Tanner Mordecai Bio
Tanner Mordecai (born November 8, 1999) is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs, and Wisconsin Badgers. After going unselected in the 2024 National Football League (NFL) Draft, Mordecai signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent and has spent his early professional career moving between the active roster and the practice squad.
Early Life and Background
Tanner Mordecai was born on November 8, 1999, in Waco, Texas, in the United States. He grew up in the Waco area and attended Midway High School, where he developed into a productive high school quarterback. During his high school career, he passed for 4,797 yards and 51 touchdowns, drawing the attention of college recruiters around the region.
His strong senior production helped him earn a scholarship offer from the University of Oklahoma, where he committed to play college football. Coming out of Midway High School, Mordecai was regarded as a promising pro-style passer with the size and arm talent to fit a spread-style offense. Standing about 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 218 pounds in his professional measurements, he had the physical profile that colleges look for in a developmental quarterback prospect.
Path to American Football
Mordecai’s path to high-level American football began in the Waco-area high school ranks, where his passing totals established him as one of the more productive quarterbacks in central Texas. His decision to commit to Oklahoma gave him an early opportunity to learn within one of college football’s most prestigious programs, even though it also placed him behind established stars on the Sooners’ depth chart.
At Oklahoma, Mordecai spent most of his time as a backup while absorbing the daily work of a top-tier program. That environment prepared him for a larger role when he transferred to SMU, where he was immediately named the starting quarterback. His first start for the Mustangs produced a then-school-record seven passing touchdowns in a 56-9 victory over Abilene Christian, signaling that he was ready to lead a college offense on his own.
Tanner Mordecai Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
Mordecai began his college career at Oklahoma in 2018, where he redshirted his first year while appearing in two games as a backup behind Kyler Murray. In 2019, he competed with Jalen Hurts for the starting job but lost the battle and served as Hurts’ backup throughout the season. The following year, in 2020, he again pushed for the starting role, this time against Spencer Rattler, but again finished as the backup.
Across his three seasons at Oklahoma, Mordecai played in 12 games and completed 50 of 70 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns. Although he did not win a starting role with the Sooners, his time in the program gave him valuable experience within a high-level college football system and prepared him for a leading role elsewhere.
SMU Breakthrough (2021-2022)
In 2021, Mordecai transferred to Southern Methodist University, where he was quickly named the starting quarterback. In his first start, he threw for a then-school-record seven passing touchdowns in a 56-9 victory over Abilene Christian. Following the 2021 season, he was selected to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Conference Second Team.
On November 5, 2022, against the Houston Cougars, Mordecai threw for a school-record nine touchdowns, seven of which came in the first half. The Mustangs won the game 77-63, breaking the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) record for the highest-scoring regulation game. For his performance, Mordecai was named the American Athletic Conference’s offensive player of the week, cementing his status as one of the most productive passers in the conference.
Wisconsin Tenure (2022-2023)
On December 30, 2022, Mordecai announced his intent to transfer to the University of Wisconsin, capping a remarkable individual season at SMU. His move to the Big Ten gave him the chance to test himself in a different offensive system and against a higher level of weekly competition.
He spent his final college season with the Wisconsin Badgers, finishing out his collegiate career before declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. The Wisconsin stint provided him with a second conference experience and helped round out his resume as a professional prospect.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2024-Present)
On April 27, 2024, Mordecai signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent after he was not selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was also selected by the DC Defenders in the ninth round of the 2024 UFL Draft on July 17. Mordecai was waived by the 49ers on August 27, and was re-signed to the team’s practice squad the same day. On January 6, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with San Francisco.
On August 4, 2025, Mordecai was waived by the 49ers. He was re-signed three days later, but was waived again on August 11. Mordecai re-signed with the 49ers on August 21, but was waived/injured by the team on August 25. Through these moves, he has continued to pursue a long-term place on a professional roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Mordecai’s career came on November 5, 2022, when he threw for a school-record nine touchdowns in a 77-63 victory over Houston, a game that set the FBS record for the highest-scoring regulation game. He also earned American Athletic Conference Second Team honors in 2021, and his first SMU start produced a then-school-record seven passing touchdowns against Abilene Christian.
Tanner Mordecai Family
Personal Life
Tanner Mordecai was raised in Waco, Texas, and attended Midway High School before beginning his college career. Public details about his family, marital status, and children are not widely documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Mordecai’s status with the San Francisco 49ers has been in flux, with multiple waiver and re-signing moves in August 2025. He signed a reserve/future contract with the team on January 6, 2025, which kept him in the organization through the offseason program and into training camp. His role within the quarterback room has been shaped by the 49ers’ depth chart and the team’s overall roster planning.
His 2025 training camp included a brief stint on the active roster, a return to the practice squad, and an injury designation, all within a single month. These moves suggest that the 49ers value his arm talent and familiarity with their system, even if a permanent spot on the active roster has not yet been locked in. The coming weeks of the preseason and any subsequent transactions will determine his path for the regular season.
For Mordecai, the 2025 campaign represents an opportunity to stabilize his professional career after a whirlwind rookie year that included time with both the 49ers and a UFL selection by the DC Defenders. With another offseason in the San Francisco system, he will look to compete for a backup or practice squad role and continue building toward a longer NFL future.