Wesley M. French Bio
Wesley M. French (born November 30, 1996) is an American professional football center who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). French spent seven years at Western Michigan University, seeing game action during five seasons as both a defensive tackle and offensive lineman. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and has since played for the Dallas Cowboys before joining the Cleveland Browns.
Early Life and Background
Wesley M. French was born on November 30, 1996, in St. Joseph, Michigan, a city located in the western part of the state. From an early age, French demonstrated a strong aptitude for athletics, participating in both wrestling and football during his youth.
French attended St. Joseph High School, where he played offensive tackle for the Bears. By the end of his high school career, he had developed into a formidable prospect at 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 300 pounds. His combination of skill, strength, and size attracted scholarship interest from multiple universities, including the University of Illinois, Iowa State University, and San Diego State University, along with at least eight schools from the Mid-American Conference.
In December 2014, French made his collegiate decision and accepted a scholarship offer from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, enrolling as a freshman for the fall 2015 semester.
Path to Professional Football
French’s collegiate journey with the Western Michigan Broncos spanned seven years, beginning with his arrival on campus in 2015. He redshirted his freshman season and did not see game action, thereby preserving a year of eligibility. His patience paid off when he finally broke into the lineup in 2016, appearing in four games for a Broncos team that finished the regular season with an undefeated 12-0 record before losing to the University of Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
French served primarily in a reserve role during the 2017 season, appearing in just three games for 35 snaps, including a matchup against the fourth-ranked University of Southern California. In 2018, coaches moved him to defensive tackle, where he started four times and played in all 13 games, recording 22 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss across 347 defensive snaps.
His 2019 campaign was cut short by a season-ending foot injury during fall camp. Despite the setback, French achieved an academic milestone that year, graduating from Western Michigan in June with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary health services. He received a medical redshirt, granting him an additional year of eligibility.
Wesley M. French Career
Western Michigan Years (2015-2021)
French returned to the Broncos in 2020, now studying for a Master of Business Administration while shifting back to the offensive line. He started all six games at center during the COVID-shortened season, playing 397 snaps without allowing a sack or quarterback hit. Western Michigan finished 16th among FBS schools in total offense and 10th in sacks allowed that year.
Returning for a seventh collegiate season in 2021 due to the COVID-related eligibility waiver, French started all 13 games at center. He earned Academic All-MAC honors and helped lead the Broncos to victory over the University of Nevada in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl.
Indianapolis Colts (2022-2025)
On April 30, 2022, French signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent following the NFL Draft. He signed a three-year contract worth $2.57 million with a $10,000 signing bonus. French did not appear in any games during his rookie season, spending the year on the Colts roster without seeing game action.
French earned a spot on the Colts’ 53-man roster in 2023. After seeing action in the first two games of the season, he made his first career NFL start on September 24, 2023, filling in for injured starting center Ryan Kelly against the Baltimore Ravens. This marked his transition from a practice squad player to a starting lineup regular.
On August 7, 2024, French was placed on injured reserve after undergoing season-ending ankle surgery. He re-signed with the Colts on March 12, 2025, on a one-year contract but was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts.
Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns (2025)
French joined the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad on September 17, 2025. He remained with the Cowboys until November 18, 2025, when he was waived. French then signed to the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad on December 17, 2025.
Playing Style and Strengths
French brings positional versatility from his collegiate experience, having played both defensive tackle and offensive line. His background at center, particularly his 2020 and 2021 seasons where he started a combined 19 games at the position, demonstrates his capability to anchor the offensive line. His academic achievements at Western Michigan indicate strong football intelligence and the ability to process complex playbooks quickly.
Wesley M. French Career Statistics
French has appeared in 17 NFL games with 3 starts through the 2023 season. His first career start came against the Baltimore Ravens in September 2023, representing his breakthrough into regular NFL playing time.
| Season | Team | Games Played | Games Started |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Indianapolis Colts | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Indianapolis Colts | 17 | 3 |
| 2024 | Indianapolis Colts | Injured Reserve | 0 |
Wesley M. French Family
Family Background and Education
French’s family background details are not extensively documented in public sources. What is known is his strong academic pedigree, having earned both a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary health services and a Master of Business Administration from Western Michigan University. His academic All-MAC recognition during the 2021 season highlights his ability to balance rigorous athletic and academic commitments.
Personal Life
French maintains an active public presence on Instagram under the handle wes_french66. As a professional athlete who has navigated the challenges of being an undrafted free agent, making an NFL roster, and earning his first career start, French represents the perseverance required to succeed at the sport’s highest level.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of transition for French. After beginning the year with the Indianapolis Colts organization, he was waived during final roster cuts in late August. French subsequently joined the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, where he spent portions of the season developing and waiting for an opportunity. Following his departure from Dallas, he found a landing spot with the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad in December 2025. This sequence of moves demonstrates the volatile nature of NFL roster construction and the importance of maintaining readiness as a depth player at the center position. French’s ability to continue earning opportunities with different organizations reflects the value teams place on experienced offensive line depth.