Jeff Wilson Bio
Jeffery Wilson Jr. (born November 16, 1995) is an American professional football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet tall and weighing around 213 pounds, he has carved out a steady role as a versatile depth back and special-teams contributor since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Wilson played college football at the University of North Texas and signed with the San Francisco 49ers shortly after the 2018 NFL Draft. Over the course of his professional career, he has also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, where he continues to compete at the highest level of American football.
Early Life and Background
Jeffery Wilson Jr. was born on November 16, 1995, in Palestine, Texas. He grew up in the small East Texas community of Elkhart, where he attended Elkhart High School and developed into one of the most productive running backs in the area.
As a senior at Elkhart High School, Wilson delivered a dominant season, rushing for 2,749 yards and 36 touchdowns. His performance earned him Associated Press Class 2A first-team all-state honors and established him as one of the top small-school running backs in the region.
Coming out of high school, Wilson was rated as a two-star recruit. He fielded scholarship offers from Louisiana-Monroe, New Mexico State, and Texas State before ultimately choosing to continue his football career at North Texas, where he would spend the next four years refining his skills.
Path to American Football
Wilson’s path to professional football began in earnest when he joined the North Texas Mean Green. Although he arrived as a relatively under-the-radar recruit, his work ethic and durability allowed him to develop into a featured player in the team’s offensive backfield.
Across four college seasons, Wilson appeared in 41 games and made 29 starts for the Mean Green. He steadily increased his production each year, building the kind of reliability coaches look for in a professional back. As a senior in 2017, he started 11 games and rushed for 1,215 yards on a strong 6.5 yards per carry, while also adding 24 receptions for 168 yards. He finished that season with 16 rushing touchdowns and was named Second-Team All-Conference USA.
By the end of his collegiate career, Wilson had piled up 3,205 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns on 562 carries, along with 70 receptions for 527 yards and two scores. His career totals placed him third in rushing touchdowns and fourth in rushing yards in North Texas history. Although he was not selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, his résumé was strong enough to earn an opportunity as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers.
Jeff Wilson Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Wilson signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2018. He was waived at the end of training camp but quickly rejoined the organization on its practice squad. Promoted to the active roster in November, he made his NFL debut on November 25, 2018, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In his first extended look as a rookie, Wilson totaled 66 carries for 266 yards and added 12 receptions for 98 yards across six games and two starts. The following season, he carved out a complementary role in a San Francisco backfield that reached Super Bowl LIV. His second NFL campaign featured 27 carries for 105 yards and four touchdowns, plus three receptions for 34 yards and a score, highlighted by a game-winning 25-yard touchdown reception from Jimmy Garoppolo against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11.
San Francisco 49ers Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Wilson’s most productive stretch came during the 2020 season with the 49ers, when injuries thrust him into a leading role. He produced his first 100-yard rushing performance against the New England Patriots in Week 7, finishing with 112 yards and three touchdowns before exiting with a high-ankle sprain. Later that season, he set a career high with 183 rushing yards on 22 carries against the Arizona Cardinals. He closed the year with 126 carries for 600 yards and seven touchdowns, along with 13 receptions for 133 yards and three scores, in 12 games and three starts.
After signing a contract extension in January 2021, Wilson battled a torn meniscus during the offseason and missed the early portion of the year. He returned in November and posted a season-high 110 rushing yards against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15. He finished 2021 with 79 carries for 294 yards and two touchdowns in nine games and four starts. After re-signing with the 49ers in March 2022, he opened the new season with a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams and a 120-yard rushing performance against the Carolina Panthers before being traded to the Miami Dolphins on November 1, 2022.
Miami Dolphins Era (2022–Present)
Wilson made an immediate impact with the Miami Dolphins, debuting in Week 9 of the 2022 season with nine carries for 51 yards and a touchdown reception against the Chicago Bears. The following week he posted 17 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns, helping anchor a 39–17 Dolphins victory. He finished the 2022 season with 176 carries for 860 yards and five touchdowns across 16 games and seven starts between the 49ers and Dolphins, adding another score in a Wild Card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Wilson signed a two-year contract extension with Miami on March 16, 2023, but was placed on injured reserve before the season opener. After returning in October, he finished 2023 with 41 carries for 188 yards and 14 receptions for 85 yards in 10 games without a start. In 2024, his role remained limited, totaling 16 carries for 57 yards and three receptions for 19 yards across nine games. Following a brief return to San Francisco in August 2025, Wilson rejoined the Dolphins’ practice squad and was elevated for the Week 1 matchup of the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wilson is a compact, durable running back best suited to a complementary role. His career average of better than 4.5 yards per carry reflects his ability to make the first defender miss and finish runs with forward balance. He is also a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield, with dependable hands on screens, flats, and option routes. His experience in Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone scheme in San Francisco prepared him well for Miami’s similar run-game concepts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wilson’s most memorable career moment came during the 2019 season when he caught a 25-yard game-winning touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to lift the 49ers past the Arizona Cardinals. He posted his career high with 183 rushing yards against Arizona the following season, and he played in Super Bowl LIV as a member of the 49ers. He also earned Second-Team All-Conference USA recognition after his senior year at North Texas.
Jeff Wilson Career Wins
Although Wilson has never been a primary starter for a full season, his career has been marked by timely contributions and several notable rushing performances. Across the regular season and postseason, he has piled up multiple 100-yard rushing games and has scored touchdowns as both a rusher and a receiver.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
In the NFL regular season, Wilson has recorded rushing totals of 266 yards (2018), 105 yards (2019), 600 yards (2020), 294 yards (2021), and 860 combined yards between San Francisco and Miami in 2022. He added 188 yards in 2023 and 57 yards in 2024, along with another stint in 2025. He has reached the century mark in rushing on multiple occasions, including the 119-yard effort against Cleveland in 2022 and the 110-yard day against Atlanta in 2021.
Other Wins & Performances
Wilson’s pre-professional résumé includes his standout senior season at Elkhart High School, where he earned Associated Press Class 2A first-team all-state honors after rushing for 2,749 yards and 36 touchdowns. In college, he ranked third in rushing touchdowns and fourth in rushing yards at North Texas while earning Second-Team All-Conference USA recognition in 2017.
Jeff Wilson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is limited publicly available information about Jeffery Wilson Jr.’s immediate family or extended relatives. He grew up in Elkhart, Texas, where he developed his passion for football before moving on to North Texas and eventually the NFL.
Personal Life
Wilson has kept his personal life largely private. Public records do not detail a spouse or children. He has spent much of his professional career based in the San Francisco Bay Area and South Florida in connection with his NFL teams.
2025 Season Performance
Wilson’s 2025 season began with a brief stint in San Francisco after he signed with the 49ers on August 10, 2025. He was released during final roster cuts on August 26 and quickly signed with the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad on August 28, before being elevated for the Week 1 matchup.
Wilson is expected to serve as a veteran depth back behind Miami’s top rushers, with an emphasis on short-yardage situations, third-down responsibilities, and special-teams work. His familiarity with the Dolphins’ offensive system and experience in outside-zone schemes should help him carve out a defined role.
Looking ahead, Wilson’s primary objectives for the 2025 season are to stay healthy, contribute on special teams, and provide reliable production whenever his number is called. Given his track record of stepping up in spot duty, he remains a steady veteran presence in the Miami backfield.