Jon Gaines II Bio
Jon Gaines II (born May 24, 1999) is an American professional football player who plays as a center in the National Football League (NFL). Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, he previously played college football for the UCLA Bruins, where he developed into a reliable offensive lineman over five seasons. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 143 kilograms, Gaines brings size and experience to the interior of the Cardinals’ offensive line.
Early Life and Background
Jon Gaines II was born on May 24, 1999, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. He grew up in the same community where he would later begin his athletic journey, attending Marquette University High School, a private Jesuit institution with a strong athletic tradition.
At Marquette University High School, Gaines was a multi-sport athlete, participating in both football and track and field. He played tackle on the football team and served as a team captain during his high school career. His performance earned him a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State honorable mention in 2017, and he was ranked as the tenth-best player in the state of Wisconsin as a three-star recruit.
Nationally, Gaines was regarded as the 128th-best tackle in his recruiting class. Despite drawing attention from several programs, he ultimately chose to commit to UCLA over scholarship offers from Northern Illinois, California, Iowa, and Purdue.
Path to American Football
Gaines enrolled at UCLA in 2018 and began his college career as a true freshman. He appeared in just one game that season, the finale against Stanford, and used the year to adjust to the speed and physicality of Division I football. He redshirted and returned in 2019 ready for a larger role.
As a redshirt freshman in 2019, Gaines appeared in every game and earned a single start, helping block for 1,000-yard rusher Joshua Kelley. That season, UCLA strung together five consecutive 200-yard rushing games for the first time in more than four decades, and Gaines was part of the offensive line that made the run possible.
During the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Gaines started four of seven games, gaining valuable experience in unusual circumstances. By 2021, he had earned a full-time starting role and lined up at each of the three offensive line positions: tackle, guard, and center. As a senior in 2022, he started every game at right guard, appearing on all 932 offensive snaps and helping UCLA lead the Pac-12 Conference in yards per carry.
Jon Gaines II Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Gaines’ early college years were about development and patience. After a limited freshman season in 2018, he earned a regular spot in the rotation in 2019 and contributed to one of UCLA’s most productive rushing stretches in recent memory.
The 2020 season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, gave Gaines the chance to start four games and further establish himself as a reliable presence on the offensive line heading into his upperclassman years.
UCLA Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Gaines became a full-time starter in 2021, lining up at multiple positions across the offensive line. He played a significant role in Zach Charbonnet’s 1,000-yard rushing season and helped UCLA lead the Pac-12 Conference in rushing yards per game that year, showcasing his versatility and football intelligence.
His senior season in 2022 represented the peak of his college career. Gaines started every game at right guard, playing all 932 snaps, and was part of an offensive line that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best unit in college football. He earned an honorable mention all-conference selection and announced after the season that he would forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft. He finished his UCLA career having appeared on 2,382 snaps, allowing just five sacks and 52 pressures.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2023–Present)
Following the 2022 season, Gaines was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, where he posted the best short shuttle time among all participants. He entered the 2023 NFL Draft as a projected third-to-fifth round pick and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round with the 122nd overall pick.
Shortly after the draft, Gaines was placed on injured reserve on August 29, 2023, ending his rookie season before it began. Since then, he has worked to establish himself within the Cardinals organization, bringing his experience at guard and center to the team’s offensive line room.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gaines is recognized for his positional versatility, having started games at tackle, guard, and center during his college career. His combination of size, athleticism, and football IQ, highlighted by his top short shuttle time at the NFL Scouting Combine, makes him an asset in both pass protection and run blocking schemes.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Gaines’ career came during his senior season at UCLA, when he started every game and helped the Bruins lead the Pac-12 in yards per carry as part of a Joe Moore Award semifinalist offensive line unit. His best short shuttle at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine also stood out as a measurable milestone heading into the professional ranks.
Jon Gaines II Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, individual win totals are not tracked in the traditional sense, but Gaines’ contributions have been recognized through postseason selections and team achievements. His honorable mention all-conference nod in 2022 and his role on a Joe Moore Award semifinalist line underscore the impact he has made at every level.
UCLA Highlights
During his time at UCLA, Gaines appeared in games across five seasons and finished with 2,382 career snaps, allowing just five sacks and 52 pressures. He started every game in his senior season and helped the Bruins lead the Pac-12 Conference in rushing yards per game in 2021 and yards per carry in 2022, while also playing a key role in two different 1,000-yard rushing seasons for his teammates.
Other Performances
Before college, Gaines earned All-State honorable mention recognition in Wisconsin in 2017 and was ranked among the top ten players in the state. His combine performance, posting the best short shuttle time among all participants, further highlighted his athletic profile heading into the NFL.
Jon Gaines II Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jon Gaines II was raised in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, where he attended Marquette University High School. Public information regarding his parents and extended family is limited.
Personal Life
Details about Jon Gaines II’s personal life, including marital status and family, are not widely documented in public sources. He remains focused on his professional football career with the Arizona Cardinals.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Jon Gaines II continues his professional career with the Arizona Cardinals, the team that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. After his rookie season was cut short by an injury, he has had time to develop within the organization’s offensive line room and adapt to the speed of the professional game.
The Cardinals’ offensive line outlook for 2025 includes Gaines as part of the depth chart at center and guard, positions he has experience playing throughout his career. His versatility, built across five seasons at UCLA, gives the Cardinals flexibility in how they deploy him along the interior line.
As the 2025 season unfolds, Gaines’ performance will be an important subplot for a Cardinals team looking to solidify its offensive front. His combination of college production, measurable athleticism, and positional flexibility positions him as a player to watch along the interior line.