joshua kelley

Born on November 20, 1997, in Inglewood, California, Joshua Kelley grew up in Lancaster, California. His early football career at Eastside High School showcased his potential, where he rushed for 1,903 yards and 22 touchdowns during his final two seasons, earning first-team all-conference honors. Initially, Kelley started his college football journey at the University of California, Davis, in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Over two seasons with the Aggies, he accumulated 1,139 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Despite facing injuries and sharing playing time, he proved his capabilities, which led him to seek a transfer to a higher level of college football.

Kelley transitioned to the UCLA Bruins in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a walk-on in 2017. After redshirting his first year due to transfer rules, he received a scholarship from new head coach Chip Kelly. The 2018 season was a turning point, with Kelley having six 100-yard games and finishing with 1,243 rushing yards, marking the 10th-highest single-season total in UCLA history. He also recorded 12 touchdowns and set a rivalry record with 289 rushing yards against USC. His performance earned him honorable mention in All-Pac-12 voting and an Associated Press first-team selection. In 2019, despite a knee injury, he returned for his senior year, rushing for 1,060 yards and becoming the eighth player in UCLA history to achieve consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He secured second-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Joshua Kelley was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft as the 112th overall pick. In his NFL debut, he scored a touchdown and accumulated 60 rushing yards. He continued to contribute to the Chargers’ offense over four seasons (2020-2023), gaining 1,148 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Following his time with the Chargers, Kelley briefly signed with the New York Giants in August 2024 before moving to the Tennessee Titans practice squad in October 2024, and was subsequently promoted to their active roster in November 2024. Throughout his professional career, Kelley has participated in 57 NFL games, tallying 1,150 rushing yards and six touchdowns.