Jared Wiley Bio
Jared Wiley (born November 2, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 250 pounds, Wiley combines the frame of a traditional tight end with the athleticism developed from his earlier background as a high school quarterback. After playing college football for both the Texas Longhorns and the TCU Horned Frogs, he was selected by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Early Life and Background
Jared Wiley was born on November 2, 2000, in Temple, Texas. He grew up in the same central Texas city where he would eventually attend high school and develop his love for football. The Temple community has long been known for producing competitive football talent, and Wiley’s early years were spent immersed in that tradition.
Wiley attended Temple High School, where he played both tight end and quarterback during his prep career. As a senior, he served as the team’s starting quarterback and passed for 2,314 yards with 27 touchdowns against just five interceptions, showcasing the arm talent and field awareness that would later inform his route-running as a pass catcher.
Following his senior season, Wiley committed to the University of Texas at Austin to play college football. His dual-threat background as both a thrower and a receiver made him an intriguing prospect for the Longhorns’ offense.
Path to American Football
Wiley’s path to professional football began at the University of Texas, where he played from 2019 to 2021. During his three seasons in Austin, he appeared in 32 games and made 12 starts, primarily lining up as a tight end. He recorded 19 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns, gradually adjusting to the physical and schematic demands of the tight end position at the Big 12 level.
After the 2021 season, Wiley decided to transfer to Texas Christian University in search of a larger offensive role. In his first year with the Horned Frogs in 2022, he caught 24 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns, demonstrating the kind of consistency coaches look for from a developing tight end.
Wiley returned to TCU for the 2023 campaign and emerged as one of the most productive tight ends in the Big 12. Against Baylor, he set a school record for receiving yards in a game by a tight end with 178, capping a breakout performance that announced his NFL potential. He finished the 2023 season with 47 receptions for 520 yards and eight touchdowns, earned First-team All-Big 12 honors, and declared for the 2024 NFL draft.
Jared Wiley Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Wiley’s early college career at Texas was defined by steady development rather than headline statistics. Working behind more experienced tight ends, he focused on refining his blocking technique and understanding complex pro-style route concepts. His 12 starts across 32 appearances reflected the trust the Longhorns coaching staff placed in him as a reliable two-way player.
The decision to leave Texas after the 2021 season was driven by a desire for a more prominent role in the passing game. With his athletic profile and SEC-caliber size, Wiley believed a change of scenery would accelerate his progress and give him the opportunity to showcase his receiving skills on a weekly basis.
TCU Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Wiley’s arrival at TCU coincided with a Horned Frogs program on the rise under head coach Sonny Dykes. In 2022, he became a dependable intermediate target, finishing with 24 receptions for 245 yards and four touchdowns. His ability to line up both inline and detached gave the TCU offense valuable schematic flexibility.
The 2023 season marked Wiley’s true breakthrough. His record-setting 178-yard receiving performance against Baylor established him as a matchup nightmare in the red zone and down the seam. He finished the year with 47 receptions for 520 yards and eight touchdowns, earning First-team All-Big 12 recognition and cementing his status as one of the top tight end prospects in the 2024 draft class.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2024–Present)
Wiley was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 131st overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. The Chiefs, known for their creative use of tight ends under head coach Andy Reid, viewed Wiley as a developmental pass catcher with the size and athleticism to fit their offensive system.
Wiley’s rookie season was interrupted by a significant setback when he suffered a torn ACL in practice on November 2, 2024. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve, ending his first professional campaign. Despite the injury, his combination of receiving production in college and his fit within Kansas City’s scheme kept him firmly in the team’s long-term plans.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wiley’s playing style draws on his unusual background as a former high school quarterback. He reads coverages with the poise of a thrower, finds soft spots in zone defenses, and uses his 6-foot-6 frame to high-point the football in contested situations. As a blocker, his length and willingness to engage make him a credible asset in the run game.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining milestone of Wiley’s career to date is his 178-yard receiving game against Baylor in 2023, which set a TCU record for receiving yards in a single game by a tight end. Being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, one of the NFL’s most successful recent franchises, also represents a significant achievement for the young tight end.
Jared Wiley Career Wins
As a young tight end still in the early stages of his professional career, Jared Wiley’s win totals are tied to team success rather than individual awards. The Kansas City Chiefs’ selection of Wiley in the 2024 draft reflects their belief in his long-term potential within one of the league’s most pass-heavy offensive systems.
TCU Highlights
Wiley’s most productive stretch came during his two seasons at TCU, where he accumulated 71 receptions for 765 yards and 12 touchdowns across 2022 and 2023. His 47-catch, eight-touchdown 2023 campaign earned him First-team All-Big 12 honors and positioned him as a top tight end prospect in the 2024 draft.
Jared Wiley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Jared Wiley’s parents and broader family background are not widely documented in publicly available sources.
Personal Life
Public information about Jared Wiley’s personal life, including marital status and family, remains limited. He continues to focus on his recovery and professional development with the Kansas City Chiefs organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season represents a critical recovery year for Jared Wiley following his November 2024 ACL injury. His primary objective will be returning to full health and reclaiming a role within the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end rotation under head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
If healthy, Wiley is expected to compete for snaps as a receiving tight end, a role that has long been central to Kansas City’s offensive identity. His college production, particularly his 47 receptions and eight touchdowns at TCU in 2023, suggests he can contribute as a chain-mover and red zone target once cleared to play.
The Chiefs’ track record of developing tight ends gives Wiley a strong organizational environment for his return. With patience and steady rehabilitation, 2025 offers him the chance to begin delivering on the promise that made him a fourth-round draft pick just one year earlier.