Grant Stuard
Stuard with the Houston Cougars in 2019 | |||||||||
| Los Angeles Rams | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | October 15, 1998 Conroe, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Oak Ridge (Conroe) | ||||||||
| College | Houston (2017–2020) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2021: 7th round, 259th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Grant Stuard (born October 15, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Houston Cougars, and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the final pick in the 2021 NFL draft, making him that year's Mr. Irrelevant.
Early life
Stuard helped take care of his four siblings while growing up, as his mother battled a drug addiction and his father spent time in prison.[1]
College career
Stuard played four years with the University of Houston, primarily as a linebacker, although he also played some fullback.
As a freshman during the 2017 season, he recorded two assisted tackles both against Rice University and played in seven games before suffering a torn meniscus which caused him to miss four games as well as the 2017 Hawaii Bowl. In 2018, Stuard played 13 games and had one start and led the Cougars with 11 special teams tackles. He also played running back late in the year. For the season, he had five attempts and 35 yards running the ball, along with 30 tackles, 18 solo and 12 assisted. In the 2019 season, Stuard started all 12 games and had a team-leading 97 tackles including 9.5 tackles for loss, good for third in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), and also added one sack and four pass deflections. Stuard was named to the 2019 All-AAC Second-team. As a senior team captain in 2020, Stuard led the Cougars in tackles with 61 total (including 35 solo) during the COVID-shortened 7-game regular season. His 8.4 tackles per game led the AAC. For his senior season, he changed his uniform number from 3 to 0.[2]
Stuard skipped the 2020 New Mexico Bowl to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft.
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Bench press | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (1.82 m) |
230 lb (104 kg) |
29+1⁄2 in (0.75 m) |
9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) |
28 reps | ||||||||
| All values from Pro Day[3][4][5] | ||||||||||||
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Stuard with the final pick (259th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft, making him that year's Mr. Irrelevant.[6][7] Stuard signed his four-year rookie contract with Tampa Bay on May 13, 2021.[8] He played in all 17 games during the regular season and contributed 15 total tackles with a forced fumble.[9]
Indianapolis Colts
On August 30, 2022, Stuard and a seventh-round pick were traded to the Indianapolis Colts for a sixth-round pick.[10] On December 3, 2023, Stuard scored his first NFL touchdown on an 18-yard blocked punt return during the Colts' 31-28 overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 13.[11] On October 20, 2024, Stuard made his first NFL start and had a team-leading 19 tackles in a 16-10 win against the Miami Dolphins.[12] Stuard made five starts in total at linebacker for Indianapolis in 2024, recording 40 total tackles that season.[13]
Detroit Lions
On March 13, 2025, Stuard signed with the Detroit Lions.[14] Playing primarily on special teams, Stuard had 19 total tackles and also had three kick returns for 72 total yards.[15]
Los Angeles Rams
On March 16, 2026, Stuard signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams.[16]
In the media
Stuard appeared in a television advertisement for Uber Eats during his rookie season; the ad humorously referenced his Mr. Irrelevant status by cutting him off as he is about to say his own name.[17]
References
- ^ Laine, Jenna (May 1, 2021). "Tampa Bay Buccaneers make Houston's Grant Stuard draft's Mr. Irrelevant". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Grant Stuard – Football". University of Houston Athletics.
- ^ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Grant Stuard Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ "Buccaneers make Grant Stuard Mr. Irrelevant with final pick in 2021 draft". NFL.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ "Grant Stuard, Houston, OLB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ "The Buccaneers Select Grant Stuard with the 259th Pick of the 2021 NFL Draft". Buccaneers.com. May 1, 2021.
- ^ Perkins, Jeffrey (April 29, 2021). "NFL Draft: Oak Ridge's Ossai, Stuard In Mix To Get Selected". Conroe-Montgomery County, TX Patch. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
- ^ Goodall, Zach (May 13, 2021). "Tampa Bay Buccaneers Officially Sign Britt, Wilcox, Stuard". SI.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ "Pro-Football-Reference: Grant Stuard Game Logs (2021)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
- ^ Stankevitz, JJ (August 30, 2022). "Colts Acquire LB Grant Stuard In Trade With Tampa Bay Buccaneers". Colts.com. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ Stankevitz, JJ (December 4, 2023). "How Colts' special teams delivered two game-shifting moments in Week 13 win over Titans". Colts.com. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Sherman, Ben (October 23, 2024). "Former Houston star turns in stunning performance in first NFL start: 'Like nothing I've ever seen'". SI.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ^ "Pro-Football-Reference: Grant Stuard Game Logs (2024)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
- ^ "Lions sign unrestricted free agent LB Grant Stuard". DetroitLions.com. March 13, 2025.
- ^ "Pro-Football-Reference: Grant Stuard Game Logs (2025)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
- ^ Jackson, Stu (March 16, 2026). "Rams sign ILB Grant Stuard to two-year deal". TheRams.com.
- ^ Leeds, Rob (November 21, 2021). "Buccaneers rookie stars in hilarious advertisement". ThePewterPlank.com. FanSided. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
Further reading
- Keefer, Zak (July 24, 2024). "'I lied about everything': An NFL player hid his family trauma until he saved them — and himself". The New York Times. Retrieved August 11, 2024.