Kevin Givens

Kevin Givens's Biography

Kevin Givens was born on March 1, 1997, in Newark, New Jersey. Though born in Newark, Givens spent much of his formative years in Altoona, Pennsylvania where he developed a passion for football. His passion for the sport was nurtured at Altoona Area High school, where he remarkably excelled in the position of defensive end and fullback. As a senior at the school, he managed to be named first-team All-State on defense whilst demonstrating his prowess on offense by rushing for 317 yards and six touchdowns.

The Penn State Nittany Lions would be the next stop for Givens, who had his sighting as a redshirt freshman. He spent five seasons there, making a name for himself as a strikingly talented athlete in just his debut season. With 26 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, he was named to the Big Ten Conference All-Freshman team. The following redshirt sophomore season saw Givens record 23 tackles with four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

His redshirt junior season displayed Givens readiness for bigger challenges as he finished with 33 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Having completed his undergraduate degree that same season, he announced his departure from college football at the pinnacle of his game, aiming to enter the 2019 NFL draft.

On April 28, 2019, Givens’ NFL dream came to fruition when he signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. After being waived at the end of the training camp, he managed to secure a position on the team’s practice squad on September 1, 2019. Promotion to the active roster came towards the close of the year on December 28. A major career milestone was reached in that season as Givens made it to Super Bowl LIV with the 49ers, albeit in a losing effort against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 2020 season brought Givens the opportunity to register his first career sack, achieved in week seven against New England Patriots’ player, Jarrett Stidham. Towards the end of that year, he was placed on a roster exemption on December 12, before being reinstated five days later. The following year, he had to endure a brief hiatus having been placed on injured reserve on September 25, 2021. After a month of recovery, he was activated on October 30.

Givens re-signed with the 49ers on March 10, 2022, a testament to his value within the team. His impact on the team was felt even more over the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He appeared in 30 regular-season games, starting 12 of them. In addition, he made six playoff appearances, capped off by another Super Bowl appearance. On March 14, 2024, Givens further extended his stay with the 49ers, signing yet another contract with the team.

An Altoona native turned professional football player, Givens has consistently proven his mettle on the field, garnering the respect and dedication not just of his teammates and coaches, but also the 49ers’ passionate fan base. His journey from the football field of Altoona Area High School, through the iconic Beaver Stadium of the Penn State Nittany Lions, to the renowned Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, is a remarkable tale of grit, talent, and relentless pursuit of his dreams.