A former Howard running back and pre-med student who took the long road through the UFL to earn a shot with the Bills.
Ian Wheeler is a Howard University product who deferred a spot in medical school to chase an NFL career, then rebuilt his stock with an MVP run in the United Football League. After bouncing through practice squads following an undrafted start, he signed with Buffalo in the summer of 2026 off the strength of a UFL championship performance.
Path to the league
Wheeler played at Howard from 2019 to 2023, rushing for 1,154 yards and 14 touchdowns on 177 carries and earning second-team All-MEAC recognition. A Psychology major, he was accepted into Howard University College of Medicine but deferred enrollment to pursue football. He went undrafted in 2024 and signed with the Chicago Bears, but a torn ACL in the preseason cut that stint short, and he later spent time with the New Orleans Saints practice squad.
Career highlights
Wheeler's breakout came in the UFL with the Louisville Kings in 2026, where he set a league single-game record with four rushing touchdowns on 13 carries in a Week 5 win over Dallas. He finished the regular season with 371 rushing yards and six touchdowns across nine games.
2025 season recap
Wheeler did not appear in an NFL game in 2025, spending the year working through practice squad opportunities before his UFL breakthrough in early 2026. His 2026 United Bowl performance, capped by a go-ahead 44-yard touchdown run, earned him Most Valuable Player honors in Louisville's 27-20 championship win and led directly to his one-year contract with Buffalo.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ian Wheeler (American football)
- Buffalo Bills: Ian Wheeler player page
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Running Back
- Group
- offense
- College
- Howard
- Hometown
- Houston, TX, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
