Michael Coats Jr. is just 25 years old, but his path to the NFL makes one feel as though he's been scratching and clawing his way to this point for a lifetime. The story begins in Biloxi, Mississippi, where after playing youth sports, he decided to ditch the pigskin upon entering high school. He played some hoops before dropping that, too, opting instead to just be a normal high school kid.
When he graduated, like many of us at that stage of our lives, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do with himself. He decided to enter the job market and found work at an arcade — Big Play Entertainment Center in Biloxi. According to Nevada Sports Net, it was there that he realized he was destined for something more.
Coats Jr. came across a virtual flyer for football tryouts at East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi, and snuck away to bring his secret plan to life. Unbeknownst to those around him, he had been hitting the gym, intent on finding his way back to the gridiron. He told his mom he was going to catch a college basketball game at a different school, but that humble tryout would prove to be the beginning of something great.
The Browns uncovered a budding star in West Virginia's Michael Coats Jr.
Coats Jr. made the squad and was starting for the Warriors' first game of the 2020 season. He wound up spending three seasons in Decatur, save for a short-lived pit stop with Louisiana Tech in 2022, which fell apart after a coaching change derailed the opportunity. After that season, he made his way onto the radar of the coaching staff at the University of Nevada.
The 2023 season proved transitional for Coats Jr., and he played a reserve role, notching 13 tackles, four passes defensed, and one interception. In 2024, he burst onto the scene as a full-time contributor and didn't disappoint, posting 41 tackles, 13 passes defensed, and four interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed a paltry 45.8 passer rating in his coverage area for the season.
That kind of season drew the attention of West Virginia in the elevated Big 12 conference, and Coats Jr. did exactly what you'd expect a fearless competitor to do: he jumped at the opportunity. His 2025 season wasn't quite as great with elevated competition, but he still held his own with 30 tackles, two tackles for loss, seven passes defensed, and a fumble recovery, posting a 73.2 PFF grade in the process.
Draft weekend came and went without his name being called, but the Cleveland Browns were quick to make their interest known. They put their money where their mouths were, too, agreeing to a contract with a $15,000 signing bonus and $115,000 guaranteed. Coats Jr. quickly showed his ballhawking ability during training camp, notably intercepting Deshaun Watson in one of the first sessions.
What he displayed in the Browns' first preseason action against the Chicago Bears has put him firmly on the map. Coats Jr. intercepted Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent and added a pass defensed to his breakout day. His sterling 90.0 PFF grade in 18 snaps played ranked second of the 33 Browns defenders who played at all on Saturday. It was also the sixth-highest among the 226 cornerbacks who played league-wide.
At day's end, Coats Jr. was targeted five times and allowed just two receptions for 13 yards, with the aforementioned interception and deflection combining for a truly absurd 8.3 passer rating surrendered.
For all the naysayers out there — yes, it's the preseason and it's just one contest. That's all fine and dandy, but the reality is, Michael Coats Jr. is making a name for himself. At this rate, the Browns may not be able to sneak him onto their practice squad if they deem him not ready. Hopefully his lights-out play continues and he forces Cleveland's hand. A few more performances like last week's, and a roster spot will be in the bag.
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