Richie James

Richard Rhondel James Jr. is an accomplished American football wide receiver best known for his exceptional career in the National Football League (NFL) as a free agent. James’ remarkable journey began on September 5, 1995, when he was born and then later on pursued his athletic calling.

His high school education was at Riverview High School, Sarasota, Florida. Here, besides his love for football, James managed to letter in track events, culminating in his victory in several state titles. His first commitment to play football in December 2013 was for the Georgia Southern Eagles. However, after experiencing a coaching change, he decommitted, ultimately choosing to play for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in 2014.

In his first year at Middle Tennessee, 2014, James chose to redshirt, a decision that meant he would not play as a true freshman. The following year, he left an impressive mark after participating in all the 13 games. His performance was outstanding, with 108 catches amounting to 1,346 yards and eight touchdowns. Additionally, he rushed for 146 yards and one touchdown from just 12 attempts. His remarkable performance earned him a place in the 2015 All-Conference USA (C-USA) First Team and the C-USA All-Freshman team.

In 2016, he replicated his previous year’s performance, playing in all 13 games and achieving 105 passes for 1,625 yards and 12 touchdowns. His performances saw him rush for 339 yards and four touchdowns on 38 attempts. His prowess did not go unnoticed, as he was then named to the 2016 C-USA All-Conference First Team.

His 2017 season was not all rosy, as he only managed to participate in five games due to breaking his collarbone against Marshall. However, it was within this limited playing time that James achieved a milestone becoming Middle Tennessee’s career leader in receiving yards (3,261) and receiving touchdowns (23). It was after this season that he chose to declare for the 2018 NFL draft.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted James in the seventh round as the 240th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. The football receiver had his first NFL reception in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, followed by scoring his first NFL touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks. His rookie year culminated in 655 return yards and a touchdown along with nine receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown.

An unfortunate event in James’s career was when he was placed on the reserve COVID-19 list on July 27, 2020. Resilient as ever, he recovered and was activated on September 3, 2020. Unfortunately, James was placed on injured reserve on September 18, 2020, after a hamstring injury during Week 1, but returned once again on October 17, 2020.

In 2020, during a game against the Green Bay Packers, James remarkably managed nine receptions for 184 yards and a touchdown. Despite a 34-17 loss for the 49ers, this performance stood out as it surpassed both his 2018 and 2019 season totals. However, misfortune struck on August 28, 2021, when James had to undergo knee surgery following an injury, prompting the 49ers to waive him. James then signed with the New York Giants on March 25, 2022. Despite fumbling twice during Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks, James contributed significantly to the Giants’ playoff berth, their first since 2016. He achieved this through his 57 receptions for 569 yards and four touchdowns during the 2022 regular season.

After signing with the Kansas City Chiefs on April 11, 2023, James was once again placed on injured reserve on September 23, 2023. Regardless, he recovered superbly by November 18 and was part of the Super Bowl LVIII where the Chiefs emerged victorious against the San Francisco 49ers.

From his humble beginnings playing for Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders to his grand victories in the NFL, Richard Rhondel James Jr.’s career paints a picture of a resilient and talented wide receiver, with a legacy that will continue to inspire many in the realm of American football.