Tre Swilling Bio
Tre Swilling (born March 26, 1999) is an American professional football cornerback known for his work in the secondary. He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets before launching a professional career in the National Football League. After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Swilling signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent and has since spent time on the practice squads and rosters of several organizations across the league.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 196 pounds, Swilling has built a career as a depth cornerback, contributing primarily on special teams and in reserve defensive roles. He is the son of College Football Hall of Fame linebacker Pat Swilling, a connection that links him to one of the most respected defensive lineages in New Orleans football history.
Early Life and Background
Tre Swilling was born on March 26, 1999, in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he grew up surrounded by the city’s strong football culture. New Orleans has produced a long line of NFL talent, and Swilling’s upbringing in that environment gave him early exposure to the sport at both the high school and community levels.
He attended Brother Martin High School, a Catholic school in New Orleans with a proud athletic tradition. During his high school years, Swilling developed into a promising defensive back and drew scholarship offers from several prominent programs. He ultimately chose to commit to Georgia Tech over other notable suitors, including Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, and Michigan, opting for the Yellow Jackets’ combination of academics and Atlantic Coast Conference competition.
Coming from a family with a deep football pedigree, Swilling entered college with high expectations. His father, Pat Swilling, had starred as a linebacker at Georgia Tech before enjoying a long professional career, which made the choice of program a natural fit for the young cornerback.
Path to American Football
Swilling’s path to professional football began in earnest when he arrived at Georgia Tech and joined the Yellow Jackets’ defensive backfield. The transition from high school standout to collegiate starter required adjustment, but his physical tools and football IQ, sharpened by years of coaching and family guidance, allowed him to compete early in his career.
By his sophomore season, Swilling was contributing meaningfully in the secondary. In week ten of the 2018 season, he recorded his first career interception, helping Georgia Tech defeat North Carolina. He closed that year with 24 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, six pass deflections, an interception, and a forced fumble, signaling his arrival as a playmaker.
His development continued through his junior and senior years, as he took on larger roles within the Georgia Tech defense. The combination of family lineage, dedicated coaching, and consistent on-field production positioned him to pursue a professional opportunity once his college career concluded.
Tre Swilling Career
College Career (2017–2021)
Tre Swilling played four seasons of college football at Georgia Tech, appearing in multiple games as a cornerback for the Yellow Jackets. During the 2019 season, he broke up a pass and intercepted a throw off quarterback Trevor Lawrence, returning it 41 yards against Clemson. He finished that year with 23 tackles, two tackles for loss, ten pass deflections, an interception, and a fumble recovery, earning All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition for his performance.
In the 2020 season, Swilling recorded 21 tackles, a pass deflection, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble, helping anchor a Yellow Jackets secondary that faced a condensed schedule. The following year, he notched 33 tackles with two for loss, a sack, and four pass deflections, wrapping up his college career with a productive senior campaign. Across his full tenure at Georgia Tech, he accumulated 101 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, 21 pass deflections, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.
Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints (2022)
Following the 2022 NFL draft, in which he went unselected, Tre Swilling signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022. He spent the offseason and training camp working to earn a roster spot but was waived on August 30, 2022, as teams trimmed toward their regular-season limits.
Shortly after his release, Swilling returned home to Louisiana when the New Orleans Saints signed him to their practice squad on September 12, 2022. His tenure with the Saints was brief, as he was released on October 4, 2022, ending his first professional stint in his hometown.
San Francisco 49ers (2022–2023)
Tre Swilling joined the San Francisco 49ers practice squad on December 20, 2022, and was released a week later. On February 6, 2023, he signed a reserve/future contract with the 49ers, securing a chance to compete for a roster spot in the following training camp.
He was waived on August 29, 2023, but was re-signed to the practice squad the next day. His most notable moment with the 49ers came on September 16, 2023, when he was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster after cornerback Samuel Womack was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury, giving Swilling his first active-roster appearance in the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2023–2024)
On October 3, 2023, Tre Swilling was signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, joining one of the league’s most consistent defensive organizations. He signed a reserve/future contract with Baltimore on January 29, 2024, indicating the team’s interest in retaining him for the following season. He was waived by the Ravens on July 22, ending his time on the active and practice squad rosters.
New York Jets and Carolina Panthers (2024–2025)
Swilling was signed by the New York Jets on August 2, 2024, and was waived on August 27 before being re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025, but was waived by the Jets on June 12, 2025.
On July 23, 2025, Swilling signed with the Carolina Panthers, looking to earn a depth role in their secondary. He was waived on August 25, 2025, as the team finalized its initial roster, leaving him available to pursue his next professional opportunity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most meaningful milestones of Tre Swilling’s career are his first career interception against North Carolina in 2018 and his 41-yard interception return off Trevor Lawrence in 2019. His elevation to the San Francisco 49ers’ active roster in September 2023 marked his first official appearance on an NFL game-day lineup, while his reserve/future contracts with both the 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens demonstrated sustained league-wide interest in his services.
Tre Swilling Career Wins
Professional Highlights
As a cornerback who has spent the majority of his professional career on practice squads and short-term reserve deals, Tre Swilling’s win totals at the NFL level reflect his journeyman path through the league. His most consistent contributions have come in practice environments, where he has worked with multiple defensive coaching staffs across the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Carolina Panthers organizations.
His first professional opportunity with the Titans came as an undrafted free agent in 2022, and his elevation to the 49ers’ active roster in 2023 stands as one of the defining moments of his early career. Continued reserve/future contracts with the Ravens and Jets underscored his reputation as a reliable depth piece in NFL secondary rooms.
Tre Swilling Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tre Swilling comes from one of New Orleans’ most recognized football families. His father, Pat Swilling, is a former Georgia Tech linebacker who went on to star in the NFL, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors and a place in the College Football Hall of Fame. Pat’s accomplishments gave Tre an early and intimate understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest levels of the sport.
Personal Life
Growing up in the same city and attending the same college as his father gave Tre Swilling a unique connection to his family legacy. While he has kept much of his personal life private, his career path reflects a steady commitment to continuing the Swilling tradition of professional football excellence in New Orleans and beyond.
2025 Season Performance
Tre Swilling’s 2025 campaign has reflected the same journeyman resilience that has defined his career to this point. He began the year on a reserve/future contract with the New York Jets, signed in January 2025, before being waived on June 12 as teams reshaped their offseason rosters. The release gave him an opportunity to evaluate his next landing spot heading into training camp.
On July 23, 2025, Swilling signed with the Carolina Panthers, joining a defensive backfield in need of depth heading into the preseason. He was waived on August 25, 2025, ending his brief stint in Carolina and placing him back in the market as a veteran depth cornerback available to any NFL organization in need of secondary help.
As the 2025 season progresses, Swilling’s experience across multiple defensive systems, including time with the 49ers, Ravens, and Jets, makes him a candidate for practice squad or reserve roles with teams navigating injuries. His continued presence in the league underscores his professionalism and the value he provides to organizations seeking experienced depth at the cornerback position.