Giovanni Ricci (American football)
{{Short description|American football full back (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Giovanni Ricci
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Fullback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|16}}
| birth_place = Loveland, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 240
| high_school = Loveland
| college = Western Michigan (2015–2019)
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams =
- Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2020|2023}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2025}})*
| status =
| highlights =
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2023
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 9
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 102
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = RiccGi00
}}
Giovanni Ricci (born October 16, 1996) is an American professional football fullback. He played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos.
College career
Ricci played for the Western Michigan Broncos for five seasons, redshirting his true freshman year. He finished his collegiate career with 98 catches for 1,114 yards and 11 touchdowns.{{Cite web|last=Loveland Magazine|date=2020-04-26|title=Former LHS standout Giovanni Ricci joins Panthers as Undrafted Free Agent|url=https://www.lovelandmagazine.com/former-lhs-standout-giovanni-ricci-joins-panthers-as-undrafted-free-agent/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Loveland Magazine|language=en-US}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 1/8
| weight = 234
| arm span = 31 3/8
| hand span = 9 1/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2020 NFL Draft Scout Giovanni Ricci College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=131948&DraftYear=2020 |access-date=August 15, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Carolina Panthers=
Ricci was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/story/sports/2020/04/27/wmu-western-michigan-land-free-agent-nfl-draft-bellamy-ricci-juriga/3026874001/|title=Former WMU stars land free agent deals following NFL Draft}} He was waived at the end of training camp.{{Cite web|title=Giovanni Ricci: Cut by Panthers|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/giovanni-ricci-cut-by-panthers/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=CBSSports.com|date=6 September 2020 |language=en}} Ricci was re-signed to the Panthers' practice squad shortly afterwards and remained there for the rest of the 2020 season.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-08|title=Panthers practice squad: All 16 players going into Week 1|url=https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/gallery/panthers-practice-squad-players-start-season/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Panthers Wire|language=en-US}} He was signed to a reserve/futures contract on January 4, 2021.{{Cite web|title=Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Inks future contract|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/panthers-giovanni-ricci-inks-future-contract/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=CBSSports.com|date=4 January 2021 |language=en}}
In 2022, Ricci appeared in 15 games (starting 3), and hauled in 8 receptions for 100 yards. On January 9, 2023, Ricci signed a futures/reserve contract with the Panthers.{{Cite web|title=Panthers sign 9 players on Monday|url=https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/09/panthers-sign-9-players-giovanni-ricci-stephen-sullivan/|access-date=January 2, 2024|website=pantherswire.usatoday.com|date=9 January 2023 |language=en}}
On October 24, 2023, Ricci was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.{{cite web|title=Panthers place three on IR, activate one, agree to terms with two|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-place-three-on-ir-activate-one-agree-to-terms-with-two|website=Panthers.com|date=October 24, 2023}}
=Cleveland Browns=
On March 15, 2024, Ricci signed with the Cleveland Browns.{{cite web|title=Browns sign TE Giovanni Ricci|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-te-giovanni-ricci|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=March 15, 2024}} On August 22, Ricci contract was terminated due to an injury.{{cite web | last=German | first=Spencer | title=Cleveland Browns Terminate Contract Of Training Camp Standout | website=SI.com | date=2024-08-22 | url=https://www.si.com/nfl/browns/news/cleveland-browns-terminate-contract-of-training-camp-standout?utm_source=RSS%7Cwebsite=www.si.com/nfl/browns%7Cdate=August | access-date=2024-09-04}}
=New England Patriots=
On February 3, 2025, Ricci signed a reserve/futures contract with the New England Patriots.{{Cite web|title=Patriots Sign TE Giovanni Ricci to a Futures Contract|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-te-giovanni-ricci-to-a-futures-contract|access-date=February 3, 2025|website=Patriots.com|language=en}} He was released on April 28, 2025.{{cite web |title=Patriots Release Six Players |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-release-six-players |website=patriots.com |access-date=29 April 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://wmubroncos.com/sports/football/roster/giovanni-ricci/7860 Western Michigan Broncos bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricci, Giovanni}}
Category:People from Loveland, Ohio
Category:Players of American football from Ohio
Category:American football fullbacks
Category:Western Michigan Broncos football players
Category:Carolina Panthers players