Jordan Howard

Jordan Howard's Biography

Jordan Reginald Howard, born on November 2, 1994 in Birmingham, Alabama, stands tall as an American professional football player with an illustrious career serving as a running back. From his humble beginnings at the Gardendale High School, Birmingham, he blazed a trail to the world of professional football as a free agent. During his tenure at high school, he made a name for himself as a running back for the Rockets, leading them with 2,876 yards in his junior and senior years. Despite being a bit under-the-radar as a two-star prospect, Howard proceeded to University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to play college football.

Commencing his college football stint in 2013, Howard began attracting eyeballs with his 52-yard run against Vanderbilt. He finished his first season with 881 rushing yards, and registered an impressive yard per carry average of 6.1. His second year witnessed a peak in his performance as Howard set a school record with 1,587 rushing yards. This positioned him as the seventh best runner in Division l FBS, with an average of 132.3 rushing yards per game.

However, following the closure of UAB’s football program, Howard switched to Indiana preceding the 2015 season. His time at Indiana was equally brilliant, fueling his reputation as a notable running back. His remarkable performance against Michigan, in particular, where he rushed 238 yards with two touchdowns, further underscored his talent on the field. He concluded his junior season accumulating 1,213 yards and nine touchdowns on 196 attempts, with 11 receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown. On May 4, 2019, Jordan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University Bloomington.

In December 2015, Howard declared for the 2016 NFL draft, thereby deciding to pass up his senior season at Indiana. Graded a respectable 6.1 on NFL.com, he was among the top three runners projected in the draft, trounced only by Derrick Henry (6.15) and Ezekiel Elliott (7.09). Managing to catch the attention of NFL draft experts and scouts through his skilled running drills, he emerged as a promising prospect. He was selected as the fifth round (150th overall) pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Beginning his professional trajectory at the Chicago Bears, Howard competed for the starting running back position. His splendid show against the Cleveland Browns during the preseason led to him being named as the third running back in their roster. He soon upgraded to the starter position prioritizing his remarkable stats. Howard emerged powerful against teams like Detroit Lions and the Indianapolis Colts, even achieving his first career start and touchdown respectively.

Howard’s rising trajectory was cut short due to a shoulder injury, which kept him off the ground for the majority of end-season games. However, undeterred, Howard got back to game with renewed vigor binding a two-year contract with Miami Dolphins in March 2020. After only playing five games due to injuries and lack of performance, he was waived off from the team in November, the same year.

Coming a full circle, Howard found himself back with the Eagles. Although initially signed to the team’s practice squad, his stellar performance meant a swift transition to the active roster, replacing an injured player. Despite suffering an injury himself, he managed to make an impressive comeback, scoring a few noteworthy wins for the team.

In summary, Howard’s journey from a high school football field to the NFL has been marked by determination, resilience and an innate skill for the sport. Overcoming injuries and other challenges, he has endured to establish himself as a formidable running back. Presently a free agent, his contribution and commitment to the sport remain unparalleled, marking him as an inspiring figure in American football.