Ben VanSumeren Bio
Ben VanSumeren is an American professional football fullback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans before joining the NFL.
VanSumeren began his professional career as a linebacker and was officially designated as a linebacker for his first two seasons, although he only saw playing time on defense during his rookie year. After the Eagles began using him at fullback in his second season, VanSumeren officially moved to fullback during the offseason of his third season, the position he had originally played during his first two college years.
Early Life and Background
Ben VanSumeren was born on May 5, 2000, and grew up in Bay City, Michigan. By the age of six, he had already declared that he was going to become a professional football player, a statement that reflected the early seriousness he brought to the sport.
He attended Garber High School in Essexville, where he played a wide range of positions on both sides of the ball, including linebacker, defensive lineman, quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. VanSumeren performed best as a receiver and led Bay County in receiving for three consecutive years. During his senior season, he set a regular-season state record with 81 receptions for 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning Associated Press division player of the year honors.
Although VanSumeren initially committed to Iowa, he later flipped his commitment to Michigan after receiving a late offer from the Wolverines.
Path to American Football
VanSumeren was recruited to Michigan as a fullback and appeared in four games during his true freshman season in 2018, preserving his redshirt status. The following year, he moved to running back, where he played five games and recorded five rushes for 20 yards and one touchdown. In 2020, he shifted to linebacker and appeared in six games, finishing with seven tackles.
Because of his limited playing time at Michigan, VanSumeren transferred to the rival Michigan State Spartans. In his first season with the Spartans, he played in all 13 games but recorded only 12 tackles. After briefly entering the transfer portal in 2022, he chose to return to the program. In his final collegiate season, he started 10 of 11 games and posted 81 tackles, two sacks, and two pass breakups, earning an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl and declaring for the NFL draft.
Ben VanSumeren Career
Early Career (2023)
Despite being projected by several draft analysts as a selection in the 2023 NFL draft, VanSumeren went unselected. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent on a contract that included $130,000 in guaranteed money. He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the team’s practice squad.
Beginning on November 5, 2023, VanSumeren was called up from the practice squad for three consecutive weeks, with his first game coming against the Dallas Cowboys. After that stretch, he was signed to the active roster on November 30. On December 25, 2023, VanSumeren recorded six tackles while playing 36 defensive snaps in a 33-25 victory over the New York Giants.
Philadelphia Eagles Breakthrough (2024)
In his second season, VanSumeren returned to his original college position of fullback on offense, giving the Eagles a versatile piece on both sides of the ball and on special teams. On November 29, 2024, however, he suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice, cutting short his progress at the position.
Despite the injury, VanSumeren and the Eagles reached the pinnacle of the sport at the conclusion of the 2024 season, winning the Super Bowl. In 2024, VanSumeren played in 11 games and started one, logging 22 offensive snaps and 213 special teams snaps, while not playing any defensive snaps. He recorded three special teams tackles and one reception for zero yards.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2025)
VanSumeren signed a one-year, $1,030,000 contract extension with the Eagles on March 12, 2025, signaling the team’s continued belief in his development. Following the re-signing, the Eagles officially changed VanSumeren’s position from linebacker to fullback on the roster.
His 2025 season, however, opened in difficult fashion. In the Eagles’ season-opening game against the Dallas Cowboys, VanSumeren suffered a season-ending patellar tendon tear on the opening kickoff. He was placed on injured reserve on September 5, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
VanSumeren’s playing profile is built around positional versatility, having lined up at fullback, running back, and linebacker across his football career. His college production as a receiver and his tackling totals as a linebacker reflect a player comfortable in space and willing to contribute on special teams, where he has logged the majority of his NFL snaps.
Notable Events and Milestones
VanSumeren’s most prominent milestone came in 2024, when he was part of the Philadelphia Eagles team that won the Super Bowl. Other defining moments include his standout 2022 season at Michigan State, his state-record senior year at Garber High School, and his rapid promotion from the Eagles’ practice squad to the active roster in late 2023.
Ben VanSumeren Career Wins
Ben VanSumeren’s most significant team achievement is the Super Bowl title he earned as a member of the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles. While individual win totals at the professional level have not been publicly verified across all seasons, his championship ring stands as the headline of his early NFL resume.
Philadelphia Eagles Highlights
With the Eagles, VanSumeren’s first significant game action came during a three-week promotion from the practice squad in late 2023, highlighted by a six-tackle performance against the New York Giants on December 25, 2023. His most notable team accomplishment remains the 2024 Super Bowl championship, earned despite a season-ending knee injury suffered in late November 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, VanSumeren appeared in the East-West Shrine Bowl following his final season at Michigan State. At Garber High School, he led Bay County in receiving for three consecutive years and earned Associated Press division player of the year honors as a senior.
Ben VanSumeren Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Ben VanSumeren’s family background is limited, and verified details about parents or siblings have not been established in the available sources.
Personal Life
Details regarding Ben VanSumeren’s marital status, spouse, and children have not been publicly confirmed in the available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with optimism for Ben VanSumeren after he signed a one-year, $1,030,000 contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 12, 2025, and was officially transitioned to fullback on the team’s roster. The move represented a commitment from the Eagles to feature him in his original college role on offense.
Those plans were derailed in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, when VanSumeren suffered a season-ending patellar tendon tear on the opening kickoff. He was placed on injured reserve on September 5, 2025, ending his on-field contribution for the year.
VanSumeren’s outlook beyond 2025 will depend heavily on his recovery from the patellar tendon injury. With a Super Bowl ring already on his resume and a new contract in hand, his longer-term trajectory with the Eagles will hinge on how he returns from rehabilitation and whether he can reclaim the fullback role that the team has committed to developing.