Tyrone Tracy Jr. Bio
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (born November 23, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and Purdue Boilermakers before being selected by the Giants in the 2024 NFL Draft. After a strong rookie season in which he became a featured back, Tracy entered his second NFL campaign as the Giants’ lead runner.
Early Life and Background
Tyrone Tracy Jr. was born on November 23, 1999, in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he grew up and developed his love for football. He attended Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis, where he starred as a two-way skill player on offense. During his senior season, Tracy rushed for 1,412 yards and 13 touchdowns while also catching 54 passes for 1,132 yards and 16 touchdowns, showcasing the speed and pass-catching ability that would later define his professional trajectory.
Coming out of high school, Tracy was rated as a three-star recruit. His productive senior campaign and versatility as both a runner and receiver drew attention from several college programs. He ultimately decided to commit to play college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, choosing the Big Ten conference program to begin his collegiate career.
Path to American Football
Tracy began his college career at the University of Iowa, where he was used primarily as a wide receiver. During the 2019 season, he notched 36 receptions for 589 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding one rushing score. In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Tracy hauled in 14 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown, and in 2021 he recorded 15 receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. His development as a pass catcher at Iowa laid the foundation for his later success in a hybrid offensive role.
After the 2021 season, Tracy entered the NCAA transfer portal and decided to transfer to Purdue to play for the Boilermakers. In his first season at Purdue in 2022, he rushed 17 times for 138 yards while also adding 28 receptions for 198 yards. Heading into the 2023 season, Tracy made the decision to transition from wide receiver to running back, a move that would accelerate his path to the NFL. That year, he rushed for 716 yards and eight touchdowns on 113 carries, while also making 19 catches for 132 yards, earning Third-team All-Big Ten honors. Following the 2023 season, Tracy declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Tracy’s first notable stretch came at Iowa, where he served as a rotational wide receiver from 2019 through 2021. His most productive Hawkeyes season came as a freshman in 2019, when he averaged more than 16 yards per reception and scored four total touchdowns. Although his reception totals dipped in the shortened 2020 campaign and again in 2021, he remained a trusted target in the Hawkeyes’ passing game.
His development years took a decisive turn when he transferred to Purdue and converted to running back ahead of the 2023 season. The position change unlocked Tracy’s instincts as a runner, and he responded with eight rushing touchdowns and more than 700 yards on the ground. His All-Big Ten third-team selection that fall signaled his arrival as a legitimate NFL prospect at the running back position.
New York Giants Breakthrough (2024)
Tracy was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round, 166th overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft. He opened his rookie season in a complementary role behind Devin Singletary, but his opportunity arrived in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks. With Singletary injured, Tracy made his first start and delivered 18 carries for 129 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per attempt. The performance announced him as a player the Giants’ coaching staff could build around.
From Week 8 onward, Tracy had impressed head coach Brian Daboll enough to become the starter and clear bell-cow back. In the Week 8 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he logged 20 carries for 145 yards while a healthy Singletary carried only twice. That pattern continued through at least the team’s Week 11 bye. In Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers, however, Tracy lost a crucial overtime fumble that allowed Carolina to kick the game-winning field goal, a difficult moment in an otherwise ascending rookie year.
Tracy’s rookie campaign closed with several milestones. On December 29, 2024, during the Week 17 game against the Indianapolis Colts, Tracy and rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers became the third rookie duo in NFL history to each record 1,000 yards from scrimmage. He finished the 2024 season with 192 carries for 839 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, plus 38 receptions for 284 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in recognition of his impact.
New York Giants Era (2024–Present)
Tracy started the 2025 NFL season as the Giants’ RB1 following his breakout rookie year. In Week 3, in a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, Tracy caught a swing pass in the left flat near midfield and collided with defensive back Jaylen Watson, suffering a dislocated shoulder in his right arm. The injury forced him to miss time and altered the Giants’ backfield plans.
Tracy returned in Week 6 with a more reduced role, as rookie running back Cam Skattebo took over the starting position. The Giants continued to mix both backs into the offensive game plan as the season progressed, with Tracy still serving as a key contributor in pass-catching and rotational rushing situations.
Driving Style and Strengths
Tracy’s game is built on his background as a wide receiver. He is a natural pass catcher out of the backfield, comfortable lining up in the slot or running routes from the backfield, and he has the lateral quickness to make defenders miss in space. His conversion to running back added inside-run toughness and goal-line viability, and his growth as a feature back in 2024 reflected a steady partnership with the Giants’ coaching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments from Tracy’s young career include his 145-yard rushing performance against the Steelers in Week 8 of 2024, his 1,000-yard-from-scrimmage pairing with Malik Nabers in Week 17, and his PFWA All-Rookie Team selection. His overtime fumble against Carolina served as a hard lesson early in his career, while his dislocated shoulder against Kansas City in 2025 tested his resilience in his second season.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. Career Wins
Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s career wins are highlighted by his rapid rise from a Day 3 draft pick to a featured running back for the New York Giants. His transition from wide receiver to running back at Purdue produced immediate results, and his rookie production in the NFL placed him among the most productive fifth-round backs in recent memory.
New York Giants Highlights
Tracy’s first NFL win as a starting back came in his debut start against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5 of the 2024 season, when he delivered 129 rushing yards on 18 carries. His most dominant performance followed in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he rumbled for 145 yards on 20 carries to cement his role as the Giants’ lead back. He finished 2024 with 839 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, plus 284 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors.
Other Wins & Performances
At Purdue, Tracy’s 2023 season included a Week 5 win against Illinois, when he rushed 21 times for 112 yards and a touchdown, helping anchor the Boilermakers’ ground game. That performance was part of an 716-yard, eight-touchdown campaign that pushed him onto NFL draft boards. At Decatur Central High School, his senior totals of more than 2,500 scrimmage yards and 29 touchdowns established him as one of Indiana’s most productive skill players.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s family background is limited. He was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, the same city where he attended Decatur Central High School and developed as a football player.
Personal Life
Details about Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s personal life, including marital status, are not publicly confirmed in available sources. He has remained focused on his NFL career with the New York Giants, where he continues to build his professional profile as a versatile running back.
2025 Season Performance
Tyrone Tracy Jr. entered the 2025 NFL season as the New York Giants’ starting running back following a strong rookie year. Early in the season, he remained a central part of the offense and continued to demonstrate the receiving skills that defined his pre-draft profile. His 2025 campaign, however, was interrupted in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, when a collision with defensive back Jaylen Watson resulted in a dislocated right shoulder.
Tracy returned in Week 6 in a reduced role as rookie running back Cam Skattebo took over starting duties. The Giants’ backfield split work between the two players, with Tracy contributing as a pass catcher and complementary runner. The team continued to lean on his veteran experience from a year ago, even as Skattebo handled the majority of the early-down work.
Looking ahead, Tracy’s outlook in New York depends on his recovery and his ability to reclaim a larger share of the backfield touches. His contract with the Giants runs through the 2024 season and beyond, and his versatility as a dual-threat back gives the offense flexibility in both the running and passing game. If he returns to full strength, he remains positioned to play a significant role in the Giants’ plans for the remainder of 2025 and beyond.