NFL CAREER – Originally selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (178th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, Ridgeway enters his third season in the league and his first with New Orleans after being acquired from the Commanders via trade at the end of the preseason. In two seasons with Washington, the Bloomington, Ill. native appeared in 32 games with six starts, producing 55 tackles (25 solo), two passes defensed and a forced fumble. In 2023, he played in all 17 contests with two starts and totaled 31 stops (15 solos) and one pass breakup.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Traded to New Orleans from Washington in exchange for future considerations, 8/29/24; Awarded off waivers by Washington, 9/19/22; Waived by Dallas, 9/17/22; Signed by Dallas to a four-year contract, 5/12/22; Selected by Dallas in the fifth round (178th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
2023 – Appeared in all 17 contests with two starts for Washington as a key member of their defensive line rotation, totaling a career-best 31 tackles (16 solo) and one pass defense…Added three stops (two solo) in win at Denver, Sept. 17…Started and recorded two solo tackles and a pass breakup in win at Atlanta, Oct. 15…Totaled a career-high six tackles (three solo) at NY Giants, Oct. 22…Added three solo stops at New England, Nov. 5…Recorded three tackles at NY Jets, Dec. 24. 2022 – After being claimed off waivers by Washington prior to week three, he appeared in the remaining 15 contests with four starts along the Commanders defensive front, adding 24 tackles (nine solo), one forced fumble and one pass defensed…Recorded his first career NFL tackle at Dallas, Oct. 2…Making his first start of his career in win at Indianapolis, Oct. 30, added three solo stops…In win at Philadelphia Nov. 14, contributed one tackle and a forced fumble…Started and added one stop at NY Giants, Dec. 4…Started and racked up a season-high five tackles (two solo) in season finale win vs Dallas, 1/8/23.
COLLEGE – Started his college career at Illinois St…After redshirting in 2017 he was named a FCS Freshman All-America selection by Phil Steele in 2018, when he recorded 30 tackles, one sack and two stops for loss…Started all 15 games at nose tackle in 2019 for the Redbirds, who ranked fourth in the country in scoring defense and first in sacks, finishing with 50 tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble…In his final season at ISU in a shortened spring campaign, he led the team with 22 stops, three tackles for loss and an interception…Transferred to Arkansas for his final college campaign in 2021, starting 11-of-12 games and adding 39 tackles for the Razorbacks defensive front. Had a season-high seven tackles at No. 1 Georgia.
PERSONAL – Three-time varsity letterwinner for football and four-time letterwinner in wrestling at Bloomington (Ill.) HS, winning the Illinois State Championship title in 2017…Also competed in shot put and discus during sophomore and senior years…Named Bloomington High School's Athlete of the Year in 2017…Majored in Criminal Justice…John Robert Ridgeway III was born in Bloomington, Ill. on May 7, 1999.
