Byrd grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and attended The Ensworth School. He was a three-sport athlete competing in lacrosse, football and basketball.[1] In basketball, he played together with James Wiseman.[2] He also was a tap dancer and competed in Dance for Athletes 1 and Dance for Athletes 2.[1][2]
College
Byrd played college football from 2018 to 2022 for the Princeton Tigers, earning All-Ivy League First Team honors in 2021 and 2022 and a Second-Team All-Ivy in 2019.[3] In 2018, he received the Donold B. Lourie Award as the top offensive freshman.[4]
After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft, Byrd signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos.[6] He was released on August 29, 2023.[7] Two days later he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings to the practice squad, where he stayed until he was cut on November 4, 2023.[8] He was signed to the practice squad by the San Francisco 49ers on November 7, 2023.[9][10] He was released November 28, 2023.
On December 23, he was signed back to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad where he stayed for the remainder of the 2023 NFL season.[8] On January 8, 2024, he signed a future contract with the Vikings.[11]
Byrd was waived by the Vikings on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad.[12][13]
Personal life
His father William Byrd played college football for Vanderbilt and was a later a tour manager for Bruce Springsteen.
