Brevyn Spann-Ford Bio
Brevyn Spann-Ford (born December 27, 1999) is an American professional football tight end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 245 pounds, he combines unusual length with the frame of a traditional in-line tight end. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and entered the NFL after the 2024 draft as an undrafted free agent.
After signing with Dallas, Spann-Ford beat long odds to make the Cowboys’ 53-man roster out of training camp, an unusually quick rise for a player who went unselected. He has since developed into a depth piece and red-zone target within the Cowboys’ offense, contributing on both the line of scrimmage and in the passing game. His combination of size, basketball background, and steady development has marked him as a notable late-bloomer at the position.
Early Life and Background
Brevyn Spann-Ford was born on December 27, 1999, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He grew up in the same mid-sized city, surrounded by a strong regional football culture that has produced a steady stream of college prospects. His upbringing in central Minnesota gave him early exposure to the sport at both the youth and high school levels.
He attended Technical Senior High School in St. Cloud, commonly known as St. Cloud Tech. Beyond football, Spann-Ford was a multi-sport athlete who also played basketball, an experience that helped shape his coordination, footwork, and comfort catching the ball in traffic. On the hardwood, he averaged 13.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, numbers that highlight the same all-around skill set that eventually caught the attention of college recruiters.
Spann-Ford’s size and athletic background made him a sought-after recruit coming out of high school. He ultimately committed to play college football at the University of Minnesota, turning down scholarship offers from other programs including Missouri, Iowa State, West Virginia, and North Dakota State. The decision to stay in his home state laid the foundation for his development as a tight end.
Path to American Football
Spann-Ford arrived at the University of Minnesota as part of the 2018 recruiting class and quickly went to work learning the Golden Gophers’ pro-style offense. In his first season, he redshirted and appeared in only four games without recording any statistics, a typical path for a young tight end adjusting to the speed and complexity of the college game.
His first real breakthrough came in 2019, when he recorded his first career catch, a 12-yard touchdown reception against Illinois, helping Minnesota secure a 24-17 victory. He finished that year with four receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown, modest numbers that signaled his potential as a red-zone target. The following season was limited, as he played in only one game, catching a four-yard touchdown pass in a 24-17 win over Nebraska.
By 2021, Spann-Ford had earned a larger role within the Minnesota offense. He posted 23 receptions for 296 yards and a touchdown across ten games, showing growth as a chain-mover and a reliable target on intermediate routes. His development continued into 2022, when he emerged as a focal point of the passing attack and was recognized with an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Brevyn Spann-Ford Career
College Career (2018-2023)
Spann-Ford’s college trajectory was a slow build that eventually turned into a featured role. After his redshirt year in 2018, he chipped in as a young reserve in 2019 and 2020, finding the end zone in both seasons despite limited playing time. Each year brought a clearer picture of his role within the Minnesota offense.
The 2021 and 2022 seasons marked the heart of his college résumé. In 2022 alone, he recorded 47 receptions for 497 yards and two touchdowns, including a standout seven-catch, 95-yard performance in the season finale against rival Wisconsin. He followed that campaign by announcing his return for 2023 and earning a place on the All-Big Ten preseason first team, as well as a preseason second-team All-American selection from the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Breakthrough (2021-2023)
Spann-Ford’s true breakout came during the 2021 season, when he posted 23 receptions for 296 yards and a touchdown while serving as a reliable intermediate target. He saved some of his best moments for rivalry games, including a three-catch, 62-yard performance in a 23-13 win over Wisconsin that helped cap the regular season on a high note.
The 2022 season elevated his profile further, as he finished with 47 receptions for 497 yards and two touchdowns and earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention. He continued to be a trusted third-down and red-zone option for his quarterbacks, and his chemistry with younger signal-callers, including Athan Kaliakmanis, became a notable storyline. Returning for 2023, he entered the year as a recognized leader of the Minnesota offense and one of the most experienced tight ends in the Big Ten.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2024-Present)
Following the 2024 NFL draft, Spann-Ford signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. The odds of making an NFL roster as a UDFA are steep, but Spann-Ford impressed during training camp and earned a spot on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster, an early validation of the work he had put in at Minnesota.
Since then, he has worked into the tight end rotation, contributing as both a blocker on the edge and a target in the passing game. His length and catch radius have given Dallas a different look in two-tight-end sets. By 2025, he had begun to carve out a more defined role within the offense.
Driving Style and Strengths
Spann-Ford’s strengths begin with his frame. At 6 feet 7 inches tall, he offers the size to shield defenders on shorter routes and the wingspan to extend for off-target throws. His basketball background shows up in his body control, particularly when adjusting to throws in traffic or competing for 50-50 balls down the seam. As a blocker, his length helps him latch onto edge rushers, though he continues to refine his leverage and pad level against NFL defensive ends.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the biggest milestones of Spann-Ford’s young career came on November 24, 2025, when he caught his first NFL touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in a 24-21 comeback win. The score, which came in a division rivalry game, gave him an early signature moment in the league and underscored his value as a red-zone option for the Dallas offense.
Brevyn Spann-Ford Career Wins
As a tight end, individual win totals in the traditional sense are not a defining statistic, but Spann-Ford has accumulated meaningful team victories at both the college and professional levels. From rivalry wins over Wisconsin and Nebraska at Minnesota to a Thanksgiving-week comeback against Philadelphia with Dallas, his career has featured several notable team successes tied directly to his contributions on the field.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Highlights
Spann-Ford was a consistent contributor on winning drives during his time in Minneapolis. He helped Minnesota knock off Illinois, Nebraska, and Wisconsin in key stretches, often producing his best numbers in rivalry settings. His most memorable college performance came in the 2022 season finale against Wisconsin, when his seven-catch, 95-yard effort helped the Golden Gophers beat the Badgers 23-16 and cap a strong late-season run.
Other Wins & Performances
At the professional level, Spann-Ford’s most prominent early win was the November 24, 2025, victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, a game in which he also recorded his first NFL touchdown. Beyond the box score, his initial win as a member of an NFL active roster came simply by surviving roster cuts and earning a place in the Cowboys’ regular-season lineup.
Brevyn Spann-Ford Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Brevyn Spann-Ford’s immediate family are limited. He was raised in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and his path through St. Cloud Tech and on to the University of Minnesota reflects the kind of community-rooted development common among athletes from the upper Midwest. No widely verified information about his parents or siblings is available at this time.
Personal Life
Spann-Ford has generally kept his personal life private, with no publicly confirmed details regarding a spouse, partner, or children. He maintains a public presence on social media through his Instagram account, where he shares glimpses of his training and life with the Dallas Cowboys. His focus, by all available accounts, remains on his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents Spann-Ford’s first full year on the Dallas Cowboys’ active roster after making the team out of training camp. Operating as a depth tight end behind the Cowboys’ top options at the position, he has been deployed primarily in 12 personnel groupings, where his size offers a clear matchup advantage against base defensive personnel.
His first NFL touchdown, which came against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 24, 2025, in a 24-21 comeback win, was the headline moment of his season and offered a glimpse of his downfield and red-zone potential. Beyond the score, he has continued to develop as an in-line blocker, an area the Cowboys have prioritized as they evaluate young players on rookie and minimum contracts.
Looking ahead, Spann-Ford’s outlook in Dallas will depend on his continued growth as a blocker and on his ability to remain a dependable target in the short and intermediate passing game. With another offseason of work in the Cowboys’ strength and conditioning program, he has a clear opportunity to expand his role and become a more regular contributor in 2026 and beyond.