Jake Tonges Bio
Jacob Tonges is an American professional football tight end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on July 8, 1999, in Cincinnati, Ohio, he played college football for the California Golden Bears. After going undrafted in 2022, he signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent before later joining the San Francisco 49ers, where he has continued to develop his role within the tight end group.
Standing 193 cm tall and listed at 109 kg, Tonges brings a sturdy, dependable frame to the position. His career has been shaped by patience, persistence, and a willingness to move between active rosters and practice squads in order to earn extended opportunities in the league.
Early Life and Background
Jake Tonges was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 8, 1999, and grew up in the United States. He is a native of the Midwest, though he later moved to California during his formative years. His family has not been publicly detailed in widely available sources, but his development as an athlete traces back to his high school period.
Tonges attended Los Gatos High School in California, where he began building the athletic foundation that would eventually carry him to the college level. At Los Gatos, he played as a tight end, a position that combines blocking duties with pass-catching responsibilities. His high school performance was strong enough to attract the attention of the California Golden Bears.
Coming out of Los Gatos, Tonges was viewed as a versatile, hard-working prospect with size and dependable hands. His decision to attend the University of California, Berkeley allowed him to remain in the state where he had finished high school, and it set the stage for a five-season college career.
Path to American Football
Jake Tonges’s path to professional football ran through the Pac-12 Conference, where he suited up for the California Golden Bears. He spent five seasons with the program, taking a redshirt year during his true freshman season. This extended timeline allowed him to develop physically and refine his route-running and blocking technique before taking on a larger role.
As he moved into more prominent roles on the California roster, Tonges worked his way into a starting-caliber position. In his redshirt senior season, he posted 22 receptions for 278 yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating the kind of reliable, possession-style production that NFL scouts often look for at the tight end position. His blocking, size, and willingness to contribute across formations made him a complete prospect in the eyes of evaluators.
When his college career ended, Tonges had tallied 47 receptions for 620 yards and four touchdowns across his time with the Golden Bears. Although those numbers were not headline-grabbing, his profile as a well-rounded tight end was enough to earn him an opportunity at the professional level. He declared for the 2022 NFL Draft and, after going undrafted, signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022.
Jake Tonges Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Jake Tonges signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022, beginning his professional career in the NFC North. During his first training camp with the Bears, he impressed enough to make the team’s initial 53-man roster, an important milestone for any undrafted rookie competing against more experienced players at a position that demands both physicality and polish.
His first stint in Chicago was marked by movement between the active roster and the practice squad. He was waived on November 10, 2022, and shortly thereafter re-signed to the practice squad. On January 9, 2023, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Bears, securing his place in the organization for the following offseason. Tonges was later waived on August 8, 2023, placed on injured reserve, and released on August 17, 2023, bringing his time in Chicago to a close.
Chicago Bears Era (2022–2023)
Tonges’s tenure with the Chicago Bears represented his introduction to life in the NFL. Although he did not post headline statistics during his time with the team, his ability to make the initial 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie spoke to his developmental progress and his value as a blocking tight end. He spent time learning from a veteran locker room and adjusting to the speed and complexity of professional game plans.
His release from the Bears in August 2023 did not end his career. Instead, it opened the door to a new opportunity on the West Coast, where he would eventually find a longer-term home and a defining on-field moment.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2023–Present)
On September 27, 2023, Jake Tonges signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad, joining one of the most successful and well-coached organizations in the NFL. He signed a reserve/future contract with San Francisco on February 13, 2024, ensuring his place with the team beyond that season. On April 17, 2025, he re-signed with the 49ers, cementing his continued role within the tight end room.
Tonges’s most memorable moment with the 49ers came on September 7, 2025, when he recorded his first career reception and his first career touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks. The score, which came in a 17–13 road victory, proved to be the game winner, instantly establishing Tonges as a contributor in clutch situations. The performance highlighted the trust the 49ers coaching staff had placed in his development and marked a turning point in his young career.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 193 cm and 109 kg, Jake Tonges fits the modern mold of a multi-purpose tight end who can align in-line, in the slot, or detached from the formation. His blocking has been a consistent strength throughout his time at California and in the NFL, while his reliable hands and willingness to work the middle of the field have helped him carve out a role with the 49ers. His work ethic, demonstrated by his ability to move between rosters and practice squads while continuing to improve, has been a defining trait of his professional journey.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jake Tonges’s first career NFL reception and first career touchdown, both recorded on September 7, 2025, against the Seattle Seahawks, stand as his most significant professional milestones to date. That score doubled as the game-winning play in a 17–13 victory on the road. His journey from undrafted free agent to game-winning contributor also represents a meaningful milestone in itself, reflecting years of patience and steady development.
Jake Tonges Career Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Jake Tonges has accumulated one career reception and one career touchdown, both recorded in the same game. His professional production remains in its early stages, but the nature of his first score, a game-winning touchdown against a divisional rival, has already given his career a signature highlight.
NFL Highlights
Tonges made his most significant NFL impact on September 7, 2025, when he caught his first career pass and scored his first career touchdown in a 17–13 road win over the Seattle Seahawks. The score stood as the game winner, instantly placing Tonges in the 49ers’ record book for that season and marking the first major statistical milestone of his professional career.
College Highlights
At the University of California, Berkeley, Tonges finished his five-season career with 47 receptions for 620 yards and four touchdowns. His redshirt senior season produced 22 catches for 278 yards and two touchdowns, representing his most productive collegiate year and helping position him for an undrafted free agent opportunity with the Chicago Bears in 2022.
Jake Tonges Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Jake Tonges’s immediate family is limited. He was born and raised in the United States, and his athletic development is tied to his time in California, where he attended Los Gatos High School. There is no widely verified public record of a family background tied to professional football.
Personal Life
Jake Tonges has not publicly confirmed details about a spouse, partner, or children in widely available sources. His personal life has remained largely private, with his public profile focused on his professional career with the San Francisco 49ers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a breakthrough year for Jake Tonges within the San Francisco 49ers organization. After re-signing with the team on April 17, 2025, he continued to develop within the tight end group, earning the trust of the coaching staff through training camp and the early portion of the regular season. His opportunity arrived on September 7, 2025, in a road game against the Seattle Seahawks.
In that contest, Tonges recorded his first career reception and his first career touchdown, the latter serving as the game-winning score in a 17–13 victory. The play signaled a meaningful step forward for the second-year pro and provided the 49ers with a timely contribution from the tight end position. With the win, San Francisco earned an early-season result in a competitive NFC West race.
Looking ahead, Tonges is positioned to continue contributing as a blocking tight end and a situational pass catcher. His development under the 49ers’ coaching staff, combined with his first career milestone, suggests an upward trajectory as the 2025 season progresses. Continued health and additional offensive opportunities could allow him to expand his role within the team’s scheme.