He played college football at New Hampshire, and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008.

In November 2002, during the first annual Thanksgiving Day game against Norton, he threw for seven touchdown passes all to his cousin Stephen Wood, which is still one of the best high school performances in Bellingham history.

He broke the state touchdown record and led his teams to two Massachusetts High School Super Bowl titles (2000 and 2001).

A three-time All-America selection, Santos won the Walter Payton Award in 2006, as the top offensive player in FCS (formerly Division I-AA).

[7] Santos ultimately agreed to join the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in April.

[9] On September 21, 2009, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers acquired Santos from the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for non-import defensive ends Riall Johnson and Shawn Mayne.

[11][12] After an injury to Adrian McPherson, the Montreal Alouettes re-signed Santos on June 22, 2010, to serve as the third-string quarterback.

[21][22] McDonnell retired on December 1, 2021; the following week, Santos was formally named the next head football coach for the Wildcats.

The wildcats finished their 2024 season with a 41-10 loss to the UT Martin Skyhawks in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

Ricky and his wife, Ulyana Santos are parents of two children, a four-year-old daughter, Rya, and a seven-month-old son, AJ.