’s secondary.
Grant maintained his starting role in 2023, starting 15 of 17 games and finishing fourth on the team with 103 tackles. He also contributed three sacks, six passes defended, two forced fumbles, and an interception, showing growth as a blitzer and run defender. By the end of the 2023 season, he had clearly established himself as a productive NFL safety.
His 2024 season proved more challenging, as he lost the starting strong safety job to veteran Justin Simmons and was relegated to a backup role. Grant played primarily on special teams and saw limited snaps on defense, marking a turning point in his Falcons tenure.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2025)
On March 13, 2025, Grant signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, looking for a fresh start in a new defensive scheme. His time with the team, however, was short, as he was released on August 28, 2025, before the regular season was well underway.
New England Patriots Era (2025–Present)
Following his release from the 49ers, Grant was signed to the New England Patriots’ practice squad on October 15, 2025. The move gave him an opportunity to re-establish himself within an NFL organization and compete for a spot on the active roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Grant is a physical, tackling-first safety who excels in run support and underneath coverage. His instincts and willingness to come up against the run complement his ball skills as a center-field defender, and his experience at strong safety has allowed him to align in the box, cover tight ends, and contribute as a blitzer when called upon.
Notable Events and Milestones
Grant’s most notable milestones include his selection as the 40th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, three straight first-team All-AAC selections at UCF, and a 2022 campaign in which he racked up 123 tackles for the Falcons. His 2017 UCF team was also recognized as a Colley Matrix national champion.
Richie Grant Career Wins
Richie Grant has built a career defined more by statistical production and durability than by championship trophies. His standout win came at the college level, where his UCF Knights were recognized as the 2017 Colley Matrix national champion. In the NFL, he has notched consistent tackle and interception totals across multiple seasons, headlined by his 123-tackle 2022 season with Atlanta.
UCF Knights Highlights
At UCF, Grant was a three-time first-team All-AAC selection in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and his 2017 squad was named the Colley Matrix national champion. His redshirt sophomore season of 109 tackles and six interceptions stands as the signature statistical year of his college career.
Other Wins and Performances
Grant has yet to record a Super Bowl appearance or an NFL postseason victory, as his teams have not advanced deep into the playoffs during his professional tenure. His body of work remains anchored by his consistent defensive production and his three consecutive All-AAC honors at UCF.
Richie Grant Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Richie Grant comes from a family with ties to football at the highest levels. His uncle, Terry Grant, played running back at the University of Alabama before continuing his career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. That family connection gave Richie an early blueprint for what a professional football career could look like.
Personal Life
Grant studied sports and exercise science at UCF, and as a freshman he earned American All-Academic Team honors for the 2016–17 academic year. He is based in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, the same community where he attended high school after moving from Mississippi.
2025 Season Performance
Richie Grant’s 2025 season has been defined by movement between rosters rather than on-field results. After his release from the Atlanta Falcons, he signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on March 13, 2025, only to be released on August 28 before the regular season was in full swing.
On October 15, 2025, Grant was signed to the New England Patriots’ practice squad, giving him a fresh opportunity to work back onto an active NFL roster. The Patriots, seeking veteran depth in the secondary, offered him a path to contribute on special teams and in reserve defensive roles.
Looking ahead, Grant will look to translate his practice squad work into a regular role in New England’s secondary and put together the kind of steady production that defined his 2022 and 2023 campaigns in Atlanta.