NFL CAREER – Veteran defender enters his fourth season in the NFL and his first campaign with the Black and Gold. Originally a third round draft pick (74th overall) of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016 out of Notre Dame, the Everett, Wash. native has appeared in 21 games with one start for the Cincinnati Bengals (2016-18) and Green Bay Packers (2020) where he recorded 20 tackles (17 solo), one interception, two passes defensed and a blocked field goal. Russell appeared in one regular season game for the Packers in 2020 and his first two career playoff games where he featured on special teams.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by New Orleans, 8/2/21; Waived by Packers, 5/24/21; Signed by Packers to a reserve/future contract, 1/26/21; Activated by Packers from practice squad, 1/23/21; Elevated to active roster from Packers practice squad, 1/15/21; Elevated to active roster from Packers practice squad, 11/14/20; Signed to Packers practice squad, 10/28/20; Waived by Giants, 9/5/20; Signed by Giants, 8/29/20; Practice squad contract terminated by Chargers, 12/10/19; Signed to Chargers practice squad, 11/26/19; Waived by Bengals, 8/31/19; Signed to active roster from practice squad by Bengals, 10/18/18; Signed to Bengals practice squad, 9/2/18; Waived by Bengals, 9/1/18; Acquired off waivers by Bengals from Chiefs, 9/15/16; Waived by Chiefs, 9/14/16; Signed by Chiefs to a four-year contract, 6/3/16; Originally selected by Chiefs in the third round (74th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.
2020 – Russell appeared in one regular season game for the Packers in 2020 and his first two career playoff games where he featured on special teams, where he posted on stop in the NFC Championship vs. Tampa Bay, 1/24/21. 2019 – Had a three-week stint on Chargers practice squad after going to training camp with Bengals. 2018 – Spent Games 1-6 on Bengals' practice squad, before being promoted to active roster on Oct. 18, prior to Game 7...Played in seven games, with one start at nickel DB in season finale at Pittsburgh...Inactive for Games 10 and 14-15...Made season debut Oct. 21 at Kansas City...Had a season-high six tackles and one PD in season finale at Pittsburgh. 2017 – Played in eight games (no starts)...Inactive for Game 3 with a hamstring injury, as well as Games 2, 7, 9, 11-12 and 15-16...Totaled eight tackles on defense (all solos) and one tackle on special teams...Blocked a FG on Nov. 19 at Denver late in the second quarter, preserving Cincinnati's six-point advantage at halftime ... Had five total tackles on defense on Oct. 1 at Cleveland. 2016 – Played in all four Kansas City preseason games, logging seven tackles...Inactive for Chiefs in Game 1, and inactive for Bengals in Games 2-10 and 15...Played for Bengals in Games 11-14 and 16...On Jan. 1 vs. Baltimore, made an impressive diving INT along the sideline to get INT off Baltimore's Ryan Mallett, helping seal a Bengals win.
COLLEGE – Played three seasons (2012-13 and '15) at Notre Dame...Started all 37 of his games played...Totaled 169 tackles (125 solo), including seven TFLs...Had five INTs, two FFs, two sacks and six PDs...Career-best 60 tackles as a senior.
PERSONAL – Hometown is Everett, Wash...Attended Mariner High School, where he was a Class 4A all-state RB as a senior, rushing for 1293 yards and 14 TDs...Majored in management consulting at Notre Dame...Hobbies include traveling and writing/reading/appreciating poetry, acting/theatre and the arts...First name is pronounced "kee-VAR-ay."
