Charlie Kolar Bio
Charlie Kolar (born February 10, 1999) is an American professional football tight end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa State Cyclones, where he earned multiple academic and athletic honors. Kolar is recognized for his accomplishments at both the high school and collegiate levels, including winning the William V. Campbell Trophy, often referred to as the academic Heisman.
Early Life and Background
Charlie Kolar was born on February 10, 1999, in Norman, Oklahoma, USA. He grew up in Norman and attended Norman North High School, where he played both football and basketball. As a junior, he caught 52 passes for 920 yards and 13 touchdowns, establishing himself as a promising tight end prospect.
During his senior season, Kolar posted 66 receptions for 1,240 yards and 12 touchdowns and was named first-team All-State. At Norman North, he was a basketball teammate of future NBA All-Star Trae Young. When it came time to choose a college, Kolar committed to Iowa State University over scholarship offers from Air Force Academy, Army, and Stephen F. Austin, turning down a late push from Oklahoma State.
Path to American Football
Kolar’s path to high-level football began in Norman, where his size and receiving skills made him a natural fit at tight end. His high school production drew the attention of several college programs, and his decision to attend Iowa State set the stage for his development into one of the Big 12 Conference’s most reliable pass-catching tight ends.
At Iowa State, Kolar redshirted his true freshman year and then played in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman, finishing with 11 receptions for 137 yards and three touchdowns while earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. His steady production through his redshirt sophomore and junior seasons turned him into a likely professional prospect, and he capped his college career with the most prestigious academic award in college football.
Charlie Kolar Career
College Career (2018–2021)
Charlie Kolar played four seasons of college football at Iowa State University after redshirting his first year. As a redshirt sophomore, he caught 51 passes for 697 yards and seven touchdowns and was named first-team All-Big 12. He repeated as a first-team All-Big 12 selection the following year after posting 44 receptions for 591 yards and a team-high seven touchdown catches.
Following his junior season, Kolar considered entering the 2020 NFL draft but chose to return to Iowa State for his redshirt senior year. He graduated in the fall of 2020 with a 3.99 cumulative GPA in mechanical engineering, and in 2021 he was awarded the William V. Campbell Trophy, widely known as the academic Heisman. He finished his Iowa State career as a three-time first-team All-Big 12 selection.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2022–Present)
Kolar was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round, 128th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft. He was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2022, and was activated on November 8 of that year. He made his NFL debut in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and recorded his first career catch in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing the day with four receptions for 49 yards.
In 2023, Kolar began the season as the third tight end on the depth chart behind Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews and saw most of his action on special teams. After Andrews suffered a severe ankle injury in Week 11, Kolar’s role expanded and he made three starts over the final six games. He caught his first career touchdown on a 19-yard reception from Tyler Huntley during a 56-19 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, finishing the regular season with seven receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Kolar’s 2024 season was interrupted when he broke an arm in a Week 12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, ruling him out for at least four weeks. He was activated from injured reserve on January 3, 2025, ahead of the Ravens’ season finale against the Cleveland Browns.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kolar’s most notable milestones include being named a three-time first-team All-Big 12 selection at Iowa State and winning the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy, the most prestigious academic award in college football. He also scored his first career NFL touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in 2023.
Charlie Kolar Career Wins
Charlie Kolar’s career is still in its early professional stages, and his verified individual statistical milestones center on college production and his steady development with the Baltimore Ravens. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2019, 2020, and 2021, along with a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2018.
Other Wins & Performances
Kolar recorded 44 receptions for 591 yards and seven touchdowns during his redshirt junior season at Iowa State, and 51 receptions for 697 yards and seven touchdowns the year before, performances that established him as one of the conference’s most productive tight ends.
Charlie Kolar Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Charlie Kolar comes from an athletic family. His older brother, John Kolar, played quarterback at Oklahoma State and later transferred to Iowa State as a graduate for the 2019 season, where the brothers had the chance to play together.
Personal Life
Kolar’s younger sister, Katie Kolar, played volleyball at West Virginia University in Morgantown. Kolar graduated from Iowa State with a 3.99 cumulative GPA in mechanical engineering, underscoring the strong academic and athletic values shared within the family.
2025 Season Performance
Charlie Kolar enters the 2025 NFL season coming off a broken arm suffered during the 2024 campaign, but he was activated from injured reserve on January 3, 2025, in time for the Baltimore Ravens’ season finale. His return to full health will be a key storyline for the Ravens’ tight end room as the team prepares for the new year.
With Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely ahead of him on the depth chart, Kolar is expected to continue serving as a reliable rotational tight end and contributor on special teams. His experience stepping into a larger offensive role during the 2023 season, when he caught his first career touchdown, gives him a foundation to build on in 2025.
Kolar’s combination of blocking ability, reliable hands, and academic-driven work ethic has made him a trusted depth piece for the Baltimore Ravens. As the 2025 season unfolds, his continued development and ability to stay healthy will determine how large a role he plays in the team’s offensive plans.