Keke Coutee

BIOGRAPHY

Key’vantanie “Keke” Coutee, born January 14, 1997, has had a noteworthy journey in his American football career. With his remarkable talent as a wide receiver, he has made significant contributions to various teams, most recently with the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). The beginnings of his football journey were seeded in high school and cemented in college, followed by a professional stint divided over several teams throughout the years.

Coutee’s football story started at Lufkin High School in Lufkin, Texas. During his senior year, he impressively caught 56 passes totaling 841 yards. His skills were noticed early on, and in June 2013, he initially committed to play college football for the Texas Longhorns. However, later in January 2014, he decided to reconsider and de-committed. He ended up committing to Texas Tech Red Raiders in January 2015, choosing this over Oklahoma, Texas, Louisville, Houston, and Tulsa.

During his freshman year at Texas Tech, Coutee showcased his promising talent, playing in all 13 games with two starts, catching 11 passes that amounted to 105 yards. His breakthrough as a remarkable wide receiver emerged in his sophomore year in 2016. He showed up in all of Texas Tech’s 12 games, and his 55 passes accounting for 890 yards and seven touchdowns ranked him second among Texas Tech’s receivers.

The following year, Coutee continued to build upon his impressive sophomore year. In 2017, he played in 13 games, catching 93 passes for a staggering 1,429 yards and ten touchdowns. His performance included a memorable 92-yard kick return against Baylor. Coutee’s 1,429 receiving yards established him as a formidable force in the college football arena, the second-highest number in school history for a single season, second only to Michael Crabtree’s 1,962 in 2007. Following this successful season, Coutee declared for the 2018 NFL draft.

Coutee’s professional career kicked off when he was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans with the 103rd overall pick. Shortly after, on May 11, he signed a four-year contract with the Texans. Due to an unfortunate hamstring injury, he missed the first three games of the 2018 season but came back strong to make an awe-inspiring NFL debut in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts, ending the game with 11 receptions for 109 yards. This performance marked the most receptions made by any player in a debut since the AFL–NFL merger. Cinching his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard pass from Deshaun Watson, he finished a game against the Dallas Cowboys with six receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Throughout his career, there were highs and lows. Notably, in the 2020 season, he recorded eight catches for 141 yards in a game against the Colts but also fumbled at the goal line in the last seconds, leading to the Colts’ victory. Nevertheless, he proved to be resilient, persevering against these challenges. After his stint with the Texans, Coutee was waived in August 2021, but shortly after, he was signed onto the Colts’ practice squad in September 2021, and later, onto their active roster until being waived and re-signed to the practice squad later in December 2022.

Coutee subsequently journeyed through various teams, signing with the New Orleans Saints on June 15, 2023, before being released on August 11. Two days later, he got signed with the Miami Dolphins, although he was released by the end of August. Undeterred by these trials, Coutee continued to pursue his football career, and on February 25, 2024, he once again moved, this time signing with the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL).

With a football journey marked by stints with numerous teams and many unforgettable moments on the field, Keke Coutee has demonstrated his resilience and commitment to the sport he loves. Despite the highs and lows, and the continuous movement across teams, Coutee has never ceased to amaze with his unwavering passion for football.