Ronnie Rivers Bio
Ronnie Rivers (born January 31, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals and has since carved out a role as a special teams contributor and change-of-pace back in Los Angeles. Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 192 pounds, Rivers is known for his versatility in the return game and as a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield.
A product of the Fresno State Bulldogs program, Rivers compiled one of the most decorated careers in school history before transitioning to the professional ranks. He has been a member of the Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, and Rams organizations, and he re-signed with Los Angeles in March 2025 to continue his NFL journey.
Early Life and Background
Ronnie Rivers was born on January 31, 1999, in Castro Valley, California. He grew up in Northern California and attended Freedom High School in Oakley, where he developed into one of the most productive high school running backs in the region. The area’s competitive Bay Valley League provided a strong foundation for his development as a multi-purpose offensive weapon.
As a senior in 2016, Rivers enjoyed a breakout campaign, rushing for 2,239 yards and scoring 33 touchdowns while posting 100-yard-plus rushing performances in 11 of 13 games. He was named Bay Valley League Most Valuable Player, East Bay Offensive Player of the Year by the San Jose Mercury News, All-NorCal Offensive Player of the Year by MaxPreps, and All-North Coast Section Player of the Year by Prep2Prep. His senior-year production broke several school rushing records previously held by former NFL running back Joe Mixon and helped lead the Freedom Falcons to an 11–2 record and a runner-up finish in the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school as a highly regarded recruit, Rivers accepted a scholarship to Fresno State, where he would spend five seasons developing into one of the program’s all-time greats. His path to a professional career required patience and perseverance, as he was not selected in the 2022 NFL Draft despite his decorated college résumé.
His college trajectory began as a true freshman in 2017, when he played in all but one of Fresno State’s 14 games, including seven starts. He ran for 480 yards on 101 carries and scored five touchdowns while adding 20 receptions for 129 yards and a receiving touchdown. He was also recognized as a Mountain West scholar-athlete, demonstrating his commitment to academics alongside his on-field production.
Ronnie Rivers Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
During his sophomore season in 2018, Rivers appeared in 11 games with six starts and tallied 1,192 all-purpose yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns. He led the Bulldogs in rushing with 743 yards on 132 carries and 10 rushing touchdowns while also contributing 26 receptions for 311 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He capped the year by earning MVP honors of the Las Vegas Bowl after setting single-game career highs with 24 carries for 212 yards in a 31–20 victory over Arizona State, including a 41-yard punt return.
As a junior in 2019, Rivers started all 12 games and led Fresno State in rushing with 899 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding 348 receiving yards and three receiving scores to earn second team All-Mountain West Conference honors. He strung together three consecutive 100-yard rushing games against Colorado State, Hawaii, and Utah State, and closed the season with a 177-yard, one-touchdown performance on 29 carries against San Jose State.
Senior and Fifth-Year Seasons (2020–2021)
Rivers’ senior season in 2020 was abbreviated to six games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still produced at a high level, rushing for 507 yards on 100 carries with seven touchdowns and adding 27 receptions for 265 yards and two scores. He was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week after totaling 19 carries for 133 yards and three touchdowns against UNLV, followed by a 132-yard, one-touchdown performance against Utah State. He was recognized as a first team All-Mountain West running back at season’s end.
Granted an extra year of eligibility following the pandemic, Rivers returned for a fifth season in 2021 and served as a Bulldogs team captain. He delivered a season-best 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries at then-No. 13 UCLA, leading Fresno State to a 40–37 upset of the Bruins. He finished the year with 788 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 162 attempts, along with 34 receptions for 364 yards and two scores, earning first team All-Mountain West Conference honors for the second consecutive season.
By the end of his Fresno State career, Rivers held team records in touchdowns scored (52), rushing touchdowns (40), receiving touchdowns by a running back (12), receiving yards by a running back (1,417), and pass receptions by a running back (150). He ranked third in program history with 3,417 career rushing yards, second with 672 career rushing attempts, and fourth with 5,208 career all-purpose yards.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2022–Present)
After brief stints with the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Rivers signed with the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad on September 15, 2022. He was promoted to the active roster on November 26 and appeared in eight games as a rookie, rushing nine times for 21 yards and catching five passes for 29 yards. He earned his first NFL start against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8, rushing eight times for 21 yards and catching four passes for 15 yards in a 31–14 loss.
Rivers entered the 2023 season as the Rams’ third running back before a knee sprain in Week 6 sent him to injured reserve on October 18. He was activated on December 21 and finished the year with 32 carries for 129 yards and five receptions for 22 yards across nine games played.
In 2024, Rivers played just over 75 percent of his snaps for the Rams on special teams, while also contributing on offense. In Week 18, he made his second career start at running back and rushed for a career-high 13 carries for 52 yards in a 21–20 victory over San Francisco, finishing the year with 22 carries for 99 rushing yards and five receptions for 34 receiving yards.
Rivers agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Rams on March 16, 2025. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts but re-signed the following day to the team’s practice squad. He was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster on October 18 and was active for the Rams’ 35–7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, before being signed to the active roster on November 5.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although he is a running back rather than a driver, Rivers’ on-field style is built on vision, balance, and reliability in pass protection and on special teams. His compact build, soft hands, and experience as a punt returner at Fresno State make him a valuable third-down and coverage asset for the Rams. He has consistently earned the trust of the coaching staff through his preparation and willingness to contribute on multiple units.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Rivers’ signature moments are his Las Vegas Bowl MVP performance in 2018, his record-setting career at Fresno State, and his first NFL start against the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. His career-high 13-carry, 52-yard effort in the 2024 season finale against the 49ers, and his role in the Rams’ 2025 international victory over Jacksonville, are also notable milestones in his young professional career.
Ronnie Rivers Career Wins
Rivers has compiled a productive résumé as a contributor rather than a featured starter, with his most significant individual accolades coming at the college level. He earned All-Mountain West Conference honors three times across his Fresno State career and was named Las Vegas Bowl MVP in 2018.
Los Angeles Rams Highlights
With the Los Angeles Rams, Rivers has notched one start in 2022 and another in the 2024 regular-season finale against San Francisco, a game Los Angeles won 21–20. He has also been part of a 2025 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. His primary impact has come on special teams, where he has played a high percentage of snaps in recent seasons.
Other Wins & Performances
Before his NFL career, Rivers was part of multiple Fresno State victories, including the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl win over Arizona State, a 2018 Mountain West Conference Championship Game overtime win against Boise State, and a 2021 road upset of then-No. 13 UCLA. He also helped Freedom High School to an 11–2 record as a senior in 2016.
Ronnie Rivers Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Ronnie Rivers’ parents and extended family is limited. He is widely known for breaking rushing records at Freedom High School that had previously been held by former NFL running back Joe Mixon, a connection that has tied Rivers to a notable football lineage at the school.
Personal Life
Rivers keeps his personal life largely private and there is no public information available about a spouse or children. He is active on social media, where fans can follow his professional updates.
2025 Season Performance
Rivers’ 2025 season began with uncertainty after he was waived during final roster cuts on August 26, only to re-sign with the Rams’ practice squad the following day. His persistence paid off when he was elevated to the active roster on October 18 and signed to it on a more permanent basis on November 5.
He appeared in the Rams’ international game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, contributing on special teams in a 35–7 victory. His role with the team centers on special teams reliability and providing depth at running back, similar to his 2024 responsibilities.
Looking ahead, Rivers is positioned to remain a depth piece and special teams contributor for the Rams through the remainder of the 2025 season. With his re-signing earlier in the year and a pathway back to the active roster already established, he is likely to continue providing veteran presence and versatility out of the backfield as Los Angeles pushes toward the postseason.