Trey Sermon Bio
An’treyon Sermon, known professionally as Trey Sermon, is an American professional football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He has also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts since entering the league.
Standing at 6 feet tall and weighing around 215 pounds, Sermon brings a power-running style to the Steelers’ backfield. He attended Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia, before launching a college career that eventually carried him into the professional ranks.
Early Life and Background
An’treyon Sermon was born on January 30, 1999, in St. Petersburg, Florida. He grew up in a region with a strong football culture, which helped shape his early interest in the sport. He later moved to Georgia, where he completed his high school education at Sprayberry High School in Marietta.
At Sprayberry, Sermon developed into a highly regarded running back prospect. His performance on the field drew the attention of several college programs, and he ultimately chose to commit to the University of Oklahoma. That decision set the stage for his transition to the next level of competition.
Path to American Football
Sermon arrived at Oklahoma as a true freshman in 2017, playing in all 14 games and making three starts. He finished that first college season with 744 rushing yards on 121 carries and five touchdowns, showing early signs of the workhorse role he could fill. As a sophomore in 2018, he shared carries with Kennedy Brooks and still managed to rush for 947 yards and 13 touchdowns on 164 attempts.
His junior year at Oklahoma in 2019 was cut short, as he appeared in nine games and recorded 54 carries for 385 yards and four touchdowns. Looking for a new opportunity, Sermon transferred to Ohio State University as a graduate student in 2020. With the Buckeyes, he delivered one of the most memorable postseason performances in program history.
Trey Sermon Career
Early Career (2020)
At Ohio State, Sermon quickly became a centerpiece of the Buckeyes’ run game during the 2020 season. He earned Second-team All-Big Ten honors for his work that year. His signature moment came in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern, where he rushed for 331 yards, the most ever by an Ohio State player in a single game and the highest total in any Football Bowl Subdivision conference championship game.
He followed that performance with 193 rushing yards and a touchdown against Clemson in the 2021 Sugar Bowl, adding four catches for 61 yards in a 49-28 victory. In the 2021 National Championship Game against Alabama, however, Sermon suffered an injury on the first play and did not return in the 52-24 loss, closing his college career on a difficult note.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2021)
Sermon was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round, 88th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on July 21, 2021, and entered training camp competing for a role behind Raheem Mostert and fellow rookie Elijah Mitchell.
He made his first career start in Week 3 of the 2021 season against the Green Bay Packers, rushing for 31 yards and a touchdown while adding two catches for three yards and another score. A Week 12 ankle injury sent him to injured reserve in December, and he returned to the active roster on January 11, 2022. As a rookie, Sermon appeared in nine games with two starts, finishing with 41 carries for 167 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He was released by the 49ers on August 31, 2022.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2022-2023)
On September 1, 2022, Sermon was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles. He appeared in two games, Weeks 4 and 5, of the 2022 regular season. He was waived/injured by the Eagles on August 29, 2023, reverted to injured reserve two days later, and was waived from injured reserve on September 15, 2023, closing his time in Philadelphia.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2023-2024)
Sermon signed with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad on September 19, 2023, and was promoted to the active roster four days later. He appeared in 14 regular-season games for the Colts, recording 35 carries for 160 rushing yards. The Colts re-signed him to a new contract on March 14, 2024.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2025-Present)
On May 11, 2025, Sermon signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers to a one-year contract. He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and quickly re-signed to the practice squad the following day. Sermon was promoted to the active roster on November 8 before being waived four days later, then re-signed to the practice squad on November 13 and released on December 10.
During his time with Pittsburgh in 2025, Sermon played in four games, all on special teams, returning two kicks for 51 yards and combining on one tackle. He was re-signed to the practice squad on December 17, continuing his role within the Steelers’ organization.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sermon’s most celebrated career moment remains his 331-yard rushing performance in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game, a mark that stands as Ohio State’s single-game record and the highest in any FBS conference championship game. His strong play that postseason also helped Ohio State reach the 2021 National Championship Game, where his early injury underscored the physical demands of his position.
Trey Sermon Career Wins
Trey Sermon’s career is defined more by standout individual performances than by championship hardware. His most notable win was a 49-28 Sugar Bowl victory over Clemson in January 2021, when he rushed for 193 yards and a touchdown. Across his professional stops with the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh Steelers, Sermon has contributed as a depth running back and special teams player rather than as a featured starter.
Other Wins & Performances
His college resume includes multiple 100-yard rushing games at Oklahoma and Ohio State, highlighted by his record-setting Big Ten Championship performance and his dominant Sugar Bowl outing. In the NFL, his first career start against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 of the 2021 season produced both a rushing and a receiving touchdown, marking his most productive professional day to date.
Trey Sermon Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Trey Sermon’s immediate family remain limited. He was raised between Florida and Georgia, attending Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia, where he developed the running back skills that carried him to Oklahoma and Ohio State.
Personal Life
Beyond his professional career, Sermon keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye. No confirmed public details regarding a spouse or children are available from verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Trey Sermon’s 2025 season has been spent primarily on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad, with brief stints on the active roster. He signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh on May 11, 2025, but was released during final cuts before quickly rejoining the practice squad. His opportunities on game day came in November and December, when he appeared in four games exclusively on special teams.
His special teams contributions included two kick returns totaling 51 yards and one combined tackle, underscoring his value as a versatile reserve rather than a featured offensive player. The repeated moves between the active roster and practice squad reflected the Steelers’ use of him as a depth option throughout the year.
Looking ahead, Sermon re-signed to the Steelers’ practice squad on December 17, 2025, suggesting the team values his dependability and special teams ability. His path back to a larger offensive role would likely depend on injuries ahead of him on the depth chart, but he remains firmly within the Pittsburgh organization as the season closes.