Innis Gaines

BIOGRAPHY

Innis Gaines, born on August 29, 1998, in Beaumont, Texas, is a well-recognized American football cornerback. Currently a free agent, Gaines’s love for football flourished throughout his high school and college years, leading him to an impressive, albeit challenging, professional career.

Gaines’s football journey started at West Brook High School in Beaumont, Texas, where his impressive performances in the field included recording 124 tackles, five interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in his senior year. His skills earned him acknowledgment as a four-star safety from 247Sports.com, and he was declared the number four safety in the state of Texas. Several colleges presented him with offers. However, he decided to further his skills and passion for football by committing to Texas Christian University (TCU), turning down offers from Texas A&M and Arkansas.

In 2016, as a freshman, Gaines made his presence known when he appeared in ten games and delivered two tackles. His sophomore year was a step forward as he appeared in all 14 games with two starts, ending the year with 37 tackles, 6-for-loss, and 2 quarterback sacks. His junior year began strong, with Gaines starting the first six games. Unfortunately, an injury halted his progress for the year, which concluded with making 31 tackles. His remarkable performance during the 2018 season earned him recognition as the second-team all-Big 12 Conference by Pro Football Focus.

His senior year displayed similar promise, with Gaines starting the first eight games before another injury led to his absence from the field. Nevertheless, Gaines managed to secure a total of 34 tackles in the year, ranking him seventh on the team. Despite these incredible performances, he did not get picked in the 2020 NFL Draft. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, he only managed to have one tryout. During his time as a free agent, he worked for the company DoorDash to make ends meet.

In January 2021, the Green Bay Packers, with whom Gaines had his single tryout, offered him a futures contract. After some ups and downs, including being released in August 2021 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day, Gaines got the opportunity to make his NFL debut in a game against the Cleveland Browns. A significant highlight of his career, he contributed to the Packers’ 24-22 win with an essential tackle.

Gaines’s association with the Packers continued with his signing of a reserve/future contract in January 2022. After being placed on injured reserve due to injuries, Gaines received a chance for a tryout from the New York Jets in October 2022 but found himself back with the Packers later that month.

He was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for the first time on November 26, 2022, and was officially signed to the Packers’ active roster three days later. Gaines served diligently with the Packers, going through cycles of releases, re-signings, and elevations within the squad, contributing significantly whenever he took the field.

To summarize, Innis Gaines’s journey as a football cornerback reflects hard work, perseverance, and a never-say-die attitude. Despite challenges and setbacks, Gaines’s passion for football has never waned, continuing to fuel his hard-fought football career. Born on a late August day in 1998, Gaines’s story continues, proof that in life, as in football, you keep playing until the final whistle. Who knows what amazing feats the future holds for this dedicated player from Beaumont, Texas? Only time will tell.