The first known Red wolf was an adopted Cheyenne man named Johnny Wakeley. He was raised from childhood by a white couple in the late 19th century. His adoptive parents were killed by Native Americans in retaliation for the U.S. Army cavalry's massacre of their own people. While being chased by Cheyenne warriors, Wakeley stumbled into the burial place of a former man known as Red Wolf and was visited by the spirit of a Cheyenne god named Owayodata. He was given the ceremonial garb of the Red Wolf, and the coup stick, his totem of power. He became a champion of peace between the white settlers and Native peoples of 19th century North America.

William Talltrees is the third man to take the identity of Red Wolf. Talltrees was born in modern day Wolf Point, Montanna. He was the son of Thomas Talltrees, a Cheyenne tribal leader, and grew up hearing tales of the legendary Red Wolf. William was bullied into selling his property to corrupt businessman Cornelious Van Lunt, who’s henchmen later killed William's family. William swore vengeance, finding and donning the ceremonial garb of Red Wolf. Owayodata visited him and empowered him with the spirit of Red Wolf. The new Red Wolf found a wolf cub whom he named Lobo and trained to be his companion. Following van Lunt back to New York, he was able avenge his family with the help of the Avengers. Red Wolf joined the Rangers after answering a distress call from Rick Jones.Red wolf also served in Vietnam and became intangled in a vendetta with Bengal. He has since been re-instated in the Rangers as part of The Initiative.