Austin Schlottmann Bio
Austin Schlottmann is an American professional football center for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 300 pounds, he plays a position that demands both size and technical precision along the interior offensive line. After going unselected in the 2018 NFL Draft, Schlottmann carved out his professional career the hard way, beginning as an undrafted free agent and steadily working through practice squads and reserve roles before establishing himself as a reliable starter. He previously played in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings, giving him experience in three different offensive schemes across his career.
A native of Texas who played his college football at Texas Christian University, Schlottmann developed into a versatile lineman capable of playing both guard and center. His professional path illustrates a steady climb, from high school star in Brenham, to contributor on a Big 12 championship team, to NFL starter, and now to a multi-year contract with the New York Giants.
Early Life and Background
Austin Schlottmann was born on September 18, 1995, in Brenham, Texas. He grew up in the same central Texas community and attended Brenham High School, where he developed into one of the state’s top offensive linemen. Standing well over six feet by his senior year, Schlottmann anchored the Brenham Cubs’ offensive line and earned All-State honors in 2013 after helping lead his team to the Class 4A Championship game at AT&T Stadium.
Recruiting analysts rated him as a three-star offensive tackle prospect, and on February 5, 2014, he signed a national letter of intent to play college football at Texas Christian University. Schlottmann chose the Horned Frogs over scholarship offers from Arizona State, Houston, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico, Northern Colorado, Rice, Texas State, Tulsa, and UCF. The decision sent him to Fort Worth with a clear plan to continue his football career at a high-level college program.
Path to Professional Football
Schlottmann enrolled at TCU in the summer of 2014 and quickly made an immediate impact, playing in all 13 of the Horned Frogs’ games that fall as a true freshman. That season, TCU won a Big 12 Conference championship and finished ranked third nationally after a dominant 42–3 victory over Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl. The exposure to a championship-level program helped Schlottmann refine his technique and prepare for the demands of professional football.
As he continued to develop, Schlottmann earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2016 as a junior and honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition as a senior in 2017. Across his college career, he appeared in 51 games and started 29 of them, splitting time between center and right guard. His positional versatility and durability made him an attractive prospect, even though he ultimately went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. Schlottmann signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent, launching his professional career.
Austin Schlottmann Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
After signing with the Denver Broncos, Schlottmann spent the entirety of the 2018 season on the team’s practice squad, learning the professional game behind established veterans. The Broncos were a familiar landing spot because they reunited him with his former Brenham High School teammate Courtland Sutton, who had been drafted by Denver earlier that year.
In 2019, Schlottmann made the Broncos’ active roster as the second-string left guard coming out of training camp. He made his regular-season NFL debut on September 9, 2019, against the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football. Later that season, he was named the starting right guard in Week 14 after starter Ronald Leary was ruled out for the remainder of the year, with Elijah Wilkinson shifting to right tackle to replace the injured Ja’Wuan James. Schlottmann was waived by Denver on August 31, 2021, and re-signed to the practice squad a day later before being promoted back to the active roster on November 9.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2022–2023)
On March 16, 2022, Schlottmann signed with the Minnesota Vikings, joining his second NFL team. He provided depth along the interior offensive line and appeared in games for the Vikings during the 2022 season. His time in Minnesota was interrupted late in the year when he was placed on injured reserve on January 3, 2023, with a left fibula fracture.
Following his recovery, Schlottmann re-signed with the Vikings on March 17, 2023, returning for another season in Minnesota. His familiarity with the team’s offensive scheme and his flexibility to play both guard and center made him a dependable reserve option along the Vikings’ offensive front.
New York Giants Era (2024–Present)
On March 15, 2024, Schlottmann signed a two-year deal with the New York Giants, marking his third NFL stop. The contract, which runs through the 2026 season, signaled that the Giants viewed him as a meaningful piece of their offensive line plans. Shortly after the start of the 2024 season, he was placed on injured reserve on August 27, but was activated on December 28, returning to contribute down the stretch of the year.
Schlottmann’s role with the Giants reflects the positional versatility he has shown throughout his career, and his multi-year contract indicates the organization’s confidence in his ability to anchor the interior line.
Driving Style and Strengths
Schlottmann’s professional identity is built around positional versatility, intelligence, and steady technique. He has started games at both center and guard, which gives offensive line coaches flexibility when crafting game plans and dealing with injuries. His college experience starting 19 games at center and 10 at right guard prepared him for the multiple responsibilities of NFL offensive line play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Schlottmann’s most notable milestones include earning second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2016, appearing in 51 games during his college career at TCU, and reaching the Big 12 Championship as a true freshman in 2014. In the NFL, his debut on Monday Night Football against the Oakland Raiders in 2019, his Week 14 starting nod at right guard, and his multi-year contract with the New York Giants in 2024 stand as the signature moments of his professional journey.
Austin Schlottmann Career Wins
Across his career in the NFL, Austin Schlottmann has accumulated experience with three organizations rather than headline win totals as a starter. His college résumé is the clearest record of team success, as he was part of a TCU Horned Frogs squad that captured the 2014 Big 12 Conference championship and finished the season ranked third in the national polls. His professional milestones reflect steady progression and durability rather than a single breakout season.
TCU and NFL Highlights
Schlottmann’s most celebrated team success came in 2014, when TCU won the Big 12 title and routed Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl. His second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2016 highlighted his individual development as a junior. At the professional level, his progression from undrafted free agent to practice squad contributor to active-roster starter, and ultimately to a multi-year free-agent contract, marks the steady arc of a player who has built his career on consistency and adaptability.
Austin Schlottmann Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Austin Schlottmann grew up in Brenham, Texas, and has kept most details of his family life private. He has publicly credited his upbringing in Brenham and the support of his family for helping him pursue football from high school through the NFL.
His long-time friendship and former high school teammate Courtland Sutton also reflects the tight-knit community Schlottmann came from in central Texas, with the pair being reunited on the Denver Broncos after the 2018 NFL Draft.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into the 2025 season, Austin Schlottmann is in the second year of a two-year contract with the New York Giants that runs through 2026. After being placed on injured reserve early in the 2024 campaign and activated on December 28, he closed his first Giants season back on the field and entered 2025 with an opportunity to compete for a starting role along the interior offensive line.
The Giants’ investment in a two-year deal signals that the organization views Schlottmann as part of their offensive line plans, and his experience at both guard and center gives the coaching staff flexibility in how they deploy him. His durability, having played in 51 college games and multiple NFL seasons, will be an asset as he competes for a larger role.
If Schlottmann can stay healthy and build on his late-2024 return, he has a clear path to becoming a regular starter for the Giants in 2025. His career arc, from undrafted free agent to multi-year signing, reflects a player whose best professional football may still be ahead of him.