Kilian Zierer Bio
Kilian Zierer is a German professional American football offensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the College of the Canyons Cougars and Auburn Tigers. After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft, Zierer signed with the Houston Texans and has been part of several teams since then, showcasing his skills as an offensive tackle.
Early Life and Background
Kilian Zierer was born on February 24, 2000, in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Growing up in Munich, he was surrounded by a strong sporting culture and played soccer through his early years. Standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall, his frame would later prove ideal for the offensive line, although in his youth his height had not yet been channeled into a clear athletic direction.
That changed when Zierer visited the United States at the age of 15 and watched American football for the first time. Captivated by the speed and physicality of the game, he decided to give the sport a try the following year. He joined the Munich Cowboys, a well-known German American football club, and spent two seasons on their under-19 squad. During that time he played tight end and wide receiver, learning the fundamentals of the passing game and the physical demands of contact football in a competitive environment.
After developing his athleticism as a skill position player, Zierer transitioned to the offensive line, where his size and reach became major assets. He played a season with the Allgäu Comets, gaining valuable experience as a blocker. These early years in the German football system laid the foundation for his eventual move to the United States and his pursuit of a professional career in the NFL.
Path to American Football
Zierer’s path to higher-level American football ran through Gridiron Imports, a non-profit foundation that helps players from around the world find opportunities to play and study in the United States. With the organization’s support, he made the decision to pursue college football in America, a major step for a young German athlete with limited exposure to the U.S. game.
He chose to begin his American college career with the College of the Canyons Cougars in 2018, a junior college program in California. In his first season he earned all-conference honors at left tackle and helped the Cougars post a 10-0 record while winning the SCFA National Division, Northern League championship. His performance drew heavy recruitment attention, and Rivals.com ranked him as the best junior college offensive tackle recruit in his class. He repeated as an all-conference left tackle the following year and helped the Cougars claim a second consecutive league title.
Strong recruiting interest led Zierer to commit to the Auburn Tigers of the Southeastern Conference. A torn ACL suffered late in his second junior college season forced him to sit out the 2020 campaign. He returned in 2021, gradually working his way from a backup role into the starting lineup and appearing in nine games. As a senior in 2022, he started all 12 games for Auburn, solidifying his reputation as a reliable pass blocker. His senior performance earned him an invitation to the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl, a key pre-draft showcase.
Kilian Zierer Career
Early Career (2023)
Following the 2023 NFL draft, in which he went unselected, Kilian Zierer signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. He also heard his name called in the 2023 CFL Global Draft, where the Edmonton Elks selected him in the second round, 11th overall, reflecting the international scouting interest his profile had generated.
Zierer impressed during Texans training camp, but a sprained ankle suffered in the preseason ended his rookie year before it began. On August 24, 2023, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve. The Texans chose to retain his developmental rights, a sign of the promise the organization still saw in the young German tackle.
Houston Texans Era (2023-2024)
In 2024, the Texans designated Zierer as their exempt/international player for the season, allocating his roster spot through the International Player Pathway Program. The IPP is an NFL initiative that gives teams additional roster flexibility when developing international players, and it gave Zierer another year to grow within the Houston system.
He was waived on August 27, 2024, as part of the Texans’ roster trimming, but the team quickly re-signed him to its practice squad. Spending the year on the practice squad allowed Zierer to continue his professional development while staying inside the Texans’ organization.
Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers (2025)
On February 12, 2025, Zierer signed with the Atlanta Falcons, signaling a fresh opportunity at a new position group. He took part in the Falcons’ offseason program and competed for a roster spot, but the team waived him on August 2 as it shaped its initial 53-man roster.
Just one day later, on August 3, 2025, the Cleveland Browns claimed Zierer off waivers, signaling league-wide interest in the German tackle. He spent a brief period with the Browns before being waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, a routine part of late-preseason movement around the league.
On August 28, 2025, Zierer signed with the San Francisco 49ers practice squad, joining one of the NFL’s most respected offensive systems. He was released by the 49ers on October 13, 2025, ending a short stay in the Bay Area.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2025-Present)
Two days after his release from San Francisco, on October 15, 2025, Kilian Zierer signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad. The move gave him another chance to continue his professional development while working within Jacksonville’s offensive structure. Listed at 6 feet 7 inches tall and around 142 kilograms, he fits the modern prototype for a developmental offensive tackle.
His addition to the Jaguars came during the middle of the 2025 season, and he has since been part of the team’s practice squad, continuing to refine his technique and adjust to the speed of the professional game.
Driving Style and Strengths
Offensive tackles are evaluated on their ability to protect the passer and create lanes in the run game, and Kilian Zierer’s size and long reach are central to his profile. He has shown the footwork and balance needed to handle edge rushers, along with the strength to anchor against power moves developed during his time at Auburn and the College of the Canyons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Zierer’s most notable milestones are his back-to-back SCFA National Division, Northern League championships with the College of the Canyons Cougars and his invitation to the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl. He was also selected 11th overall in the 2023 CFL Global Draft, a recognition of his standing among international prospects.
Kilian Zierer Career Wins
As a practice squad offensive tackle, Kilian Zierer’s professional stat line is limited, and the verified sources available do not detail formal win totals at the NFL level. His team successes to date have come primarily at the junior college level, where he helped the College of the Canyons Cougars capture consecutive SCFA National Division, Northern League titles.
College Highlights
Across his two seasons with the College of the Canyons, Zierer earned all-conference honors at left tackle in both years and was part of championship teams in 2018 and the following season. At Auburn, he appeared in nine games in 2021 and started all 12 games in his senior year of 2022, anchoring the Tigers’ offensive line against top-tier SEC competition.
Other Wins & Performances
At the German club level, Zierer competed for the Munich Cowboys under-19 squad and the Allgäu Comets, contributing as both a skill player and an offensive lineman during his development years in Europe.
Kilian Zierer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed information about Kilian Zierer’s parents and broader family background is not widely available in verified sources. He grew up in Munich, Bavaria, and his move into American football appears to have been driven by his own curiosity after seeing the sport during a U.S. visit at age 15.
Personal Life
Kilian Zierer keeps his personal life largely private, and verified public information about a spouse, partners, or children is not available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season has been one of constant movement for Kilian Zierer. After spending the 2024 season on the Houston Texans’ practice squad under the International Player Pathway Program, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons in February, only to be waived at the end of the preseason. He was quickly claimed by the Cleveland Browns before being released as part of final cuts and then signed by the San Francisco 49ers practice squad.
Each stop has given Zierer a chance to learn different offensive systems, blocking schemes, and coaching philosophies. From Atlanta’s zone-blocking concepts to Cleveland’s run-heavy identity and the 49ers’ wide-zone scheme, he has continued to expand his professional toolkit despite not appearing on a 53-man regular-season roster.
His October 15, 2025, signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad marks his fourth NFL organization of the calendar year and offers stability as the season progresses. With the Jaguars, Zierer will look to earn a larger role and, eventually, an active roster spot. His trajectory reflects the resilience of an international player navigating the competitive world of professional American football.