Ben Niemann Bio
Ben Niemann is an American professional football linebacker who has played in the National Football League (NFL) since 2018. Born on July 27, 1995, in Des Moines, Iowa, Niemann played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes before entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs. Over the course of his career, he has suited up for the Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, and New York Jets, establishing himself as a reliable contributor on defense and special teams. He is a Super Bowl champion, having been part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Early Life and Background
Ben Niemann was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Jay Niemann and Lou Ann Niemann. Because his father worked as a football coach, the family moved several times during Ben’s childhood, giving him early and varied exposure to the sport. He attended Sycamore High School in Sycamore, Illinois, where he played both football and basketball. On the football field, he lined up at wide receiver and safety, and his performance was strong enough to earn first-team all-state honors in both his junior and senior seasons.
Growing up in a coaching family shaped Niemann’s understanding of the game from a young age. His father, Jay Niemann, is currently the Assistant Defensive Line Coach and Defensive Recruiting Coordinator for the Iowa Hawkeyes and has also served as the Defensive Coordinator at Rutgers and Northern Illinois, as well as the head coach at Simpson College. Ben also has a younger brother, Nick Niemann, who plays linebacker for the Houston Texans, continuing the family’s linebacker tradition at the professional level.
Path to American Football
After a successful high school career, Niemann committed to the University of Iowa, joining a program with a strong tradition of developing defensive players. He played four seasons for the Iowa Hawkeyes, making 53 appearances and starting the final 40 games of his college career. As a true freshman, he carved out a role mostly on special teams and as a reserve linebacker, highlighted by a blocked punt returned for a touchdown against Northwestern.
Niemann earned a starting role at outside linebacker going into his sophomore year and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference after recording 45 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and two pass break-ups. He repeated as honorable mention All-Big Ten as a senior, posting 80 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, five passes broken up, and two forced fumbles. Across his college career, he accumulated 201 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles, building the resume that would eventually lead to an NFL opportunity.
Ben Niemann Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Niemann signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent and made the team’s final 53-man roster out of training camp. He made his NFL debut on September 9, 2018, in the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, contributing on special teams. Later that season, on November 11, Niemann earned his first career start and led the team with six tackles in a 26–14 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He finished his rookie year with 10 tackles across 14 games, also appearing in both Chiefs postseason games.
In 2019, Niemann appeared in all 16 regular-season games with one start, finishing with 56 tackles, a pass defended, and a fumble recovery. He added six tackles in the postseason, including a key hit on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo that forced an errant throw on third down in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory, cementing his place on a championship roster.
Kansas City Chiefs Tenure (2020–2021)
In Week 3 of the 2020 season against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, Niemann recorded his first career sack on quarterback Lamar Jackson and also recovered a fumble lost by Jackson during the 34–20 win. He finished the 2020 season with 44 total tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble, continuing to grow into a core special teams role. On March 17, 2021, Niemann re-signed with the Chiefs, extending his time in Kansas City through the 2021 season.
Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans (2022–2023)
Niemann signed with the Arizona Cardinals on June 16, 2022, and went on to play in all 17 games that season, earning nine starts. He posted career highs with 70 tackles, two tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, and one pass defended, showing he could handle an expanded defensive role. On April 17, 2023, he signed with the Tennessee Titans, but was waived on August 29, 2023, ending his brief tenure in Tennessee.
Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, and New York Jets (2023–2025)
On September 1, 2023, Niemann was signed to the practice squad of the Denver Broncos and was promoted to the active roster on October 30, 2023. In seven games with Denver, he logged two combined tackles while working primarily on special teams. On June 10, 2024, Niemann signed with the Detroit Lions, adding another chapter to his journeyman career. Most recently, on September 23, 2025, he was signed to the New York Jets’ practice squad before being released on September 30, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Niemann’s career came with the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory, where his pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo helped seal a championship for Kansas City. His first career sack, a takedown of reigning MVP Lamar Jackson in 2020, and his career-high 70-tackle season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 stand out as additional highlights.
Ben Niemann Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Niemann comes from a deeply rooted football family. His father, Jay Niemann, has spent decades in the coaching profession, including stints as the head coach at Simpson College and as a defensive coordinator at Rutgers and Northern Illinois. His younger brother, Nick Niemann, plays linebacker for the Houston Texans, making the Niemanns one of the NFL’s notable football sibling pairs.
Personal Life
Niemann was raised by his parents, Jay Niemann and Lou Ann Niemann, and grew up moving between cities as his father pursued coaching positions. He is the older brother of Nick Niemann, and the brothers have both carved out careers as NFL linebackers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been transitional for Ben Niemann, who was signed to the New York Jets’ practice squad on September 23, 2025. He was released by the Jets just one week later, on September 30, 2025, leaving him available to sign with another team in need of linebacker or special teams help. His veteran experience and championship pedigree make him a likely candidate to join a roster as the season progresses.
With multiple teams already on his resume and a Super Bowl ring to his name, Niemann remains a serviceable depth piece and special teams contributor. His path through the 2025 season will depend on health, opportunity, and the willingness of a team to add a versatile linebacker. Wherever he lands, Niemann brings a steady presence built over more than half a decade in the NFL.