Michael Niese Bio
Michael Henry Niese is an American professional football center for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and competing at 300 pounds, Niese has built his career on the interior of the offensive line, where his size and technique have allowed him to move between practice squads and active rosters across multiple franchises. He played college football for the Dayton Flyers and the Temple Owls before reaching the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Michael Henry Niese was born on January 13, 1998, in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in the St. Louis area and attended St. Louis University High School, a well-known college preparatory program that has produced a long list of college athletes. The football culture of the region, combined with the structure of his high school program, gave Niese an early grounding in the fundamentals of the offensive line.
At St. Louis University High, Niese developed the frame and footwork that would later define his professional profile. His performances there attracted attention from college programs looking for developmental interior linemen, and he eventually committed to the University of Dayton to continue both his education and his football career.
Path to American Football
Niese began his college career with the Dayton Flyers, where he worked his way into the rotation along the offensive line. The Dayton program competes at the Football Championship Subdivision level, and Niese used that platform to refine his technique against a steady schedule of college competition.
Seeking a higher level of competition, Niese transferred to Temple University, where he joined the Temple Owls. At Temple, he faced stronger defensive fronts in the American Athletic Conference, an experience that helped him prepare for the speed and complexity of professional football. His development at Temple set the stage for an NFL opportunity once his college eligibility ended.
Michael Niese Career
Early Career (2022)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Niese signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent on June 9, 2022. He spent the early portion of the offseason program in Denver working to earn a roster spot, but was waived on August 30, 2022, as teams trimmed toward their regular season limits.
Shortly after his release from Denver, Niese was signed to the practice squad of the Chicago Bears on September 12, 2022. That stint gave him his first experience inside an NFL building during a regular season, even though he did not appear in a game for Chicago.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stop (2023)
On January 18, 2023, Niese signed a reserve and future contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a deal designed to give him a foothold with the organization ahead of the new league year. He remained with Tampa Bay through the early portion of the offseason, continuing to develop his body and technique for the interior line.
Niese was waived by the Buccaneers on August 29, 2023, as the team shaped its final roster. Even though his time in Tampa Bay was brief, the experience added another NFL stop to his resume and kept him on the radar of teams in need of offensive line depth.
Detroit Lions Era (2023–Present)
On August 31, 2023, Niese was signed to the practice squad of the Detroit Lions, beginning the most stable chapter of his professional career. He made his NFL debut in Week 11 of the 2023 season in a victory over the Chicago Bears, marking his first appearance on an active game day roster. On January 30, 2024, he signed a reserve and future contract with Detroit, securing his place with the franchise into the following season.
On April 22, 2025, Niese re-signed with the Lions, then was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts before being re-signed to the practice squad. Niese was promoted to the active roster on November 15, reflecting the Lions’ continued confidence in his development as a backup center capable of stepping into the lineup when needed.
Notable Events and Milestones
The signature moment of Niese’s young career remains his NFL debut in Week 11 of the 2023 season against the Chicago Bears, a victory that gave him his first taste of regular season action. His repeated movement between practice squad and active roster in Detroit underscores his value as a reliable depth piece along the interior offensive line.
Michael Niese Career Wins
Michael Niese’s professional career has centered on positional development rather than headline statistics, and verified individual win totals at the NFL level are not documented. His first confirmed regular season victory came in his NFL debut with the Detroit Lions, a Week 11 win over the Chicago Bears in 2023. Beyond that debut result, broader win totals across his seasons are not clearly established in available sources.
Michael Niese Family
Personal Life
Michael Henry Niese was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, the same city where he was born. Beyond his ties to the St. Louis area and his high school alma mater, detailed public information about his immediate family is limited, and he has kept much of his personal life out of the public spotlight as he has navigated the early stages of his NFL career.
2025 Season Performance
Niese entered the 2025 season as a returning member of the Detroit Lions after re-signing on April 22, 2025. He was waived on August 26 as part of the league’s final roster reductions, then quickly re-signed to Detroit’s practice squad, allowing him to remain within the organization and continue his development under the Lions’ coaching staff.
On November 15, 2025, Niese was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, a move that placed him back in position to contribute along the interior offensive line. His promotion reflected the Lions’ approach of leaning on familiar depth pieces when the active roster required reinforcement late in the season.
For the remainder of the 2025 season, Niese is expected to serve as a depth option at center, ready to step into the lineup when called upon. His familiarity with Detroit’s system, built across multiple seasons and a reserve and future contract, positions him as a steady presence in the team’s offensive line room as the Lions push toward the postseason.