Travis Rudolph, a former star receiver at Florida State and an NFL player, has secured a spot in the Orlando Guardians, Florida’s sole XFL team, symbolizing his second chance at a professional football career. This comes over a month following his acquittal in a fatal 2021 shooting case.
The West Palm Beach native, who once shone on the gridiron at Cardinal Newman High School and Florida State, is taking steps to reclaim his professional football career. During his stint with the Seminoles from 2014-16, Rudolph made 153 catches for 2,311 yards and netted 18 touchdowns in three seasons.
Despite his impressive college statistics, Rudolph remained undrafted after leaving school early for the NFL. He was eventually signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants, where he spent the 2017 season. The next year saw him join the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, only to tear his ACL on the first day of workouts, causing a premature end to his NFL career.
Rudolph briefly joined the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2020, only to be released following his arrest. His acquittal in June 2023 cleared him of first-degree murder and attempted murder charges stemming from the 2021 shooting, giving him the opportunity to turn his life around.
Expressing his relief after the acquittal, Rudolph said, “I got my freedom back, and I can get back to my life.” His signing with the Orlando Guardians signifies his first major step towards this goal.
If Rudolph plays for the Guardians in 2024, he could reconnect with his former college quarterback, Deondre Francois, who had a brief stint with the Guardians last season.
Under the helm of coach Terrell Buckley, a former Florida State star and NFL player, the Orlando Guardians look to give Rudolph the platform to reestablish his football career while lending an opportunity for redemption.
Buckley, a recipient of the 1991 Jim Thorpe Award and a six-season Miami Dolphins player, could potentially aid Rudolph in navigating his comeback journey.
