James Conner

James Conner is an active American professional football running back for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). His career is defined by unmatched resilience—overcoming a life-threatening cancer diagnosis in college to become a multi-time NFL Pro Bowler and a veteran captain.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

James Earl Conner was born on May 5, 1995, in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA. The running back stands 185 cm tall and plays at a dense, powerful weight of 106 kg.

He attended McDowell High School in Millcreek Township, Pennsylvania, where he stood out as a dominant two-way star. Committing to the University of Pittsburgh, Conner played for the Panthers from 2013 to 2016 and authored a truly legendary collegiate career.

In 2014, he put together a historic breakout campaign, rushing for 1,765 yards and a blistering 26 touchdowns to capture AFCA First-team All-American honors, ACC Player of the Year, and ACC Offensive Player of the Year.

However, his life and career faced a massive hurdle in late 2015 when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Displaying exceptional courage, Conner underwent intensive chemotherapy treatments while continuing to train with the team in a surgical mask.

He was declared cancer-free in May 2016 and staged a triumphant return for the 2016 season, logging 1,092 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns to secure the Disney Spirit Award, the ACC Brian Piccolo Award, and a second First-team All-ACC nod.

Professional Career

Conner was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (105th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Playing in his home state of Pennsylvania, Conner exploded onto the national stage during his sophomore season in 2018.

Stepping in as the primary starter, he racked up 1,470 scrimmage yards and 13 total touchdowns to claim his first career Pro Bowl selection. He anchored the Steelers' backfield for four highly productive seasons as a versatile goal-line weapon and reliable receiver out of the backfield.

In 2021, Conner signed a free-agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals, where his career reached new competitive heights. He enjoyed an electrifying debut season in Arizona, scoring a staggering 15 rushing touchdowns and 18 total scores to earn his second career Pro Bowl nod.

He continued to serve as the engine of the Cardinals' ground game, logging consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2023 (1,040 yards) and 2024 (a career-high 1,094 yards), joining legends Ottis Anderson and Edgerrin James as the only players in franchise history to record multiple 1,000-yard rushing campaigns.

His highly anticipated 2025 campaign was unfortunately cut short in Week 3 due to a severe foot injury that required season-ending surgery.

Despite this setback, Conner remains a foundational core of the franchise's identity; he restructured his contract ahead of the 2026 offseason to secure his future with the team.

Fully recovered and heading into the 2026 season, he enters training camp as a veteran leader looking to command the Cardinals' backfield once again.

Career Highlights

• 2× Pro Bowl Selection – 2018 (Steelers), 2021 (Cardinals)
• 2014 - ACC Player of the Year
• 2014 - First-team All-American (Pittsburgh)
• 2016 - Disney Spirit Award
• 2016 - ACC Brian Piccolo Award