Jeremy McNichols is the kind of player that makes you realize how brutal and unpredictable the NFL really is. Honestly, if you look at the Jeremy McNichols dates joined history across his career, it reads less like a traditional sports bio and more like a chaotic travel itinerary. He’s been signed, waived, and promoted more times than most starters have career touchdowns.
It’s actually wild.
He earned the nickname "McWeapon" back at Boise State for a reason—the guy was a touchdown machine. But the pro level is a different beast. Since being a 5th-round pick in 2017, he’s spent time with the Buccaneers, 49ers (twice), Colts, Broncos, Titans (twice), Bears, Jaguars, Falcons, Steelers, and most recently, the Washington Commanders.
That’s eleven different stops if you’re counting.
Where it All Started: The 2017 Draft and Tampa Bay
The timeline kicks off on May 17, 2017. That was the day McNichols officially signed his rookie deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being the 162nd overall pick. Most people remember him from that season of Hard Knocks. He struggled. It was uncomfortable to watch him fall behind on the depth chart in real-time.
By September 2, 2017, the Bucs waived him. He didn’t even make it to his first regular-season game in Tampa.
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But the NFL moves fast. Just two days later, on September 4, 2017, he joined the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. This was the first of many "dates joined" that would define his career as a high-end depth piece that coaches just can't seem to quit.
Jeremy McNichols Dates Joined: A Timeline of Transactions
If you’re trying to track every single time this man signed a contract, you’ve got to look at the practice squad elevations and the "yo-yo" effect of the waiver wire. Here is the meat of the transaction history:
- September 3, 2018: Joined the Indianapolis Colts practice squad after being waived by the Niners. He was promoted to the active roster on September 28, then waived again four days later.
- October 10, 2018: Joined the Denver Broncos practice squad.
- December 3, 2018: This is a big one. He joined the Tennessee Titans for his first stint. This is where he eventually found his most significant rhythm as a pro, though it took some time.
- November 21, 2019: Joined the Chicago Bears practice squad.
- December 17, 2019: Joined the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- August 26, 2020: Re-joined the Tennessee Titans. This second stint was his "breakout" in terms of stability. He played in 16 games as the primary backup to the legendary Derrick Henry.
Being Derrick Henry’s backup is sort of like being the backup singer for Queen—you’re there for support, but everyone knows who the star is. Still, McNichols carved out a role as a third-down pass protector and a reliable receiver.
The Mid-Career Carousel
Between 2022 and 2023, things got messy again. On May 26, 2022, he joined the Atlanta Falcons, but that lasted less than a month. Then, on July 26, 2022, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. That looked promising until a season-ending injury landed him on IR just eight days later.
He finally returned to a familiar face on August 8, 2023, re-joining the San Francisco 49ers. He spent most of that year bouncing between the practice squad and the active roster, essentially serving as an insurance policy for Christian McCaffrey.
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Finding a Home in Washington (2024-2026)
Everything changed on April 1, 2024. No joke—on April Fool's Day, McNichols signed with the Washington Commanders. Most fans figured he was just another camp body.
They were wrong.
McNichols turned into a legitimate weapon for Washington. In 2024, he posted 261 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Seeing his value, the Commanders didn't let him hit the open market for long. On March 11, 2025, he signed a one-year, $1.33 million extension to stay in D.C.
He basically became the team's primary pass-catching back in 2025 after Austin Ekeler went down with an Achilles injury. He ended the 2025 season with a career-high 417 total yards from scrimmage. Not bad for a guy who was once waived before his first career game.
Why These Dates Matter for Fantasy and Betting
You might wonder why anyone tracks Jeremy McNichols dates joined so closely. In the world of NFL transactions, these dates tell a story of "scheme fit."
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Whenever Kyle Shanahan (49ers) or a former Titans staffer moves to a new team, McNichols’ name usually pops up. Coaches trust him because he knows how to pick up a blitz. In the NFL, if you can block, you can find a job.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
As of right now, Jeremy McNichols is set to become an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) in the 2026 offseason. His current contract with Washington expires, and at age 30, he’s entering the twilight of a running back's career.
If you're a Commanders fan or a fantasy manager, here is what you need to watch:
- The Veteran Minimum Market: Look for McNichols to sign a one-year deal around March or April 2026. He likely won't command more than $1.2M–$1.5M.
- Special Teams Value: He played a career-high number of special teams snaps in 2024 and 2025. This makes him more likely to stick on a 53-man roster rather than a practice squad.
- The "Third-Down" Specialist Role: Any team with a young, mobile quarterback (like Jayden Daniels in Washington) needs a guy like McNichols who won't miss a block.
The reality is that Jeremy McNichols has survived in the league longer than the average running back. His career isn't defined by Pro Bowls, but by the fact that every time he gets cut, another team is waiting with a contract. That tells you everything you need to know about his professional reputation. Keep an eye on the wire this March—history suggests a new "date joined" is right around the corner.