Derek Rivers is an American football defensive end currently playing for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in 2017.
Derek Rivers was born in Augusta, Maine. When he was just five months old, his family relocated to North Carolina, where he was raised. He attended Kinston High School in Kinston, North Carolina, where he began to develop as a standout athlete. Following his high school graduation, Rivers enrolled at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia for a year of postgraduate studies, focusing on academics and preparing for collegiate athletics.
Rivers played college football at Youngstown State University from 2013 to 2016. Over his four-year career, he became one of the most dominant defensive players in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). He set a school record with 41 career sacks and added 56.5 tackles for loss, 47 quarterback hurries, and 119 solo tackles. His performance placed him among the top defensive prospects in the country.
In his senior year, Rivers led a formidable Youngstown State defense that helped propel the team to the FCS National Championship game. Despite their strong run, the Penguins fell short in the final, losing 24–14 to James Madison University.
Rivers was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round, 83rd overall, of the 2017 NFL Draft. His selection marked the highest a Youngstown State player had been drafted in decades, underscoring his collegiate success and NFL potential.
Unfortunately, Rivers suffered a torn ACL during training camp in his rookie season, sidelining him for the entire 2017 campaign. This injury delayed his professional debut and hampered the early part of his NFL career. In subsequent seasons, Rivers rotated between being on the active roster and dealing with injuries, limiting his impact with the Patriots.
After several seasons with the Patriots, Derek Rivers went on to sign with the Houston Texans, where he continues his NFL career. His resilience and determination have kept him contributing at the professional level as a defensive end, bringing experience and depth to the Texans' defensive unit.
| Birth Date: | 9 May, 1994 |
| Age: | 26 yrs |
| Occupations: | American football player |
| Birth Place: | Augusta |
| Education: | Kinston High School |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American Football Player |
