Michael Gallup Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Family, Career Stats, Net Worth & Comeback, NFL, Stats in 2026

Michael Gallup is the resilient wide-receiver who went from small-town Georgia athlete to Dallas Cowboys fan-favorite, weathered injuries, an unexpected 2024 retirement, and—just when the league thought he was done—stormed back into the NFL with the Washington Commanders in time for the 2025 season. Still only 29, Gallup’s combination of sure hands, yards-after-catch power and red-zone nose makes him one of 2026’s most intriguing comeback stories.

Quick Bio

Full Name	Michael Gallup
Current Team	Washington Commanders (2025–present)
Position	Wide Receiver
Jersey	13
Birth Date	4 March 1996
Age (2026)	29 years old
Birth Place	Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Hometown	Monroe, Georgia
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	African-American
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Arm Length	31 ¾ in
Hand Size	9 ¼ in
High School	Monroe Area HS (GA)
College	Butler Community College → Colorado State
Draft	2018, Round 3, Pick 81 (Dallas Cowboys)
Years Active	2018 – 2023 (DAL), 2024 (retired), 2025 – present (WAS)
Marital Status	Married
Wife	Brittany M. Gallup (m. 2022)
Children	1 daughter (b. 2023)
Net Worth (2026 est.)	$14 – 16 million

Early Life & Education

Born in Atlanta and raised in Monroe, Georgia, Gallup earned an incredible 16 varsity letters—four each in football, basketball, baseball and track. Low SAT scores pushed him to Butler Community College (KS) where, in only two seasons, he posted 780 yds & 11 TDs as a true freshman and became the Jayhawk Conference yards-per-catch leader. He transferred to Colorado State and exploded:

2016: 76 rec, 1 272 yds, 14 TD – 1st-team All-Mountain West
2017: 100 rec (school record), 1 413 yds, 7 TD – Consensus All-American & Biletnikoff finalist

He left CSU top-5 in every major receiving category.

NFL Career Journey

Dallas Cowboys (2018-2023) – Rise & ACL heart-break

2018 rookie: 33 rec, 507 yds, 2 TD – named to PFWA All-Rookie Team
2019 sophomore surge: 66 rec, 1 107 yds, 6 TD – 3rd among 2nd-year WRs in yards
2020: 59 rec, 843 yds, 5 TD before tearing ACL Week 17
2021 comeback: 44 rec, 779 yds, 2 TD in 14 games
2022: Signed 5-yr $57.5 M extension; nagging injuries limited him to 39 rec, 424 yds
2023: 34 rec, 418 yds, 2 TD – Cowboys released him 15 March 2024 (post-June 1 save $9.5 M cap)

Las Vegas Raiders (2024) – The twist

30 April 2024: 1-yr $3 M deal
24 July 2024: Shock retirement on eve of training camp; placed on Reserve/Retired list

Washington Commanders (2025-?) – Return from the void

March 2025: NFL reinstated him; Commanders signed him to a veteran-minimum $1.25 M prove-it deal loaded with per-game roster bonuses
Role: Z / slot receiver & red-zone target behind Terry McLaurin
2025 stat line (Week 18): 27 rec, 341 yds, 3 TD in 13 games – solid bounce-back numbers as rotational piece

Career Stats (NFL regular season)

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2018	DAL	16	33	507	15.4	2
2019	DAL	14	66	1 107	16.8	6
2020	DAL	16	59	843	14.3	5
2021	DAL	14	44	779	17.7	2
2022	DAL	17	39	424	10.9	4
2023	DAL	12	34	418	12.3	2
2025	WAS	13	27	341	12.6	3
TOTAL	—	102	302	4 419	14.6	24

Post-season: 7 GP, 16 rec, 258 yds, 1 TD

Personal Life

Michael married long-time girlfriend Brittany in a private Dallas ceremony (June 2022). Their daughter arrived March 2023; he celebrated a TD vs. the Giants with a “rock-the-baby” cradle that went viral. The family splits off-season between Monroe, GA and Northern Virginia. Gallup’s hobbies include deep-sea fishing, golf and vintage sneakers—he owns 200+ pairs.

Awards & Highlights

PFWA All-Rookie Team (2018)
2× 1 000-yd receiver club (2019, 2020 pace)
FedEx Ground & Air Player of Week 17, 2020
Commanders 2025 Ed Block Courage Award nominee (comeback from retirement)

Controversies

Zero off-field legal issues; praised by coaches for professionalism. Only “controversy” was 2024 sudden retirement—rumors of burnout later quelled when he stated: “I just needed to breathe, be a dad, and fall back in love with the game.”

Salary & Net Worth 2026

Spotrac lists career on-field earnings at ~$28 M. After agent fees, taxes and a year of retirement, Forbes-style calculators put his 2026 net worth at $14 – 16 M, boosted by endorsement deals with Nike, Panini and a local Dallas car dealership he retains in Commanders colors.

Interesting Facts

One of only four Colorado State players ever recognized as consensus All-American.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott called him “huge for my career” the day he retired.
Returned from ACL tear in 173 days—faster than NFL average by nearly a month.
Owns a customized “MG13” golf-cart shaped like a Cowboys star (now repainted burgundy & gold).
Nickname in Washington locker-room: “Zombie” – because he came back from the football dead.

Social Media Links

FAQs

How old is Michael Gallup now?
29 (born 4 March 1996).

Why did Gallup retire in 2024?
Citing mental fatigue and family priorities; he never filed official papers, so reinstatement was easy.

What is his 40-yard dash time?
4.51 s at 2018 NFL Combine.

Who is Michael Gallup’s wife?
Brittany M. Gallup; they wed in 2022 and have one daughter.

What are his 2026 contract details?
1 yr, $1.25 M base, $250 k in per-game roster bonuses, up to $500 k play-time incentives—zero guaranteed money, pure prove-it deal.

Conclusion

Michael Gallup’s story is far from over. After climbing from overlooked JUCO prospect to Cowboys WR1 money, losing an ACL, losing the game itself, and now resurfacing in Washington, Gallup embodies modern NFL resilience. If he stays healthy, expect him to pass 5 000 career yards early in 2026 and contend for NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Keep your popcorn—and his daughter’s baby-bottle TD celebration—ready.

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