Desmond Ridder

Desmond Ridder is an American football quarterback who played college football at the University of Cincinnati. Born August 31, 1999, in Louisville, Kentucky, he measured 6 feet 3 inches and 211 pounds during the 2022 NFL draft process. At Cincinnati, Ridder developed into a mobile passer known for his athleticism, strong arm and ability to extend plays with his legs. He earned American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors in both 2020 and 2021 and helped lead the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff in the 2021 season.

The Atlanta Falcons selected Ridder in the third round with the 74th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. He played for Atlanta before later spending time with the Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals organizations, then joined the Green Bay Packers during the 2025 season. Green Bay promoted him from its practice squad to the active roster on January 6, 2026, but released him on May 4, 2026, in a move connected with the signing of quarterback Tyrod Taylor. As of September 13, 2026, Ridder is listed by the NFL as an unrestricted free agent; no current team should be attributed to him without a later signing announcement.