Erick All Jr. Bio
Erick All Jr. is an American professional football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Early Life and Background
Erick All Jr. was born on September 13, 2000 in Hamilton, Ohio. At age five months, he was trapped in his playpen on the second floor of a house fire at the family home in Richmond, Indiana. Firefighter Tom Broyles climbed a ladder and entered the smoke-filled bedroom and rescued All. All was not breathing at the time, but EMT medic Shawn Phenis administered CPR, and All regained consciousness. During the 2022 season, All’s family invited All’s rescuer to meet All at a Michigan football game, and the two embraced.
Path to American Football
All attended Fairfield High School in Fairfield, Ohio. As a senior, he caught 30 passes for 465 yards and four touchdowns. ESPN rated him as a three-star prospect and the No. 10 tight end in the Class of 2019, and the No. 18 prospect in Ohio.
Erick All Jr. Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
All verbally committed to play for the University of Michigan in the summer of 2018, then signed his letter of intent in December 2018. He enrolled early and impressed with his performance during spring practice. As a freshman in 2019, All appeared in 11 games at tight end and on special teams. As a sophomore in 2020, he appeared in all six games and caught 12 passes for 82 yards. As a junior in 2021, All caught 34 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns. Against Michigan State, he caught 10 passes for 98 yards. Against Penn State, he fought through a high ankle sprain and caught the game-winning touchdown pass, a 47-yard strike with 3:29 remaining in the game.
Michigan and Iowa Breakthrough (2022–2023)
In 2022, All appeared in only three games (three receptions for 36 yards) before sustaining a back injury that required surgery. On December 5, 2022, All announced he was entering the NCAA transfer portal. On December 14, 2022, All transferred to Iowa. While at Iowa Erick All had 21 receptions, 299 yards and three touchdowns. On October 17, 2023, All was diagnosed with a torn ACL and ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2024–Present)
All was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 115th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. He played in nine games for Cincinnati during his rookie campaign, logging 20 receptions for 158 yards. All suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 9, and was placed on injured reserve on November 5, 2024.
Playing Style and Strengths
Erick All is a tall tight end with good hands and reliable route-running abilities. His ability to fight through injuries and make clutch catches has been a defining trait of his career. He has shown versatility to contribute as both a receiving threat and in blocking situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
All’s recovery from a childhood house fire and subsequent meeting with his rescuer serves as one of the most notable personal stories in sports. His game-winning touchdown catch against Penn State in 2021 demonstrated his clutch ability, while being selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft marked the beginning of his professional career.
Erick All Jr. Career Wins
Erick All’s collegiate career featured memorable moments despite facing significant injuries. His ability to perform in key situations helped secure victories for both Michigan and Iowa.
College Highlights
At Michigan, All’s standout performance came against Penn State in 2021 when he caught the game-winning touchdown pass, a 47-yard strike with 3:29 remaining in the game. Despite playing in only three games at Iowa, he managed 21 receptions for 299 yards and three touchdowns before a season-ending ACL injury.
Erick All Jr. Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Erick All Jr. was born in Hamilton, Ohio, and grew up in Fairfield, Ohio where he attended Fairfield High School. His family includes his parents who supported him throughout his football journey from high school through college and into the NFL.
Personal Life
Despite the traumatic house fire incident in infancy, All has maintained a positive outlook and has stayed connected with Tom Broyles, the firefighter who saved his life. The pair reunited during the 2022 season when All’s family invited Broyles to a Michigan football game where the two embraced.
2025 Season Performance
As Erick All enters his second NFL season, the focus will be on his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered in Week 9 of the 2024 season. If healthy, All is expected to compete for playing time in the Bengals’ tight end rotation behind established players. His college experience and ability to contribute in multiple aspects of the game could make him a valuable asset to Cincinnati’s offense once he returns to full strength.