Ryan Flournoy Bio
Ryan Flournoy, born on October 27, 1999, in Hazel Crest, Illinois, is an American professional football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 200 pounds, Flournoy overcame a winding college journey through three different programs before reaching the NFL. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round, 216th overall, of the 2024 NFL draft and has emerged as a developing contributor in the Cowboys’ passing attack.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Flournoy grew up in Hazel Crest, Illinois, in the south suburbs of Chicago. As a child, he was a devoted fan of the Chicago Bears and watched highlight reels of legendary Bears players like Gale Sayers and Walter Payton. Inspired by those performances, Flournoy decided at the age of five that he wanted to play in the NFL someday.
He first picked up organized football at age five and continued playing through his school years. He attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois, where he lined up at wide receiver and also competed on the school’s track team. After a slow start with limited playing time as an underclassman, Flournoy enjoyed his most productive season as a senior, recording 28 receptions for 480 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite that production, he received very little recruitment interest from major college programs.
Path to Professional Football
Lacking scholarship offers from NCAA Division I schools, Flournoy enrolled at the University of Central Missouri, an NCAA Division II program. He redshirted his first year in 2018 and missed the early part of his second season with an injury, ultimately finishing that year with 17 receptions for 170 yards while playing through a partially torn ACL. When the 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Flournoy used the disruption as an opportunity to transfer.
In 2021, he moved to Iowa Western Community College, where he quickly became the team’s top receiver. He totaled 32 receptions for 545 yards and five touchdowns and helped Iowa Western reach the NJCAA national championship game, scoring each of his team’s touchdowns in a 31–13 loss. With only one NCAA Division I offer on the table, from Southeast Missouri State, Flournoy made the jump to the FCS level in 2022. He became a team captain in his first year with the Redhawks, posted 61 catches for 984 yards and seven touchdowns, and earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors.
Ryan Flournoy Career
Early Career
Flournoy opened his college career at Central Missouri, where he redshirted in 2018 and played through injury in 2019. His development was slowed by physical setbacks and the cancellation of the 2020 season, but his move to Iowa Western in 2021 gave him the platform to display his ability as a top receiver.
At Southeast Missouri State, Flournoy transformed into one of the most productive wideouts in the Ohio Valley Conference. He was named first-team All-OVC in both 2022 and 2023, even while missing time during his senior year with a broken hand. That senior campaign included 57 receptions for 839 yards and six touchdowns, and he graduated in December 2023 with a general studies degree.
Senior Bowl and Draft Season
Entering his final college season, Flournoy was recognized on The Athletic’s college football “Freaks List,” highlighting his athletic profile. After the 2023 season, he was invited to the Hula Bowl, the East–West Shrine Bowl, the 2024 Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. At the Senior Bowl, he stood out as one of the only FCS players in attendance and became the first Southeast Missouri State player selected in an NFL draft since 1998.
Dallas Cowboys Era
The Dallas Cowboys selected Ryan Flournoy in the sixth round, 216th overall, of the 2024 NFL draft. As a rookie, he appeared in 11 games and posted 10 receptions for 102 scoreless yards while adjusting to the speed of the professional game. Heading into the 2025 season, he was waived on August 28, 2025, and re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted back to the active roster on September 13.
Once back on the active roster, Flournoy produced his strongest outings yet. In Week 5 against the New York Jets, he caught six passes for a then career-high 114 yards, surpassing his entire rookie receiving total in a single game. Two weeks later, in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals, he hauled in his first career touchdown on a five-yard reception from quarterback Dak Prescott. He set new personal bests in Week 14 against the Detroit Lions, recording 12 targets, 9 receptions, and 115 receiving yards in a Thursday Night Football matchup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Flournoy’s first NFL touchdown came against the Arizona Cardinals in 2025, a five-yard connection with Dak Prescott that marked a milestone in his young career. His Week 14 performance against the Detroit Lions represented his most productive statistical outing to date, while his Week 5 breakout against the New York Jets signaled his emergence as a reliable secondary option in the Cowboys’ offense.
Ryan Flournoy Career Wins
As a wide receiver, Ryan Flournoy’s statistical milestones are measured in receptions, yards, and touchdowns rather than race wins. Through his first NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, his most notable achievements include recording his first career touchdown and posting back-to-back 100-yard receiving games during the 2025 season.
Other Performances
Flournoy earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in both 2022 and 2023 with the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks. He was also recognized on The Athletic’s college football “Freaks List” before his senior season, underscoring his athletic upside as he transitioned to the professional level.
Ryan Flournoy Family
Personal Life
Ryan Flournoy was raised in Hazel Crest, Illinois, and grew up in a household where Chicago Bears football played an important role, shaping his dream of reaching the NFL. He attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School in nearby Flossmoor, Illinois, where he also competed on the track team.
2025 Season Performance
Ryan Flournoy’s 2025 campaign has been defined by perseverance and rapid growth. After being waived at the end of Cowboys training camp and quickly re-signed to the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster in mid-September and immediately began producing. His Week 5 breakout against the New York Jets, in which he logged 114 receiving yards, announced his arrival as a playmaker within the Cowboys’ offense.
As the season progressed, Flournoy continued to expand his role. He caught his first career touchdown from Dak Prescott against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9 and followed that with a career-best performance in Week 14 against the Detroit Lions, setting new personal highs in targets, receptions, and yards. He has consistently been featured as a secondary receiving threat behind the Cowboys’ top pass-catchers.
Looking ahead, Flournoy’s momentum positions him as a young piece of the Cowboys’ long-term offensive plans. With his combination of size, athleticism, and rising production, he remains a developmental player to watch as he builds on his 2025 breakthroughs.