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Dan Chisena
Dan Chisena
Dan Chisena
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‹ The template Infobox gridiron football biography is being considered for merging. ›

Dan Chisena (born February 25, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Chisena was born in Paoli, Pennsylvania and grew up in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He attended Downingtown East High School, where he played football and was a sprinter on the track team. He was named first-team All-Ches-Mont League as a senior in football after catching 41 passes for 553 yards and three touchdowns. In track, Chisena won gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 relay at the 2015 PIAA Class AAA Outdoor State Championship.[1]

College career

[edit]

Chisena joined both the football and track teams as a walk-on and redshirted as a freshman. He was offered a track scholarship at the end of his freshman year and left the football team due to NCAA rules. In track, Chisena came in third at the 2017 Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships in the 400-meter and was part of the team that won the 4x400 relay at the 2017 Indoor Championships. After tearing his hamstring in early 2018, Chisena left the track team after two seasons in order to return to the football team.[2][3]

Chisena played in two games in his first season with the football team as a junior. He was awarded a football scholarship for his final season during the team's spring game, in which he caught a 59-yard touchdown pass.[4] As a senior, he played in all twelve of the Nittany Lions' games and caught three passes for 66 yards.[1]

Professional career

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span
6 ft 2+1⁄8 in
(1.88 m) 		195 lb
(88 kg) 		32 in
(0.81 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)
All values from Pro Day[5]

Minnesota Vikings (first stint)

[edit]

Chisena was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2020.[6] Chisena made the Vikings' 53-man active roster out of training camp, primarily for his special teams potential and his versatility, as he was converted to safety.[7][8] Chisena made his NFL debut in the season opener on September 13, 2020, against the Green Bay Packers, playing on special teams.[9] Chisena recovered a fumble on a muffed punt by DeAndre Carter on October 4, 2020, in a 31–23 win over the Houston Texans.[10] Chisena played in 14 games as a rookie, playing exclusively on special teams and finishing the year with six tackles and a fumble recovery.[11]

On September 1, 2021, Chisena was placed on injured reserve.[12] He was activated, then waived on October 9, 2021.[13] He was re-signed to the active roster on October 12.

On August 30, 2022, Chisena was waived by the Vikings.[14] He was signed to the practice squad one day later.[15]

Pittsburgh Steelers

[edit]

On January 23, 2023, Chisena signed a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[16] On August 26, 2023, Chisena was released.[17]

Minnesota Vikings (second stint)

[edit]

On October 11, 2023, the Vikings signed Chisena to their practice squad.[18] He was waived on November 21.[19]

Arizona Cardinals (first stint)

[edit]

On November 22, 2023, Chisena was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.[20] He was promoted to the active roster on December 2. He was released and re-signed to the practice squad on December 5.[21] He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the team's season ended, and thus became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.[22]

Baltimore Ravens

[edit]

On January 10, 2024, Chisena was signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season and thus became a free agent when his practice squad contract expired.[23]

Arizona Cardinals (second stint)

[edit]

On February 6, 2024, Chisena signed a reserve/future contract with the Arizona Cardinals.[24] He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.[25][26] He was released on October 11.

Carolina Panthers

[edit]

On October 16, 2024, Chisena signed with the Carolina Panthers practice squad.[27] He was promoted to the active roster on December 17.[28] With Carolina, Chisena returned to playing wide receiver and finished the season with 3 catches for 38 yards.[29]

On March 12, 2025, Chisena signed a one-year deal with the Panthers.[30] On July 29, he was waived with an injury settlement.[31] Chisena was re-signed to the practice squad on September 23.[32]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dan Chisena

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Daniel David Chisena (born February 25, 1997) is an American professional football for the of the (). Standing at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and weighing 203 pounds (92 kg), Chisena is known for his speed derived from a successful collegiate career, which transitioned into roles on NFL special teams and as a depth . Chisena grew up in Paoli, Pennsylvania, and attended Downingtown East High School, where he excelled in both football and track. In high school track, he won Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class AAA state championships in the 100 meters (10.52 seconds), 200 meters (21.29 seconds), and 4x100-meter relay in 2015. He initially joined Penn State University as a football recruit in 2015 but shifted focus to , earning a partial scholarship for sprinting. At Penn State, Chisena became a standout sprinter from 2016 to 2019, specializing in the and meters. His track highlights include helping the Nittany Lions win a team title, a conference championship in the 4x400-meter relay, and competing at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 4x100-meter (13th place, 39.15 seconds) and 4x400-meter relays (9th place, 3:04.17). Personal bests included 10.63 seconds in the 100 meters, 21.05 seconds in the meters, and 46.91 seconds in the meters. He returned to football in 2018–2019, appearing in 14 games primarily on special teams with 3 receptions for 66 yards as a . Undrafted in the , Chisena signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent, leveraging his 4.32-second time from Penn State's pro day. Over his professional career, he has been affiliated with six teams: the Vikings (2020–2022), (2023), (first stint, 2023; second stint, 2024), (2023 postseason), and (2024–present), primarily on practice squads with limited active-roster appearances. In 38 career games, he has recorded 3 receptions for 37 yards, all in 2024 with the Panthers, while contributing 15 tackles on special teams; in the 2025 season, he has appeared in 1 game as of November 2025. Chisena signed a one-year, $1.17 million with the Panthers in March 2025 but was released in July 2025 with an injury settlement; he re-joined the practice squad in September 2025 and remains with the team as of November 2025, focusing on depth and special teams roles.

Early life

Family and upbringing

Dan Chisena was born on February 25, 1997, in . He is the son of Dave Chisena and Jody Chisena, with his father having played at the from 1979 to 1983. His mother, Jody, has been described as a supportive homemaker who encouraged his pursuits during challenging times. Chisena grew up in the suburbs of , in a household influenced by a family legacy of athletics. Surrounded by sports enthusiasts, including relatives such as his great-grandfather, grandparents, and a cousin who played football at Penn State, he developed an early interest in competitive activities. This familial environment fostered Chisena's initial exposure to football and track, igniting his competitiveness from a young age through casual play and family encouragement. He later transitioned to organized sports at Downingtown East High School.

High school career

Dan Chisena attended Downingtown East High School in , where he participated in football and as a , showcasing his speed and versatility across disciplines. In football, Chisena was a three-time letterman and served as team during his senior year in 2014 under head coach Mike Matta, earning All-Ches-Mont Conference honors for his performance. As a senior , he recorded 41 receptions for 553 receiving yards and three touchdowns, contributing significantly to the team's offensive efforts. He had also helped Downingtown East secure the Ches-Mont Conference championship the previous year as a junior. Chisena's exceptional sprinting ability shone in track and field, where he specialized in short-distance events. At the 2015 PIAA Class AAA Outdoor State Championships held at Shippensburg University, he claimed gold in the 100-meter dash with a winning time of 10.52 seconds. He followed with another victory in the 200-meter dash, finishing first in 21.29 seconds. Additionally, Chisena anchored the Downingtown East 4x100-meter relay team to a state title, clocking a time of 42.01 seconds alongside teammates Kameron Hammond, Mike Gwoah, and Jeremy Jennings. These achievements underscored his role as a dynamic capable of excelling in high-speed, competitive environments.

College career

Football

Chisena joined the team as a walk-on in 2015, redshirting the season while preserving a year of eligibility. After focusing primarily on for the next two years, he returned to the football program in 2018, appearing in two games primarily on special teams units. In , as a senior, Chisena appeared in all 12 games with two starts, contributing as a depth and on special teams, where he recorded four tackles. He earned a full during the Blue-White spring game after catching a 59-yard pass, marking a significant transition back to football after his track success. His receiving stats that season included three catches for 66 yards, with a long of 40 yards against . Chisena's track-honed speed, including a 4.32-second , enhanced his value as a special teams gunner, helping to pin opponents deep in their territory. Over his career at Penn State, Chisena totaled three receptions for 66 receiving yards and zero touchdowns, with all production occurring in 2019 across 14 total games played. He completed his degree in security and risk analysis in December 2019, prior to participating in the against Memphis. Following the 2019 season, Chisena went undrafted in the but signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.

Track and field

After redshirting his freshman football season in 2015, Dan Chisena joined the Penn State team, competing as a sprinter from 2016 to 2018. During this period, he specialized in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter events, as well as relays, contributing to the Nittany Lions' sprint group while balancing occasional overlap with the football roster in 2015 and 2018–2019. Chisena's standout performances came in 2017, when he earned a in the 400 meters at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships with a personal-best time of 46.16 seconds, placing third overall. Earlier that year, at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, he ran the first leg of the winning 4x400-meter relay team, which set a school record and Big Ten meet record with a time of 3:04.80. He also anchored the 4x400-meter relay to a at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships (3:05.22) and helped set school records in the 4x100-meter (39.08) and 4x400-meter (3:03.48) relays during the outdoor season. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships that year, Chisena competed in both relays, helping Penn State finish 13th in the 4x100 meters (39.15) and ninth in the 4x400 meters (3:04.17). His collegiate personal bests included 10.63 seconds in the 100 meters at the Texas Invitational, 21.05 seconds in the 200 meters at the Texas Invitational, and 46.16 seconds in the 400 meters at the 2017 Big Ten Outdoor Championships. These achievements solidified Chisena's reputation as a elite speedster on campus, paving the way for his return to the in after sustaining a injury early that track season.

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

Chisena signed with the Minnesota as an undrafted on April 26, 2020, shortly after the conclusion of the NFL Draft. His track background from Penn State, where he specialized in sprinting events, positioned him as a special teams asset, leveraging his reported 4.32-second time for coverage roles. He earned a spot on the initial 53-man roster as the only undrafted rookie to do so, debuting in the season opener on September 13, 2020, against the . In his 2020 rookie season, Chisena appeared in 14 games, exclusively contributing on special teams with 259 , recording 6 tackles and 1 fumble recovery. The fumble recovery occurred on October 4, 2020, during a Week 5 victory over the Houston Texans, where he secured a loose ball on a punt return forced by teammate Mike Boone, setting up a that helped secure a 31-23 win. His speed proved valuable in punt coverage, though he saw no offensive or receptions. Chisena's 2021 season involved 11 games, primarily through elevations from the practice squad to the active roster for special teams duties, where he logged 213 snaps and added 3 tackles. He was briefly waived in October before being re-signed, continuing his role as a depth player focused on coverage units. In 2022, his involvement diminished to 2 games with 24 special teams snaps and 2 tackles, following a practice squad promotion in November. He was waived by the Vikings on August 30, 2022, prior to the regular season but later re-added to the practice squad. Over his three-year tenure with the , Chisena played in 27 games, amassed 11 special teams tackles, and recorded 1 fumble recovery, with no offensive receptions, underscoring his niche as a special teams specialist before departing the organization after the 2022 season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Chisena signed a reserve/ with the on January 23, 2023, providing him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot heading into the offseason. This move came after his time with the Minnesota , where he had established himself as a special teams contributor. During the 2023 training camp and preseason, Chisena focused primarily on special teams, aiming to secure a role as a depth receiver and coverage specialist. He leveraged his prior experience from the , where he had accumulated significant snaps on special teams units, to compete in these areas amid a crowded group. His efforts highlighted his speed and versatility, though he faced stiff competition from established players like . Chisena was released by the Steelers on August 26, 2023, as part of the team's initial roster cuts ahead of the regular season, and he did not appear in any regular-season games for the franchise.

Arizona Cardinals (first stint)

Chisena signed with the ' practice squad on November 22, 2023, following his release from the . He was promoted to the active roster on December 2, 2023, to provide depth amid injuries. During his time with the Cardinals in 2023, Chisena appeared in four regular-season games, logging 54 total snaps, with 53 on special teams. He recorded two special teams tackles but had no receptions or offensive snaps of note. His speed, honed from a college track background where he competed in the 100 meters and , aided his role in coverage and return units. Chisena was waived by the Cardinals on December 4, 2023, but was re-signed to the practice squad shortly thereafter, allowing him to contribute late in the season before his release at the conclusion of the campaign. This brief stint underscored his value as a special teams specialist rather than a primary offensive contributor.

Following his release from the ' practice squad, Chisena signed with the ' practice squad on January 10, 2024, providing depth at amid injuries to key players. Chisena was elevated to the active roster for the ' divisional round playoff game against the Texans on January 20, 2024, and again for the against the on January 28, 2024. In both postseason appearances, he contributed as special teams depth but recorded no statistics. Chisena was released by after their AFC Championship loss, concluding his brief tenure with the team.

Arizona Cardinals (second stint)

Following his participation in the ' 2023 playoff games as a special teams contributor, Chisena signed a with the on February 6, 2024, marking his return to the team after a prior stint late in the 2023 season. This deal positioned him to compete for a roster spot during the 2024 offseason program, leveraging his experience from previous Cardinals practice squad and active roster time. Chisena attended the Cardinals' 2024 training camp and participated in all three preseason games, primarily serving as depth at and on special teams units. In the preseason opener against the on , he led the team in receiving with five catches for 63 yards, including a 27-yard reception, while also contributing on coverage and return teams. His efforts highlighted his value as a versatile special teams player, though limited offensive snaps underscored the competition for depth. Despite his contributions, Chisena did not secure a spot on the initial 53-man roster and joined the Cardinals' practice squad after final cuts. He was released from the practice squad on August 27, 2024, prior to the regular season, and did not appear in any games during this second stint with the team.

Carolina Panthers

Chisena signed with the Carolina Panthers' practice squad on October 16, 2024. He was promoted to the active roster on December 17, 2024. During the 2024 season, Chisena appeared in six games for the Panthers, primarily contributing on special teams with 80 snaps in that phase, while logging 19 offensive snaps. He recorded three receptions for 37 yards, marking his first career catches, including a 23-yard reception against the Arizona Cardinals on December 22, 2024. On March 12, 2025, Chisena re-signed with the Panthers on a one-year contract. He was waived on July 29, 2025, and received an injury settlement. Chisena returned to the Panthers' on September 23, 2025. Chisena was elevated from the to the active roster for Week 10 on November 9, 2025, ahead of the Panthers' game against the . He played in that contest, appearing on special teams for nine snaps without recording statistics. Chisena reverted to the on November 11, 2025, where he remains as of November 19, 2025. Throughout his time with the Panthers, Chisena has evolved from a special teams contributor—drawing on prior experience in that role across multiple teams—to providing limited offensive opportunities, though his primary value lies in special teams coverage.

References

  1. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ChisDa00.htm
  2. https://www.nfl.com/players/dan-chisena/
  3. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3929637/dan-chisena
  4. https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/5674760/Penn_State/Dan_Chisena.html
  5. https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2020/04/amid-lockdown-how-dan-chisena-is-trying-to-follow-path-of-little-known-penn-state-athletes-to-nfl-career.html
  6. https://gopsusports.com/sports/track-field/roster/player/dan-chisena
  7. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dan-chisena-1.html
  8. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/48114/dan-chisena
  9. https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-bring-back-wide-receiver-dan-chisena
  10. https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/roster/player/dan-chisena
  11. https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-who-are-dan-chisena-parents-all-about-dad-dave-and-mom-jody-chisena/
  12. https://www.easternpafootball.com/40-teams-40-days-day-14-downingtown-east-1/
  13. https://www.ydr.com/story/sports/high-school/track-boys/2015/05/23/york-daily-record/31251961/
  14. https://www.vikings.com/news/dan-chisena-vikings-ufda-speed-to-burn
  15. https://onwardstate.com/2019/10/25/ex-track-star-dan-chisena-shining-on-special-teams-for-penn-state-football/
  16. https://gopsusports.com/news/2020/04/15/chisena-and-gillikin-named-to-nff-hampshire-honor-society
  17. https://onwardstate.com/2020/04/26/dan-chisena-signs-with-minnesota-vikings-as-undrafted-free-agent/
  18. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ChisDa00/gamelog/2020/
  19. https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-outlast-texans-rally-in-31-23-victory
  20. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ChisDa00/gamelog/2021/
  21. https://www.twincities.com/2021/10/09/vikings-elevate-two-cornerbacks-off-practice-squad-waive-wr-dan-chisena/
  22. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ChisDa00/gamelog/2022/
  23. https://www.vikings.com/news/roster-moves-initial-53-man-waived-injured-2022
  24. https://www.steelers.com/team/transactions/2023
  25. https://steelersdepot.com/2023/07/pittsburgh-steelers-2023-training-camp-sleepers-wr-dan-chisena/
  26. https://triblive.com/sports/speedy-ex-penn-st-football-player-track-star-dan-chisena-out-to-make-steelers-special-teams/
  27. https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-make-initial-roster-cuts
  28. https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/ari/season/2023
  29. https://www.nfl.com/players/dan-chisena/stats/
  30. https://www.profootballrumors.com/2023/12/minor-nfl-transactions-12-4-23
  31. https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-bring-back-dan-chisena-on-futures-deal
  32. https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/bal/season/2024
  33. https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/ravens-dan-chisena-elevated-for-divisional-round/
  34. https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-elevate-dan-chisena-josh-ross-afc-championship-ravens-chiefs
  35. https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/baltimore-ravens-add-pittsburgh-steelers-dan-chisena-playoff-game
  36. https://cardswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2024/02/06/cardinals-re-sign-wr-dan-chisena-for-2024/79261290007/
  37. https://www.azcardinals.com/news/for-cardinals-wr-dan-chisena-preseason-crucial-for-livelihood
  38. https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401673456/saints-cardinals
  39. https://cardswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2024/08/10/arizona-cardinals-preseason-studs-saints-clayton-tune/74756657007/
  40. https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/dan-chisena-player
  41. https://onwardstate.com/2024/08/27/dan-chisena-released-by-arizona-cardinals/
  42. https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2024/10/16/panthers-sign-dan-chisena-practice-squad/75703845007/
  43. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/3929637/dan-chisena
  44. https://www.footballdb.com/players/dan-chisena-chiseda01
  45. https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-agree-to-terms-with-wide-receiver-dan-chisena
  46. https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-make-change-at-wide-receiver
  47. https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/dan-chisena-back-with-practice-squad/
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