Dante Pettis

BIOGRAPHY

Dante Garrison Pettis, born on October 23, 1995, is an accomplished professional American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. This comprehensive biography traces his journey from a high school sports enthusiast to a respected player on the national football stage.

Born and raised in California, Pettis displayed a strong affinity for sports during his high school days at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano. He participated in a myriad of sports such as football, basketball, and track but it was football where his talent truly shone. In his senior year, he made 50 receptions for 889 yards and 11 touchdowns solidifying his place as a core player of his high school team.

Upon his commitment to the University of Washington, Pettis honed his abilities in the sports he loved, football. He made significant progress every year, starting from his freshman year in 2014 where he had 17 receptions for 259 yards and one touchdown. Throughout his college football career, Pettis continued to improve his performances. By his senior year in 2017, he broke the record for the most career punt return touchdowns in NCAA history in a match against Oregon Ducks.

Owing to his exceptional skills, Pettis was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, becoming the fourth wide receiver to be chosen that year. Although his rookie season saw him battle a knee injury, he finished the season with 27 receptions for 467 yards and five touchdowns. Despite the setbacks, Pettis persisted and used his second season to further solidify his NFL career.

Pettis’ 2020 year was marked by change; after being waived by the 49ers, he was claimed by the New York Giants. However, his stint with the Giants was short-lived as he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in November 2020. He recovered and returned to the game, managing to catch his first touchdown as a Giant and finishing the 2020 season with respectable stats.

The year 2021 was not without challenges for Pettis. Despite being waived by the Giants and signed to the practice squad in September that year, he was signed to the active roster in October. Showing resilience and tenacity, he continued his good form, notably making five catches for 39 yards and a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers.

The year 2022 saw yet another change for Pettis; he was signed by the Chicago Bears. But injuries plagued him throughout the season and he was eventually placed on injured reserve in November due to a shoulder injury. Despite these setbacks, he had a remarkable play during a game against the Washington Commanders where he caught four passes for 84 yards and scored the Bears’ only touchdown.

Pettis continued his stint with the Bears in 2023, however, a series of injuries limited his game time, leading to him being placed on an injury reserve in August and eventually being released from the team.

Undeterred by his past, Pettis re-signed with the Bears in 2024, yet again he was placed on injured reserve due to injuries and was released a week later.

Football isn’t the only sport that runs in the Pettis family. His father, Gary Pettis, had an illustrious career in Major League Baseball and is a coach for the Houston Astros. His brother, Kyler Pettis, chose a career in acting and his cousin, Austin Pettis, also played in the NFL. This rich sporting lineage undoubtedly influenced Pettis, helping him mold into the resilient and talented sportsman he is today.