Sermon arrives with an extensive resume, if not a productive one at the NFL level.
The San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the third round back in 2021, and since then he's bounced through the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and most recently the Pittsburgh Steelers, appearing in 46 career games with just three starts.
His production has been modest throughout, totaling 505 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 134 carries across five seasons. His most recent Steelers stint ended without him recording a single offensive stat across four appearances last year.
One Of College Football's Most Memorable Performances
Sermon's college career tells a very different story than his pro one.
A standout at both Oklahoma and Ohio State, he's still remembered for one of the most dominant single-game rushing performances in FBS history. In the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game, Sermon rushed for 331 yards, a mark that stands as the most rushing yards ever recorded by an Ohio State player and the highest total in any FBS championship game.
BREAKING: Ohio State lands former Oklahoma tailback Trey Sermon in the transfer portal. He is immediately eligible pic.twitter.com/SGJNYzlpEH
— The Buckeye Nut (@TheBuckeyeNut) March 22, 2020
Falcons signed veteran free-agent running back Trey Sermon.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 10, 2026
That kind of ceiling has kept teams willing to give him a look, even as his NFL opportunities have stayed limited.
The Timing
Sermon's addition comes during a landmark week for Atlanta's backfield. The Falcons' RB1, Bijan Robinson, just ended a training camp holdout by agreeing to a three-year extension worth up to $75 million, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history by average annual value.
TRANSACTION: The Atlanta Falcons have signed running back Trey Sermon. https://t.co/UYCLC17uzv
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) August 10, 2026
That signing put Atlanta's full attention on the top of the depth chart. Sermon's addition addresses the other end of it, giving head coach Raheem Morris and the Falcons another body in the room as the preseason opener approaches.
