Jared Wiley is an American professional football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Born on November 2, 2000, in Temple, Texas, Wiley played college football for the Texas Longhorns and TCU Horned Frogs before being selected by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 131st overall pick. The 6-foot-6, 249-pound tight end is known for his size, reliable hands, and ability to create mismatches in the passing game. His collegiate career included a standout senior season at TCU that earned him First-team All-Big 12 honors in 2023. Wiley began his professional career with the Chiefs but suffered a torn ACL in November 2024, ending his rookie season on injured reserve.
Jared Wiley Bio
Jared Wiley is a tight end who has quickly become a notable name in professional football despite his early-career setbacks. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 249 pounds, he possesses the prototypical size NFL teams seek at the tight end position. His journey from Temple, Texas, through two major college programs, and into the NFL exemplifies the path many professional athletes take through development and perseverance. Selected by one of the league’s premier franchises in the Kansas City Chiefs, Wiley represents a project player with significant upside potential at the professional level. His career trajectory has been marked by steady improvement at each level, though an injury during his rookie season temporarily interrupted his NFL development.
Early Life and Background
Jared Wiley was born on November 2, 2000, in Temple, Texas, a city located in central Texas between Austin and Waco. He attended Temple High School, where he played both tight end and quarterback during his high school career. His versatility was on full display during his senior season when he served as the team’s starting quarterback. In that final year of high school football, Wiley passed for 2,314 yards with 27 touchdowns against only five interceptions, demonstrating his strong arm and football intelligence. These statistics highlighted his dual-threat ability and football acumen, traits that would serve him well in his transition to the next level.
After completing his high school career at Temple High School, Wiley received attention from multiple college programs due to his impressive high school performance. He ultimately decided to continue his football career by committing to the University of Texas at Austin. This decision placed him at one of the nation’s premier college football programs, where he would have the opportunity to develop his skills against top competition. The choice to attend Texas reflected his ambitions to compete at the highest level of college football and ultimately pursue a professional career in the sport he loved.
Path to American Football
Wiley began his collegiate journey at the University of Texas, where he played for the Longhorns from 2019 to 2021. During his three seasons in Austin, he appeared in 32 games with 12 starts, gradually earning a larger role in the team’s offensive schemes. Across his time at Texas, he recorded 19 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns, showing flashes of the potential that made him a highly regarded high school prospect. While his statistics were modest, his size and catching ability attracted attention from NFL scouts who saw him as a developmental tight end with considerable upside.
Following the 2021 season, Wiley made the significant decision to transfer to Texas Christian University (TCU) for his final two years of college eligibility. This transfer proved to be a pivotal moment in his football career, as TCU’s offensive system featured its tight ends heavily in the passing game. At TCU, Wiley flourished under new coaching and found an offensive scheme that better utilized his abilities as a receiving tight end. The move allowed him to showcase the skills that had previously been underdeveloped, and his production increased dramatically during his time with the Horned Frogs. His senior season in 2023 represented his breakthrough, earning him recognition as one of the top tight ends in the Big 12 Conference.
Jared Wiley Career
Early Professional Career (2024)
Jared Wiley entered the 2024 NFL Draft as a senior prospect from TCU, drawing interest from teams seeking a tall, athletic tight end with red-zone potential. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the fourth round with the 131st overall pick, choosing to invest a draft selection in his development. Being drafted by Kansas City placed him with one of the NFL’s most successful franchises, a team known for its innovative offense and ability to develop talent. Wiley’s selection represented a calculated gamble on his part, as he joined an organization with a track record of maximizing player potential.
After being drafted, Wiley signed his rookie contract with the Chiefs and began preparing for his first professional season. He participated in the Chiefs’ offseason program, minicamps, and training camp, working to learn the team’s offensive playbook and adjust to the speed and physicality of professional football. His size and college experience gave him a foundation to build upon, though the transition to NFL competition required significant adjustments in technique and conditioning. The Chiefs’ coaching staff evaluated him throughout the summer, assessing his ability to contribute on offense and special teams.
Kansas City Chiefs (2024–Present)
Wiley made the Chiefs’ initial roster following training camp and began his rookie season on the team’s active roster. As a fourth-round pick, he faced the challenge of earning playing time behind established veterans at the tight end position. The Chiefs’ offense featured multiple receiving threats, and Wiley’s role was expected to develop gradually as he gained experience and trust from the coaching staff. His size made him an intriguing option in red-zone situations and on jump-ball scenarios where his height could provide an advantage over smaller defensive backs.
However, Wiley’s rookie season took a devastating turn when he suffered a torn ACL during practice on November 2, 2024, his 24th birthday. The injury occurred in a non-contact situation during a routine practice, a cruel twist of fate for the young player beginning his professional career. The Chiefs placed him on injured reserve, officially ending his first season with the team. The injury required surgery and an extensive rehabilitation process that would consume most of his offseason and carry into the 2025 campaign. Despite this setback, Wiley remained with the organization, focused on recovering and returning to the field for the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wiley’s game is built around his exceptional size for the tight end position, standing at 6 feet 6 inches with good length and a frame that can handle additional muscle. His height allows him to win jump balls and create mismatches against smaller defensive backs who struggle to match his vertical reach. He demonstrates reliable hands and the ability to make contested catches in tight coverage, valuable traits for any red-zone target. His college tape shows someone who can work the intermediate areas of the field and present a large target for quarterbacks, fitting well into offenses that prioritize efficient passing in short and intermediate zones.
While Wiley possesses clear receiving skills, his blocking remains an area for continued development as he adjusts to the physical demands of the NFL. At his best, he can hold his own as an in-line blocker, though consistency in this area will determine his ceiling as a three-down player. The combination of his size and receiving ability gives him the tools to become a productive NFL tight end, provided he can stay healthy and continue developing his all-around game. His work ethic and football intelligence should serve him well as he looks to carve out a consistent role in the Chiefs’ offense.
Notable Events and Milestones
The most significant moment of Wiley’s early professional career came on November 2, 2024, when he celebrated his 24th birthday by suffering a season-ending torn ACL injury. This event marked a dramatic interruption to his rookie campaign and required him to shift focus entirely to rehabilitation and recovery. The date also held symbolic significance, as it represented both a personal milestone and an unexpected professional setback that would define his first year with the Chiefs. While injuries are an unfortunate reality in professional sports, the timing of this particular injury was particularly cruel given how early it occurred in his career.
Jared Wiley Career Statistics
Wiley’s professional career statistics are limited due to his injury-shortened rookie season, but he did log playing time with the Kansas City Chiefs before his ACL injury. His brief NFL tenure provided a small sample of his abilities at the professional level, though extended evaluation must wait until he returns to full health and action.
College Career Highlights
Wiley’s collegiate career spanned five seasons across two major programs, providing a comprehensive view of his development as a tight end. At Texas from 2019 to 2021, he appeared in 32 games with 12 starts, recording 19 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns over three seasons. His transition to TCU in 2022 marked a turning point in his career, as he immediately became more involved in the Horned Frogs’ offense. That season, he caught 24 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns, showing improved production in a more favorable offensive system. His senior season in 2023 represented his best collegiate year, as he earned First-team All-Big 12 honors while catching 47 passes for 520 yards and eight touchdowns. In a game against Baylor that season, Wiley set a TCU single-game record for receiving yards by a tight end with 178 yards, showcasing his ability to be a primary target in an offense.
NFL Statistics
In his limited rookie season with the Chiefs in 2024, Wiley recorded two receptions for 11 yards before his season-ending injury. These modest statistics reflect both his limited opportunities and the abrupt end to his first professional campaign. Across his entire college career, Wiley finished with 90 receptions for 1,013 yards and 15 touchdowns, demonstrating consistent production at the collegiate level. His senior season at TCU in 2023 represented the peak of his collegiate career, as he nearly matched his entire Texas receiving production in a single season with the Horned Frogs.
| Competition | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL (2024) | 2 | 11 | 0 |
| College (Total) | 90 | 1,013 | 15 |
Jared Wiley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Specific details about Jared Wiley’s family background and any athletic lineage are not extensively documented in available sources. He was born and raised in Temple, Texas, where he attended Temple High School, suggesting strong local roots in the central Texas area. His parents’ identities and any athletic backgrounds they may possess remain private information not widely reported in public sources.
Personal Life
Wiley’s personal life away from football remains relatively private, with limited public information available about his relationships or family. He is currently focused on his recovery from the ACL injury sustained in November 2024, dedicating his time to rehabilitation and preparing for the 2025 season. The injury occurred on his birthday, adding personal significance to the challenging setback. Wiley appears to be single based on available public records, with no spouse or children currently reported. His professional priorities center on establishing himself in the NFL and building a successful career with the Kansas City Chiefs organization.
2025 Season Performance
Jared Wiley enters the 2025 season with the Kansas City Chiefs as he continues his recovery from the torn ACL suffered in November 2024. The 2025 campaign represents a critical year in his development, as he looks to return to full health and compete for playing time on an NFL roster. His rehabilitation progress will be a key storyline throughout the offseason and training camp, as the Chiefs evaluate whether he can contribute on offense and special teams.
From a team perspective, Wiley benefits from being part of the Kansas City Chiefs organization, a franchise known for its player development and offensive innovation. The team’s coaching staff will work with him to refine his technique, improve his blocking consistency, and help him understand the complexities of their offensive system. His size and catching ability give him a skill set that can translate to production in the right circumstances, particularly in red-zone situations where his height presents matchup problems for opposing defenses.
The outlook for Wiley in 2025 hinges largely on his recovery timeline and his ability to stay healthy throughout the season. If he returns to full participation without complications, he will have the opportunity to compete for a more significant role in the Chiefs’ offense. His second year in the NFL should bring greater comfort with the professional game speed and a deeper understanding of his responsibilities within the offensive scheme. The combination of his physical tools and the Chiefs’ offensive system suggests potential for meaningful contributions, provided he can overcome the injury setbacks and demonstrate the consistency NFL coaches require.