Ryan Switzer

On November 14, 2019, Switzer was placed on injured reserve. He was designated for return from injured reserve on December 26, 2019, and began practicing with the team again, but was not activated as the Steelers failed to make the playoffs.

On April 28, 2018, after the Cowboys acquired Tavon Austin and drafted two wide receivers, Switzer was traded to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for defensive tackle Jihad Ward. He was acquired to be the Oakland Raiders' return specialist, reuniting with Rich Bisaccia who was his special teams coach with the Cowboys.

On August 27, 2018, Switzer was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers along with a 2019 sixth-round draft pick for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick. During the Steeler’s Week 3 win versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, Switzer recorded his first receiving touchdown as a Steeler on a one-yard reception from Ben Roethlisberger. On November 25, 2018, against the Denver Broncos, Switzer had six receptions for a season-high 67 yards during the loss. Switzer finished the 2018 season with 36 receptions for 253 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.

Switzer was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (133rd overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the fourth of five North Carolina Tar Heels to be selected that year. A hamstring injury forced him to miss multiple training camp practices and the first two preseason games.

On September 10, 2017, Switzer made his NFL debut in the season opener against the New York Giants. In the game, his role was being the kickoff and punt returner. He fielded two kick returns for 42 net yards and one punt return for no yards. On September 25, against the Arizona Cardinals, he recorded a three-yard rush on the first carry of his career.

On October 1, against the Los Angeles Rams, he fumbled a punt that the Rams recovered at the Cowboys' 18 yard line and led to a touchdown score five plays later, contributing to a 30-35 loss. On November 30, 2017, Switzer had an 83-yard punt return against the Washington Redskins to score his first career touchdown, and the first Cowboys' punt return touchdown in four years. Outside of the season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was not given much of a chance at wide receiver, finishing with 4 receptions for 32 yards.

As a junior in 2015, Switzer recorded a team-high 55 receptions for 697 yards and six touchdowns and also returned two punts for scores. In October 2015, a controversial decision by the ACC negated a 70-yard punt return by Switzer, ruling that he had given an "invalid signal" before the return.

As a freshman at UNC (University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill) in 2013, Switzer led all NCAA major college players with an average of 20.9 yards per punt return. He accounted for five punt return touchdowns during the season and also had 32 receptions for 341 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. On November 2, against NC State, he threw a 59-yard passing touchdown to Quinshad Davis in the 27–19 victory. As a sophomore in 2014, he caught 61 passes for 757 yards and four touchdowns. On September 20, against East Carolina, he threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to T. J. Thorpe in the 70–41 loss.

In addition to football, Switzer participated in basketball, helping lead George Washington to the 2011 AAA state basketball title as their starting point guard.

Also a standout track and field athlete, Switzer finished 5th in the 2010 AAA state track meet in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.1 seconds and 6th in the long jump at 20 feet 6 inches (6.25 m) and was the lead man on the 4×100 and 4×200 teams that won state championships. He was timed at 4.33 in the 40-yard dash, completed the 60-yard shuttle in 7.3 seconds and had a vertical leap of 34 inches. He committed to the University of North Carolina to play college football, and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.

Ryan Switzer (born November 4, 1994) is an American football wide receiver and punt returner for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Switzer played college football at North Carolina and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (133rd overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.