Dante Pettis

Dante Pettis
Pettis in 2019
Profile
PositionWide receiver
Personal information
Born (1995-10-23) October 23, 1995
San Clemente, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolJSerra Catholic(San Juan Capistrano, California)
CollegeWashington (2014–2017)
NFL draft2018: 2nd round, 44th overall pick
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
NCAA (FBS) record
  • Career punt return touchdowns: 9[1]
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Receptions92
Receiving yards1,231
Receiving touchdowns13
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Dante Garrison Pettis[2] (born October 23, 1995) is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Washington Huskies and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft. Pettis has also played for the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints.

Early life

Pettis attended JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California.[3] He played football and basketball and also ran track. As a senior, Pettis recorded 50 receptions for 889 yards and 11 touchdowns. He committed to the University of Washington to play college football.[4]

College career

As a true freshman for Washington in 2014, Pettis had 17 receptions for 259 yards and a touchdown. He also added 288 punt return yards and a punt return touchdown.

As a sophomore, Pettis recorded 30 receptions for 414 yards and a touchdown reception with 271 punt return yards and two punt return touchdowns.

As a junior, Pettis finished with 53 receptions for 822 yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with 287 punt return yards and two touchdowns.[5][6]

As a senior in 2017 against the Oregon Ducks, Pettis broke the record for most career punt return touchdowns in NCAA history.[7][8] He garnered consensus All-America honors as a result of being named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp Football Foundation, and The Sporting News.[9] Pettis finished the season with 63 receptions for 761 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with an NCAA-leading 428 punt return yards and four touchdowns.[10][11]

Professional career

Pettis in 2019
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspanWonderlic
6 ft 0+1⁄2 in
(1.84 m)		186 lb
(84 kg)		32+1⁄4 in
(0.82 m)		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		6 ft 5+1⁄4 in
(1.96 m)		32
All values from NFL Combine[12][13]

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers selected Pettis in the second round (44th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft.[14] He was the fourth wide receiver to be selected that year.[15] During the season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings, Pettis made his NFL debut and caught two passes for 61 yards and a touchdown while also returning two punts for 14 yards in the 24–16 loss.[16] On December 29, 2018, Pettis was placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury.[17] Pettis finished his rookie year with 27 receptions for 467 yards and five touchdowns.[18]

In Pettis' second season, he had 11 receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns.[19]

On November 3, 2020, Pettis was waived by the 49ers.[20]

New York Giants

On November 4, 2020, Pettis was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants.[21] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 20,[22] and activated on December 1.[23] In his first game played as a Giant, on December 27, against the Baltimore Ravens, Pettis finished with two receptions for 33 yards. He caught his first touchdown as a Giant the next week, against the Dallas Cowboys, for 33 yards. Pettis finished the 2020 season with four receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown.[24]

On September 1, 2021, Pettis was waived by the Giants and re-signed to the practice squad.[25][26] On October 19, Pettis was signed to active roster.[27] In Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, Pettis had five receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown while adding a 16-yard pass to Daniel Jones.[28] On November 5, 2021, Pettis was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.[29]

Chicago Bears

On May 11, 2022, the Chicago Bears signed Pettis.[30] During Week 6, Pettis caught four passes for 84 yards and the Bears' only touchdown, during a 12–7 loss to the Washington Commanders.[31]

Pettis re-signed with the Bears on April 17, 2023.[32] He was placed on injured reserve on August 26.[33] Pettis was released on September 6, with an injury settlement.[34]

On March 15, 2024, Pettis re-signed with the Bears.[35] He was placed on injured reserve on August 27, and was released a week later.[36]

New Orleans Saints

On October 15, 2024, Pettis signed with the New Orleans Saints practice squad.[37] On December 7, he was promoted to the active roster.[38] In eight games for New Orleans, Pettis operated as the team's return man, and compiled 12 receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.[39]

On March 11, 2025, Pettis re-signed with New Orleans on a one-year contract.[40] He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts.[41] On October 2, Pettis was re-signed to the practice squad.[42] On December 3, Pettis was signed to the active roster.[43] In the 2025 season, he had nine receptions for 127 yards in eight games.[44]

Buffalo Bills

On July 30, 2026, Pettis had a workout with the Buffalo Bills on the second day of training camp, and was signed later that day.[45] He was released on August 29.[46]

NFL career statistics

Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Returning Fumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDRetYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2018SF 1272746717.375T51-2-2.0-209273.014020
2019SF 114111099.921T2000.000000.00000
2020SF 5100000000000000000
NYG 2247619.033T1000000000011
2021NYG 3010878.7271000000000010
2022CHI 1771924512.951323718.52900000010
2024 NO 8 0 12 120 10.0 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025 NO 8 0 9 127 14.1 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Career6621921,23114.175T1333511.72909273.014062

Personal life

Pettis' father, Gary, played in Major League Baseball (MLB) and is a coach for the Houston Astros.[47][48] His brother, Kyler, is an actor and his cousin, Austin, played in the NFL.[49][50]

References

  1. ↑ "Punt Return Touchdowns Career Leaders and Records". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Dante Pettis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Cavanagh, Zach (April 27, 2018). "JSerra Alum Dante Pettis Pegged as Mid-Round Pick". The Capistrano Dispatch. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  4. ↑ Jude, Adam (January 23, 2014). "California receiver Dante Pettis commits to Huskies". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  5. ↑ Milles, Todd (August 9, 2017). "Grab popcorn, sit back and enjoy the Dante Pettis show". The News Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  6. ↑ Bonagura, Kyle (December 20, 2016). "Don't forget about Dante Pettis, Washington's other dynamic receiver". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Washington's Pettis ties punt-return record". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 17, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Return rewind: A look back at Dante Pettis' record-breaking career at Washington". The Seattle Times. September 15, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  9. ↑ Jude, Adam (December 12, 2017). "Huskies' Dante Pettis joins elite company as a consensus All-American". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Dante Pettis 2017 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  11. ↑ "2017 College Football Leaders". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Dante Pettis Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Washington WR Dante Pettis : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  14. ↑ Fann, Joe (April 27, 2018). "San Francisco 49ers Draft Washington WR Dante Pettis". 49ers.com. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  15. ↑ "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  16. ↑ Campbell, Dave (September 9, 2018). "Cousins, Vikings hold on for 24-16 victory vs. 49ers". AP News. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  17. ↑ Fann, Joe (December 29, 2018). "49ers Promote WR Max McCaffrey, DL Ryan Delaire to Active Roster". 49ers.com.
  18. ↑ Larrabee, Kirk (June 4, 2019). "San Francisco 49ers WR Dante Pettis wants to play bigger in 2019". 247Sports. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Dante Pettis 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  20. ↑ "49ers Waive WR Dante Pettis and DL Jullian Taylor". 49ers.com. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Giants claim WR Dante Pettis off waivers from 49ers". Giants.com. November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  22. ↑ Moraitis, Mike (November 20, 2020). "Giants to place Matt Peart, Dante Pettis, Kaden Smith on COVID-19 list". USAToday.com. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  23. ↑ Eisen, Michael (December 1, 2020). "Transactions: 3 Giants activated off COVID-19 list; Kyler Fackrell to IR". Giants.com. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Dante Pettis 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  25. ↑ Eisen, Michael (September 1, 2021). "Giants establish practice squad amid roster moves". Giants.com.
  26. ↑ Eisen, Michael (September 2, 2021). "Giants sign veteran OL Matt Skura, TE Chris Myarick to practice squad". Giants.com.
  27. ↑ Eisen, Michael (October 19, 2021). "Andrew Thomas, CJ Board placed on injured reserve". Giants.com.
  28. ↑ Citak, Matt (October 28, 2021). "Giants Now: Grades are in for Week 7 win". Giants.com.
  29. ↑ Benton, Dan (November 5, 2021). "Giants place Dante Pettis on IR, sign Dexter Williams to practice squad". GiantsWire.com.
  30. ↑ Mayer, Larry (May 11, 2022). "Roster Moves: Bears sign WRs Pettis, Sharpe". Chicagobears.com.
  31. ↑ Seligman, Andrew (October 14, 2022). "Muffed punt, Robinson TD lift Commanders over Bears 12-7". AP News. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  32. ↑ Mayer, Larry (April 17, 2023). "Roster Move: Bears re-sign receiver Dante Pettis". ChicagoBears.com.
  33. ↑ Mayer, Larry (August 26, 2023). "Roster Moves: Bears put Pettis on IR, waive/injured Reed". ChicagoBears.com.
  34. ↑ Taylor, Ryan (September 6, 2023). "Bears release two wide receivers with injury settlements: reports". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  35. ↑ Mayer, Larry (March 15, 2024). "Roster Move: Bears sign WR/KR Dante Pettis". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  36. ↑ Mayer, Larry (August 27, 2024). "Roster Moves: Bears reach 53-man roster limit". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  37. ↑ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". New Orleans Saints. October 15, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  38. ↑ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves and injury updates". neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Dante Pettis 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Saints, Dante Pettis agree to one-year contract". nbcsports.com. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  41. ↑ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  42. ↑ "New Orleans Saints sign WR Dante Pettis to practice squad". neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. December 3, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Dante Pettis 2025 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Bills sign wide receiver Dante Pettis to one-year deal". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Bills release 13 players | Aug. 29". BuffaloBills.com. August 29, 2026.
  47. ↑ McTaggart, Brian. "Astros coach Gary Pettis' son a UW receiver". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  48. ↑ "Like father, like son: Sports big part of Pettis family". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  49. ↑ King, Michael. "Husky hero Dante Pettis comes from a famous family". K5 News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  50. ↑ Lewis, Tim (September 2, 2015). "Family matter: Washington's Pettis faces cousin's alma mater". KOMO Newes. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  • Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · Yahoo Sports
  • Washington Huskies bio
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