Jack Conklin Bio
Jack Conklin, whose full name is Jonathan Jackson Conklin, is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected by the Tennessee Titans eighth overall in the 2016 NFL draft. Conklin has been named a first-team All-Pro twice and remains one of the more experienced tackles in the league.
Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and competing at around 140 kilograms, Conklin has built a reputation for steady pass protection and run blocking. His career has carried him from a walk-on role in college to a top-10 NFL draft pick, and on to Pro Bowl-caliber seasons with two franchises.
Early Life and Background
Jack Conklin was born on August 17, 1994, in Plainwell, Michigan, to Darren Conklin and Jennifer Jackson. He grew up in the same small community where he would later star in high school sports, surrounded by a family with strong ties to athletics.
Conklin attended Plainwell High School in Plainwell, Michigan, where he played football under his father Darren, who served as the team’s head coach. In addition to football, he also played basketball, which helped him develop the footwork and coordination that would later support his growth as an offensive lineman.
Path to American Football
Conklin joined the Michigan State University football program as a walk-on player, a path that required him to earn his place on the roster through hard work. After redshirting his first year, he started 13 of 14 games at either right or left offensive tackle during his redshirt freshman season in 2013, immediately showing the kind of versatility that NFL scouts would later appreciate.
As a sophomore, Conklin started all 13 games at left tackle, anchoring the offensive line. In 2015, he was named a first-team All-American by Sporting News and USA Today, and a first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection by both the coaches and the media. He also earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2014. Conklin started 38 of 39 career games at Michigan State, with 35 starts at left tackle and three at right tackle.
On January 6, 2016, Conklin announced that he would forgo his senior season and declare for the 2016 NFL draft. He was projected as a top-10 pick after a strong junior year in which he allowed only two sacks and was penalized twice, and he ranked as the third-best offensive tackle prospect by DraftScout.com, Mike Mayock, and ESPN’s Jeff Legwold.
Jack Conklin Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
The Tennessee Titans selected Conklin in the first round, eighth overall, of the 2016 NFL draft. To move up, the Titans traded their first-round pick (15th overall) and third-round pick (76th overall) to the Cleveland Browns, receiving the eighth overall pick and a sixth-round pick (176th overall). Conklin signed a four-year, $15.89 million rookie contract on May 26, 2016, with $15.44 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $9.76 million.
Conklin entered training camp as the projected starting right tackle, replacing Byron Bell. Head coach Mike Mularkey named him the starter, joining Taylor Lewan at left tackle, Quinton Spain and Chance Warmack at guard, and Ben Jones at center. Conklin made his NFL debut in the season-opening 25–16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, started all 16 games, was selected as an alternate for the 2017 Pro Bowl, and was named first-team All-Pro and a member of the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He received an 88.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the fifth-highest among all offensive linemen and the highest among rookie offensive linemen.
Tennessee Titans Years (2016–2019)
Conklin started all 16 games at right tackle in 2017 and received an 81.8 PFF grade, ranking 12th among all offensive tackles. The Titans finished 9–7 and earned a playoff berth for the first time since 2008. On January 6, 2018, he started his first career playoff game, a 22–21 AFC Wildcard win over the Kansas City Chiefs, before tearing his ACL during a 35–14 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.
He missed the first three games of the 2018 season while recovering from knee surgery. After a Week 9 concussion and a later knee injury, Conklin was placed on injured reserve on December 11. The Titans finished 9–7 for the third straight season. On May 1, 2019, the Titans declined the fifth-year option on his contract, making him a free agent in 2020.
In 2019, Conklin started all 16 games and helped Derrick Henry win the NFL rushing title. The Titans finished 9–7 for the fourth consecutive year and reached the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 6 seed. Conklin started all three postseason games as Tennessee upset the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens before losing the AFC Championship Game to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cleveland Browns Era (2020–Present)
On March 20, 2020, Conklin signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. During the 2020 season, he was briefly placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in November and was later named to the All-Pro Team alongside teammates Myles Garrett, Joel Bitonio, and Wyatt Teller, earning second first-team All-Pro recognition of his career.
In 2021, Conklin was placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury on November 6. Three weeks later, on November 28, he suffered a torn patellar tendon during a Sunday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. On December 23, 2022, he signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension that runs through the 2026 season.
Conklin suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 1 of the 2023 season and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on September 12, 2023. He started all eight of his appearances for Cleveland during the 2025 season before suffering a concussion in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, which led to a season-ending injured reserve placement on December 20, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Conklin’s top-10 draft selection in 2016, his rookie first-team All-Pro honor, and his second All-Pro nod in 2020 stand as the defining milestones of his career. He has started more than 100 regular-season and postseason games across two franchises, has earned both All-American and All-Big Ten recognition in college, and has helped lead an offensive line that has supported a 2,000-yard rusher and multiple deep playoff runs.
Jack Conklin Career Wins
Jack Conklin’s career is measured less in personal statistics than in team success, postseason appearances, and individual All-Pro recognition. Across his time with the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, he has been part of multiple division-title pushes, deep playoff runs, and Pro Bowl-caliber seasons, while earning two first-team All-Pro selections.
Team and Postseason Highlights
Conklin helped the Titans reach the playoffs in 2017 and 2019, including a 2017 AFC Wildcard win over the Kansas City Chiefs and a 2019 postseason run that included upsets of the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. With the Cleveland Browns, his All-Pro 2020 season helped anchor an offensive line that supported one of the league’s most balanced attacks. He has also been selected as a Pro Bowl alternate, reflecting sustained recognition from coaches and peers.
Jack Conklin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Conklin is the son of Darren Conklin, who served as his high school head football coach at Plainwell High School, and Jennifer Jackson. Growing up in Plainwell, Michigan, with a coach for a father gave him an early, detailed understanding of the game and a competitive foundation that shaped his development as an offensive lineman.
Personal Life
Conklin is married to Caitlyn Riley, and the couple has a daughter. The family has been based in Cleveland during his time with the Browns, and he has continued to be active in community efforts connected to his teams throughout his NFL career.
2025 Season Performance
Jack Conklin’s 2025 season with the Cleveland Browns was disrupted by injury. He started all eight of his appearances and continued to serve as a starting offensive tackle before suffering a concussion in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers. On December 20, 2025, the Browns placed him on season-ending injured reserve, ending his year.
Despite the shortened campaign, Conklin’s veteran presence remained a steadying influence on a Browns offensive line working to protect the quarterback and establish the run game. His experience and leadership have been viewed as valuable assets for a younger group of linemen.
Looking ahead, Conklin remains under contract with the Browns through the 2026 season, giving him a clear opportunity to return to full health and reassert himself as a top-tier right tackle. The focus for the coming year will be recovery, durability, and another chance to anchor Cleveland’s offensive front.