C.J. Uzomah Bio
Christopher James Uzomah is a professional American football tight end who has played in the National Football League since 2015. Born in Suwanee, Georgia, he attended North Gwinnett High School and emerged as a dynamic quarterback before transitioning to tight end at Auburn University. The Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft, and he has since played for the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles. Uzomah earned a Super Bowl championship with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025.
Selected in the fifth round, Uzomah developed into a reliable receiving tight end over more than a decade in the league. He has started in a Super Bowl and contributed to winning teams across three franchises, building a reputation for physical play at the line of scrimmage and steady production in the passing game.
Early Life and Background
The son of Xavier Uzomah and Stephanie Uzomah, Christopher James Uzomah grew up in Gwinnett County, Georgia, where he attended North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee. As a high school quarterback, he displayed his dual-threat ability, throwing for 1,750 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior while adding 800 rushing yards and 10 more touchdowns on the ground. During his senior season, he threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 74 yards, and recorded 168 receiving yards with one touchdown.
Uzomah committed to Auburn University, where he majored in marketing and began the transition from quarterback to tight end. His athletic background as a quarterback informed his development as a pass-catching tight end, and his size and physicality made him a compelling prospect for professional scouts. He also represents a growing contingent of NFL players of Nigerian descent, reflecting the sport expanding reach across the African diaspora.
Path to American Football
At Auburn, Uzomah served primarily as a blocking tight end over four seasons, catching only 29 career passes but converting seven of those into touchdowns. As a freshman, he even threw a four-yard touchdown pass on a trick play, a nod to his quarterback origins. His senior year included invitations to the Medal of Honor Bowl and the Senior Bowl, two showcase all-star games for NFL draft prospects.
Despite strong performances in Auburn’s pro day and both all-star games, Uzomah did not receive an invitation to the official NFL Scouting Combine. Most draft analysts projected him as a sixth or seventh round selection or a potential priority free agent, and NFLDraftScout.com ranked him as the 12th best tight end prospect in the 2015 class. His measured NFL Combine numbers included a height of 6 feet 6 inches and a weight of 262 pounds.
C.J. Uzomah Career
Early Career (2015–2021)
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Christopher James Uzomah in the fifth round with the 157th overall pick, making him the seventh tight end chosen in the 2015 draft. He signed a four-year contract with a signing bonus of $212,762 and joined a Bengals receiving corps that included Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft. He spent the first 11 games as a healthy scratch before making his NFL debut in Week 12 against the Cleveland Browns, catching a four-yard pass from Andy Dalton in a 37–3 victory.
In 2016, injuries to Eifert and Kroft thrust Uzomah into the starting lineup, and he responded with 25 receptions for 234 yards and his first career touchdown, a one-yard pass from Dalton against the Baltimore Ravens in the regular season finale. He started 10 games that season and established himself as a reliable option. Over the following years, he became a consistent contributor, posting 10 receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown in 2017 and setting a career high with 43 receptions for 439 yards and three touchdowns in 2018, starting all 16 games. The Bengals rewarded him with a three-year, $18 million contract extension in March 2019.
Cincinnati Bengals Breakthrough (2015–2021)
Uzomah started all 16 games in 2019 and recorded 27 receptions for 242 receiving yards and two touchdowns, serving as a key part of the Bengals offense during the transition to rookie quarterback Joe Burrow. His production would have peaked the following year, but a torn Achilles tendon in Week 2 of the 2020 season sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign. He was placed on injured reserve the day after the injury, ending his season before it could gain momentum.
Uzomah returned in 2021 fully healthy and delivered the finest season of his Bengals career. He started all 17 games, setting new career highs with 49 receptions, 493 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. His postseason included six receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown in the Wild Card Round victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Uzomah then started in Super Bowl LVI, catching two passes for 11 yards in the 23–20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. His six-year Bengals tenure produced one of the most productive stretches of his career.
New York Jets Era (2022–2023)
The New York Jets signed Uzomah to a three-year, $24 million contract in March 2022, adding a veteran presence to their tight end room. He appeared in 15 games during the 2022 season and finished with 21 receptions for 232 receiving yards and two touchdowns, with both scores coming in Week 15 against the Detroit Lions. He contributed as a blocking tight end and occasional receiving option, though his usage remained secondary to younger weapons in the Jets offense.
In 2023, an MCL injury suffered in Week 13 sidelined Uzomah for the remainder of the season. The Jets placed him on injured reserve in early December 2023 and released him in March 2024. His two seasons in New York were interrupted by injury, but he had established himself as a respected veteran presence in the locker room before his departure.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2024–Present)
Uzomah signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in April 2024, joining a team that would ultimately capture a Super Bowl championship that same season. The Eagles released him in late August, before the start of the regular season, but re-signed him to the practice squad in October 2024. He was promoted to the active roster on December 4, remaining on the team through the playoff run.
The Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 in Super Bowl LIX, delivering Uzomah his first Super Bowl championship ring. He was placed on injured reserve on January 30, 2025, shortly before the Super Bowl, but was still recognized as a member of the championship team. He is under contract with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a tight end, Uzomah combines size — standing 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 262 pounds — with reliable hands and a physical approach at the line of scrimmage. He has been valued most for his blocking ability, serving as a key component in the run game and pass protection schemes throughout his career. His background as a quarterback in high school gave him an early understanding of passing concepts that translates to route running and situational awareness.
Notable Events and Milestones
Uzomah caught his first career NFL reception against the Cleveland Browns in 2015 and scored his first touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in 2017. He set a career high with 43 receptions in 2018 and exceeded that with 49 receptions and five touchdowns in 2021. He started in Super Bowl LVI with the Cincinnati Bengals and won Super Bowl LIX with the Philadelphia Eagles, achieving the championship milestone after a decade-long career. He has accumulated 192 receptions for 1,881 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns as of the end of the 2024 season.
C.J. Uzomah Career Wins
Christopher James Uzomah has recorded 192 receptions for 1,881 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns across his National Football League career through the end of the 2024 season. His career spanned ten seasons across three franchises, with his peak production coming during the 2021 campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals. While the win totals listed above represent regular season statistical achievements, his most significant victory came as a member of the Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles.
National Football League Highlights
Uzomah posted his career-best season in 2021 with the Cincinnati Bengals, recording 49 receptions for 493 receiving yards and five touchdowns while starting all 17 regular season games. That same postseason, he caught six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in the Wild Card Round against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he started in Super Bowl LVI. His first career reception came in Week 12 of his rookie season against the Cleveland Browns, and he scored his first touchdown in Week 17 of 2016 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Other Wins and Performances
Uzomah was named Second-team All-Southeastern Conference in 2013 while playing college football for the Auburn Tigers, recognizing him as one of the premier tight ends in the conference during his junior season. He earned invitations to both the Medal of Honor Bowl and the Senior Bowl following his college career, two of the most prestigious all-star showcase events for NFL draft prospects. Winning Super Bowl LIX with the Philadelphia Eagles represents the pinnacle achievement of his professional career.
C.J. Uzomah Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
The son of Xavier Uzomah and Stephanie Uzomah, Christopher James Uzomah comes from an academically accomplished family. His father, Xavier, earned an MBA from Auburn University, and his mother, Stephanie, holds a doctorate in education. Uzomah is of Nigerian descent, connecting him to one of the most football-passionate nations in the world. His older sister, Chinyere Uzomah, has been publicly acknowledged as part of his immediate family.
Personal Life
Details about Christopher James Uzomah personal life beyond his immediate family and football career remain private. He is currently under contract with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2025 season and was placed on injured reserve in January 2025.
2025 Season Performance
Christopher James Uzomah is under contract with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2025 season, coming off a Super Bowl LIX championship campaign. He was placed on injured reserve in late January 2025 and his status for the upcoming season will depend on his recovery from injury. The Eagles retained him on their roster for 2025, signaling continued confidence in his value to the team following a championship run.