Shemar Bartholomew Bio
Shemar Bartholomew (born June 6, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northwestern State Demons and the Georgia Southern Eagles and entered the NFL in 2024 as an undrafted free agent. Across his first two professional seasons, Bartholomew has spent time with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers, working to establish himself in the league.
Early Life and Background
Shemar Bartholomew was born on June 6, 2000, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in a large family with six siblings. His early years in Louisiana were followed by a move to Texas, where he attended Cypress Ranch High School and played cornerback for three years on the varsity football team. As a senior, he totaled 40 tackles, five interceptions, and 12 pass breakups, helping the school win playoff games in his final two seasons.
He graduated from Cypress Ranch with a grade-point average of 4.34, balancing his athletic workload with strong academic results. After high school, Bartholomew committed to play college football for the NCAA Division I FCS Northwestern State Demons, beginning a college journey that would eventually take him to a second program and a professional career.
Path to American Football
Bartholomew’s progression to the professional ranks began at Northwestern State, where he became a productive defensive back in the Southland Conference. After developing at the FCS level, he transferred to the Georgia Southern Eagles, an FBS program in the Sun Belt Conference, for the 2023 season. The move positioned him for a chance at the next level, and he went on to sign with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
Shemar Bartholomew Career
Early Career (2018-2021)
As a freshman at Northwestern State in 2018, Shemar Bartholomew appeared in eight games, three as a starter, and recorded 14 tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions. In 2019, he played nine games, six as a starter, and produced 26 tackles and four interceptions, including one returned 96 yards for a touchdown. That performance earned him third-team All-Southland Conference honors and an honorable mention sophomore All-American nod from HERO Sports.
During the spring 2021 season, Bartholomew appeared in three games and posted three tackles and an interception. He started nine games that fall, led the Demons with six pass breakups, and was named second-team All-Southland Conference. He then appeared in one game during the 2022 season before redshirting and transferring to Georgia Southern.
Northwestern State Breakthrough (2018-2022)
Bartholomew’s most productive stretch at Northwestern State came during the 2019 and 2021 seasons, when he served as a full-time starter and built a reputation as a ball-hawking cornerback. His 96-yard interception return for a touchdown in 2019 and his second-team All-Southland selection in 2021 were the defining moments of his time with the Demons. Those performances established him as a player capable of contributing at a higher level.
Georgia Southern Era (2023)
At Georgia Southern in 2023, Shemar Bartholomew appeared in 13 games, five as a starter, and recorded 38 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 14 pass breakups, and one interception. His coverage production and tackling helped him earn second-team All-Sun Belt Conference recognition, a notable achievement for a transfer in his first FBS season.
New York Jets Era (2024)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Bartholomew signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. He impressed during the preseason, allowing no receiving yards on nine targets, and emerged as a young player to watch in the Jets’ secondary. He was waived on August 29, 2024, but his strong preseason left a mark on other teams around the league.
Carolina Panthers Era (2024-2025)
On August 28, 2024, the Carolina Panthers claimed Bartholomew off waivers, and he was reportedly the most in-demand player on the wire, with four teams putting in a claim. He spent time with Carolina before being waived on August 26, 2025. He was re-signed to the practice squad and then released the following day, ending his initial stint with the organization.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2025)
On November 11, 2025, Shemar Bartholomew was signed to the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, giving him another opportunity in the league. He was released by the Vikings on November 25, 2025, less than two weeks later, as the team reshaped its practice squad.
Green Bay Packers Era (2025-Present)
On December 2, 2025, Bartholomew was signed to the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad, continuing his search for a stable professional home. The move to Green Bay gave him a late-season opportunity to compete within a respected defensive organization and finish the 2025 campaign on an active roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Shemar Bartholomew’s career came in 2019, when he returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown at Northwestern State. He followed that with a second-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection at Georgia Southern in 2023, cementing his reputation as a productive cornerback at multiple levels. His preseason showing with the Jets, where he allowed no receiving yards on nine targets, was another career highlight that helped him quickly land with the Panthers.
Shemar Bartholomew Career Wins
As a cornerback, Shemar Bartholomew’s production is measured in coverage plays rather than victories, and his verified on-field production includes interceptions, pass breakups, and postseason recognition. His college totals and All-Conference selections reflect a steady climb through multiple programs, while his professional career has been defined by roster moves and practice-squad opportunities.
Other Wins & Performances
Bartholomew helped Cypress Ranch win playoff games in his final two high school seasons and earned second-team All-Southland Conference honors in 2021 at Northwestern State. He added second-team All-Sun Belt Conference recognition in 2023 at Georgia Southern, marking the two most notable honors of his career to date.
Shemar Bartholomew Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Shemar Bartholomew was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a large family that included six siblings. While details about his parents and other relatives are not widely documented, his upbringing in a sizable household helped shape the discipline and resilience that carried him through multiple college programs and a long professional journey.
Personal Life
Public information about Shemar Bartholomew’s personal life is limited, and details about a spouse, partner, or children have not been publicly confirmed. He maintains a presence on social media platforms such as X and Instagram, where he shares updates about his football career and off-field interests.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a period of transition for Shemar Bartholomew, marked by several practice-squad moves across the league. He was waived by the Carolina Panthers on August 26, 2025, re-signed to their practice squad, and released the next day, before being picked up by the Minnesota Vikings on November 11, 2025. That stint lasted just two weeks, as the Vikings released him on November 25, 2025.
His most recent move came on December 2, 2025, when he signed with the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad, giving him a late-season opportunity to compete within a respected defensive organization. Throughout 2025, Bartholomew has continued to seek a regular role on an active 53-man roster, leaning on his All-Sun Belt credentials and his standout 2024 preseason with the Jets. His outlook for the rest of 2025 depends on whether he can translate his practice-squad work into a longer-term opportunity, either in Green Bay or elsewhere in the league.