Ryan Finley

Ryan Finley is a former NFL quarterback who traded the gridiron for the pickleball court and never looked back. Drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of NC State, Finley appeared in three regular-season games including a start against the New York Jets. He threw his first NFL touchdown to Tyler Eifert and even ripped off a 23-yard read-option TD run against the Steelers. After a brief stint with the Houston Texans in 2021, Finley stepped away from football and discovered pickleball around 2019, eventually going all-in on the sport in January 2023.

Now based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Finley competes on the PPA Tour in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Standing 6'4, he brings legitimate athleticism and competitiveness to the court, and his journey from the NFL to pro pickleball has made him one of the more unique stories on tour. He is still grinding his way up the rankings, but the same work ethic that made him a three-year starter in the ACC is fueling his development in pickleball.