Austin Ekeler

BIOGRAPHY

Austin Ekeler was born on May 17th, 1995, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is a running back in the NFL. 

Ekeler attended and played high school football for The Fightin' Reds at Eaton High School. During Highschool he earned All-Conference and All-State honors in football and track & field at Eaton High School. He finished his high school career with 2,398 rushing yards and 42 TDs for a 10.2 avg.

Ekeler attended and played college football at Western State for four seasons from 2013–2016. He totaled 5,857 rushing yards and 55 rushing TDs on 932 attempts (6.3 avg.) and broke almost every career rushing record in school history. Ekeler logged 1,676 rushing yards as a sophomore in 2014, set the Mountaineers record for rushing yards in a single season. Became the school’s career rushing yards leader as a junior and was a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2015, which is awarded to the top Division-II player. He Set a career-high with a 344-yard, five-TD performance at Western New Mexico in 2015. Ekeler was a four-time first-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference selection and posted 1,000-plus rushing yards all four seasons (1,049 in 2013, 1,676 in 2014, 1,637 in 2015, and 1,495 in 2016).

Austin Ekeler Ekeler signed a three-year, $1.66 million contract that included a $5,000 signing bonus with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL Draft. He has served in the backup role to Melvin Gordon in Los Angeles, but has seen significant time and has produced when given the opportunity. After Melvin Gordon was signed by the Broncos, Ekeler has taken over as the lead back for the Chargers. On March 16, 2020, Ekeler signed a four-year $24.5 million contract extension with the Chargers.

 Austin Ekeler signed a 2-year deal with the Commanders during the 2024 offseason.