Diontae Spencer

Diontae Spencer's Biography

Born in New Iberia, Louisiana on March 19, 1992, Diontae Spencer is a decorated American football wide receiver and return specialist. Despite being a free agent, his football journey from college to the National Football League (NFL) is a testament to his talent and grit.

Spencer started his football career at the collegiate level, playing for the McNeese State Cowboys. During his time there, he showcased impressive skills, including his renowned one-game high of 365 yards and five touchdowns.

His professional career began in 2015 when he made his debut for the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Toronto Argonauts. This opportunity arose after Spencer went undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft but displayed remarkable talent at the spring mini-camp with the Chicago Bears.

On May 27, 2014, Spencer signed with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams. However, his stint with the Rams was short-lived due to being waived by the team in July the same year. Despite this setback, by December, he was signed by the Toronto Argonauts.

Spencer’s time with the Argonauts was productive, to say the least. Over two seasons, he caught 107 passes at a distance of 1,208 yards, resulting in six touchdowns. He also returned 39 punts and had 27 kickoff returns.

On the second day of free agency, Spencer was signed by another CFL team, the Ottawa Redblacks. Here, he continued to exemplify his prowess by setting a CFL single-game record in a match against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on October 27, 2017, achieving 496 all-purpose yards, including 133 yards receiving, 165 kick-off return yards, and 169 punt return yards. In acknowledgment of his extraordinary 2017 campaign, during which he caught 71 passes for 922 yards and six touchdowns and returned 70 punts and 25 kickoffs, Spencer was named a CFL-East All-Star returner.

Spencer’s excellent performance caught the attention of NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and he had a workout with them on January 31, 2018. Nonetheless, Spencer and the Redblacks agreed on a contract extension before he became a free agent.

However, in 2018, despite recording his first 1,000-yard season, Spencer did not make the CFL-East All-Star list as a receiver, but he did as a returner. After a successful season, the Redblacks advanced to the CFL championship game. Unfortunately, a fumble by Spencer cost them the game and they lost the 106th Grey Cup to Calgary, 27–16.

Spencer moved back to the NFL on January 4, 2019, when he signed a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His time with the Steelers was brief as he was waived on August 31, 2019.

On September 1, 2019, the Denver Broncos claimed Spencer off waivers. During his tenure with the Broncos, he had his first career NFL touchdown in Week 14 of the 2020 season against the Carolina Panthers. This performance earned him the title of the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Week 14. Unfortunately, he was put on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 27, 2020, and was only activated on December 10.

Spencer’s career met another significant milestone on September 6, 2022, when he signed with the practice squad of the New York Jets. However, he was released and re-signed multiple times before eventually signing a reserve/future contract with them on January 31, 2023. Later in the year, on July 19, 2023, Spencer was placed on injury reserve and released with an injury settlement nine days thereafter.

Throughout his career, Diontae Spencer has shown resilience and an undeniable talent on the football field — whether he’s receiving, returning, or breaking records. His deeds in the CFL and NFL have not only got him recognized but also serve as a reminder of his versatility and talent in the sport of football.