Elijah McGuire

BIOGRAPHY

Elijah McGuire was born on June 1, 1994, in Houma, Louisiana. He is a running back in the NFL.

McGuire attended and played high school football for Vandebilt Catholic High School. He was selected to the all-state first team as an athlete by The Louisiana Sports Writers Association as a senior. He led the state of Louisiana with 2,603 rushing yards, 11.8 rushing average, and 31 touchdowns while Vandebilt Catholic High School finished with an 11-2 record. He also was selected to the first-team all-region honorable mention.

McGuire attended and played college football for the Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns from 2013–2016.

As a freshman, McGuire played in 13 games. He made his collegiate debut in a loss at Arkansas, where he had 12 rushing yards and a 31-yard reception. On September 14, against Nicholls State, he had 137 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in the victory. On November 16, against Georgia State, he had a great performance with 107 rushing yards to go along with three receptions for 125 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Overall, he finished the 2013 season with 863 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 22 receptions, 384 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns.

As a sophomore, McGuire played in 13 games. He started the season off strong with 129 rushing yards and a touchdown against Southern. On September 20, he had 10 receptions for 106 receiving yards to along with 31 yards against Boise State. On October 21, against Arkansas State, he had 265 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. On November 1, against South Alabama, he had 116 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, and 90 receiving yards. The next week, against New Mexico State, he had 136 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to go along with a four-yard touchdown reception. In the regular-season finale against Troy, he had 169 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Overall, he finished the 2014 season with 1,264 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 45 receptions, 468 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns.

As a junior, McGuire played in 12 games. In the second game of the season against Northwestern State, he had 14 carries for 165 yards and five rushing touchdowns. On October 10, against Texas State, he had 170 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. In the next game, at Arkansas State, he had a great receiving day with 10 receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown in the loss. On November 21, against New Mexico State, he had 159 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Overall, in the 2015 season, he finished with 1,047 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 34 receptions, 304 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns.

As a senior, McGuire played in 13 games. In the second game, against McNeese State, he had 139 rushing yards in the victory. In the next game against South Alabama, he had 223 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. On October 22, against Texas State, he had 112 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. On November 19, against the Georgia Bulldogs, he had 129 rushing yards in the loss at Sanford Stadium. In his final collegiate game, he had 99 rushing yards in the loss to Southern Miss in the 2016 New Orleans Bowl. Overall, he finished the 2016 season with 1,127 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 29 receptions, 238 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns.

McGuire was drafted in the sixth round with the 188th overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the 20th running back selected in that year's draft.

In Week 2, in the 45–20 loss to the Oakland Raiders, McGuire had six rushes for 29 yards for his debut in the Jets backfield. On October 1, 2017, during Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, McGuire rushed for 93 yards, including one for a 69-yard touchdown, as the Jets won 23–20 in overtime. Overall, he finished his rookie season with 315 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 17 receptions, 177 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. In the 2018 season, he finished with 276 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. In addition, he had 19 receptions for 193 receiving yard and one receiving touchdown.

He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021.