Desmond Ridder is an American football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at the University of Cincinnati, where he received the AAC Offensive Player of the Year award twice. In 2022, he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the NFL draft.
August 31, 1999: Desmond Ridder Born
Desmond Kelly Ridder was born on August 31, 1999.
2017: Redshirt Season
Desmond Ridder redshirted his true freshman season in 2017.
2018: Starting Quarterback and AAC Rookie of the Year
In 2018, Desmond Ridder became the Bearcats' starting quarterback, passed for 2,445 yards and 20 touchdowns, gained 583 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Rookie of the Year.
2019: Redshirt Sophomore Season
As a redshirt sophomore in 2019, Ridder had 2,164 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, nine interceptions, 650 rushing yards, and five rushing touchdowns.
October 24, 2020: Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week
On October 24, 2020, Ridder was named the Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week after completing 13-of-21 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown and also rushing eight times for 179 yards and three touchdowns in a 42–13 win over 16th-ranked SMU.
2020: Birmingham Bowl MVP
Ridder was named the MVP of the 2020 Birmingham Bowl, completing 14-of-24 passes for 95 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 105 yards and three touchdowns in a 38–6 victory over Boston College.
2021: AAC Offensive Player of the Year
At the conclusion of the regular season in 2021, Ridder was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Year after passing 2,296 yards, and 19 touchdowns with six interceptions, while also rushing for 592 yards and 12 touchdowns, in only nine games due to the COVID-19-shortened season.
2021: Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week and Playoff Berth
In 2021, Ridder was named the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week for the second time in his career after leading the No. 7 Bearcats to victory over No. 9 Notre Dame on the road. Following an unbeaten 12–0 season, Ridder and the Bearcats went into the 2021 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game ranked number four in the AP Polls, meaning a victory would see them stay in a playoff spot. Following a 35–20 win over the Houston Cougars, they became the first Group of Five team to make the playoffs, as well as the last major undefeated team going into the postseason.
July 28, 2022: Named Backup Quarterback
On July 28, 2022, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith named Marcus Mariota as the starting quarterback to open the season, with Ridder serving as the backup.
December 8, 2022: Named Starting Quarterback
On December 8, 2022, the Falcons benched Mariota and named Ridder as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season.
2022: NFL Scouting Combine
After wrapping up an impressive collegiate career at Cincinnati, Ridder was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in 2022 where he recorded a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, one of the fastest times recorded by a quarterback.
2022: Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
Desmond Ridder was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
2022: Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
Desmond Ridder was drafted in the third round (74th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
March 2023: Remains Starting Quarterback
In March 2023, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith announced that Ridder would remain the starting quarterback at the start of the 2023 season.
March 14, 2024: Traded to Arizona Cardinals
On March 14, 2024, Ridder was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore.