Keith Kirkwood

Keith Kirkwood's Biography

Keith Kurtis Kirkwood has built an impressive career as a well-known professional American football wide receiver. Born on December 26, 1994, in Neptune Township, New Jersey, Kirkwood has always demonstrated an athletic prowess that allowed him to excel in two tactical sports: basketball and football.

During his younger years in Neptune High School, the seed for what would grow into a successful sports career was just being planted. Apart from being agile on the basketball court, Kirkwood was a stand-out performer on the school’s football team. His talent, hard work, and undeniable passion for the sport would later lead him to high-ranking universities that would become key stepping stones in his professional journey.

Kirkwood first spread his wings in college football with the University of Hawaii, a significant period that would set the stage for the next phase of his life. After transferring, he attended and played for Temple University where he elevated his game and increased his stock on the radar of professional football recruiters.

In his professional journey, on May 1, 2018, the New Orleans Saints signed Kirkwood, who went undrafted. This was a generous offer for a three-year, $1.72 million contract that included $42,000 guaranteed and a signing bonus of $17,000. He was then thrust into the battlefield, competing fiercely for a roster spot as a backup wide receiver against some of football’s most worthy challengers.

Unfortunately, Kirkwood was waived by the Saints as part of their final roster cuts on September 1, 2018. However, he was not without a team for long as the Saints re-signed him the following day to their practice squad after clearing waivers. In the subsequent months, Kirkwood found himself in the New Orleans Saints’ active roster due to the injuries of several wide receivers.

Not content to merely fill a void, Kirkwood took full advantage of his promotion. During a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he made his regular season debut, snagging two passes for 45 yards and impressing with a tackle on special teams.

Misfortune did strike in 2019, when Kirkwood was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury. However, football’s resilient nature didn’t evade him. After a period of healing, he returned in better shape and began practicing with the team again, proving his grit and determination.

On April 1, 2020, Kirkwood signed with the Carolina Panthers, thus reuniting him with former Temple head coach Matt Rhule and former college teammates Robby Anderson, P. J. Walker, and Colin Thompson. His stint with the Panthers was rocky, a recurring injury impacted his performance, but Kirkwood remained steadfast in his road to recovery and stayed with the Panthers due to a contract extension in 2021. However, later that year, he was waived and re-signed to the practice squad.

In June 2022, Kirkwood made another switch by re-signing with the Saints. Although his journey was marked with numerous promotions to the active roster, followed by releases and re-signing to practice squads, Kirkwood’s career was anything but static, considering the experiences and lessons he garnered.

By February 2023, he was boon to sign another contract with the Saints. Then, on June 28, 2024, Kirkwood signed with the Baltimore Ravens, adding another credit to his professional resume. Despite dealing with release and eventually re-signing to the practice squad, Kirkwood persisted, proving that resilience and dedication are essential to forging a successful path in professional sports.