Dalton Schultz Bio
Dalton Chase Schultz (born July 11, 1996) is an American professional football tight end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing around 245 pounds, he plays a versatile role that combines in-line blocking with pass-catching duties. Schultz first entered the league with the Dallas Cowboys after a standout career at Stanford University and has since become a dependable target at the tight end position.
Selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft, Schultz built his reputation through steady production rather than splashy headlines. After establishing himself as a starter in Dallas, he signed with the Houston Texans in 2023 and quickly developed a strong connection with rookie quarterback C. J. Stroud. He is married to Laurel Heinrich and the couple has two children.
Early Life and Background
Dalton Chase Schultz was born on July 11, 1996, in Sandy, Utah. He grew up in the Salt Lake City area and attended Bingham High School in nearby South Jordan, where he played both football and basketball for the Miners. His size and athleticism allowed him to develop quickly on the gridiron, and he became one of the more reliable receiving threats in the local prep scene.
As a senior at Bingham High School, Schultz caught 31 passes for 512 yards and nine touchdowns. Across his full high school career, he totaled 76 receptions for 1,120 yards and 12 touchdowns, demonstrating the kind of production that attracted attention from college recruiters. In January 2014, Schultz committed to play college football for the Stanford Cardinal, choosing one of the most academically and athletically rigorous programs in the country.
Path to the NFL
Schultz arrived at Stanford University in 2014 and redshirted his first year, preserving a season of eligibility while adjusting to the college game. As a redshirt freshman in 2015, he played in all 14 games as a backup to Austin Hooper, recording 10 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. The experience gave him an early look at the speed and complexity of Pac-12 football.
In 2016, Schultz became the starter after Hooper declared for the NFL draft, and he responded with 23 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown while earning honorable-mention All-Pac-12 recognition. The following season, he earned a spot on the John Mackey Award watch list and was named first-team All-Pac-12 after catching 22 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns. After his strong senior campaign, Schultz declared for the 2018 NFL draft, where the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the fourth round with the 137th overall pick.
Dalton Schultz Career
Early Career with the Dallas Cowboys (2018–2019)
The Dallas Cowboys drafted Schultz in 2018 to add depth at tight end following the surprising retirements of Jason Witten and James Hanna. He began his rookie season as the third-string tight end behind Geoff Swaim and Blake Jarwin. An injury to Swaim in Week 11 allowed Schultz to move up the depth chart, and he went on to start seven of 11 games while contributing to a Cowboys rushing attack led by Ezekiel Elliott.
Schultz finished his first season with 12 receptions for 116 yards and added work on special teams. In 2019, with Witten returning from a one-year stint as a Monday Night Football commentator, Schultz remained in a limited role, appearing in all 16 games but posting just one reception for six yards. The experience tested his patience and prepared him for the opportunity that would follow.
Dallas Cowboys Breakthrough (2020–2021)
When Witten departed for the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2020 and Jarwin suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1, Schultz stepped into the starting tight end role. He announced his arrival in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons with nine catches for 88 yards and his first career touchdown in a 40–39 comeback victory. By season’s end, he had set career highs across the board, including 63 receptions for 615 yards and four touchdowns.
The 2021 campaign marked Schultz’s true breakthrough. He started 15 of 17 games and posted 78 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns, becoming the second tight end in franchise history to reach 70 catches in a single season. He added seven catches for 89 yards in a Wild Card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, reinforcing his value as both a receiver and a blocker.
Houston Texans Era (2023–Present)
Schultz signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans on March 24, 2023, joining a young offense led by rookie quarterback C. J. Stroud. He became one of Stroud’s most trusted targets and helped the young passer earn NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. In Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints, he became the third player in franchise history to score a touchdown in three consecutive games, and a few weeks later he recorded 10 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Schultz finished the 2023 season with 59 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games, the second-highest single-season reception total by a tight end in Texans history. On March 8, 2024, he signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension with Houston. In 2024, he appeared in 17 games with 13 starts, recording 53 receptions for 532 yards and two touchdowns.
Driving Style and Strengths
Schultz is valued for his reliability as both an in-line blocker and a possession receiver. His size and strong hands make him a dependable target in the red zone, while his football IQ allows him to find soft spots in zone coverage. Coaches have praised his work ethic and his ability to build quick chemistry with quarterbacks, first with Dak Prescott in Dallas and later with C. J. Stroud in Houston.
Notable Events and Milestones
Schultz’s first career touchdown came in a dramatic Week 2 comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. He joined rare company in 2021 when he became only the second tight end in Cowboys history to surpass 70 receptions in a season. In Houston, he set a franchise mark by becoming the third player in team history to score a touchdown in three consecutive games.
Dalton Schultz Career Wins
Schultz has accumulated more than 280 receptions and 2,800 receiving yards across his NFL career, along with multiple 60-plus catch seasons. While individual win totals vary by series, his consistency at the tight end position has been the defining feature of his professional resume.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
Schultz’s most productive season came in 2021, when he posted 78 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns for the Cowboys. He followed that with a 59-catch, 635-yard season in 2023 with the Texans, his first year in Houston. In 2024, he added 53 receptions for 532 yards and two touchdowns while starting 13 games.
Other Performances
Schultz earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2017 at Stanford, capping a college career that included honorable-mention recognition in 2016. His college production, paired with his senior-season All-Pac-12 nod, helped push his draft stock into the top 137 picks of the 2018 NFL draft.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL (career) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Dalton Schultz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Schultz grew up in Sandy, Utah, and attended Bingham High School in South Jordan. His background in a football-active region of the country helped shape his development as a multi-sport athlete. Details about his parents and broader family are not publicly confirmed in available sources.
Personal Life
Dalton Schultz is married to Laurel Heinrich. The couple has a son and a daughter. He continues to make his professional home with the Houston Texans as of the 2024 season.
2025 Season Outlook
Entering the 2025 season, Schultz is firmly established as a veteran presence on a young Houston Texans offense. His three-year contract extension, signed in March 2024, keeps him in Houston through the 2026 season, and his familiarity with C. J. Stroud gives the team continuity at the tight end spot. With Brevin Jordan and other young pass-catchers developing around him, Schultz is expected to anchor the position while mentoring the next wave of Texans tight ends.
After a 2024 campaign in which his raw production dipped slightly compared to his 2023 numbers, Schultz is aiming to bounce back as a more efficient red-zone weapon. He finished 2024 strong in the red zone and will look to carry that momentum into the new season. Health will be a key factor after he battled hamstring and knee issues in recent years.
For the Texans, the 2025 season carries the expectation of a playoff push following a 2023 division title and a 2024 season that ended without a postseason berth. Schultz’s blocking and reliable hands should remain central to that goal, especially on early downs and in tight red-zone situations. His continued chemistry with Stroud could be one of the most important storylines for the Houston offense.