He played college football for the Illinois State Redbirds and Arkansas Razorbacks and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

[3] During his redshirt season he focused on the defensive tackle position after initially being recruited to play on the offensive line.

[4] Ridgeway was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) All-Newcomer team as a redshirt freshman after recording 30 tackles with one sack.

[18][19] The following week, he forced a fumble out of tight end Dallas Goedert which was recovered by linebacker Jamin Davis ultimately helping to beat the then undefeated Philadelphia Eagles.

[20] On August 28, 2024, the Commanders traded Ridgeway and a seventh round pick in the 2025 NFL draft to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a sixth round pick (which was later returned by the Commanders as part of the compensation in the trade for Marshon Lattimore).