Tanner McLachlan Bio
Tanner McLachlan (born March 15, 1999) is a Canadian professional football tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the Arizona Wildcats before being selected in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. During his college career, he showcased significant talent, breaking records and making substantial contributions to his teams.
Standing 196 centimeters tall and weighing 111 kilograms, McLachlan has the size of a prototypical NFL tight end. His path from a Canadian high school program to a U.S. college football pipeline and eventually to the NFL reflects years of steady development at the tight end position.
Early Life and Background
Tanner McLachlan was born on March 15, 1999, in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Growing up in Lethbridge, a city known for its strong community sports culture, gave him an early grounding in organized athletics. Canadian high school football programs provided his first exposure to the sport and helped shape his interest in playing beyond the regional level.
McLachlan attended Lethbridge Collegiate Institute in Lethbridge, Alberta, where he developed the foundational skills that would later support his transition to the college game. His time at the school also positioned him for recruitment opportunities from American college programs, an important step for any Canadian football prospect aiming to reach the NFL.
Path to American Football
McLachlan played wide receiver and tight end at Southern Utah University from 2018 to 2021, where he totaled 15 receptions for 168 yards across his four seasons with the Thunderbirds. Although his statistical output at Southern Utah was modest, the experience allowed him to adjust to the speed and physicality of NCAA football while continuing to grow into his frame.
In 2022, he transferred to the University of Arizona as a walk-on, a decision that proved transformative for his career. In his first season with the Wildcats, McLachlan started seven of 12 games and recorded 34 receptions for 456 yards and two touchdowns, immediately establishing himself as a reliable target in the passing game.
Tanner McLachlan Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
McLachlan’s first chapter of college football took place at Southern Utah University, where he joined the Thunderbirds program in 2018. He split time between wide receiver and tight end during his four years with the program, finishing that stretch with 15 receptions for 168 yards. While the production was limited, the experience allowed him to refine his route-running and blocking skills at the collegiate level.
His most significant development at Southern Utah came behind the scenes, where he added size and adjusted to the speed of NCAA competition. By the end of the 2021 season, McLachlan was ready for a larger opportunity, which led him to pursue a transfer to a Football Bowl Subdivision program.
Arizona Wildcats Breakthrough (2022–2023)
McLachlan’s arrival at the University of Arizona in 2022 marked the turning point of his playing career. Joining as a walk-on, he quickly earned a starting role and finished his first season with 34 receptions for 456 yards and two touchdowns. That production demonstrated that he could be a featured part of an offensive scheme rather than a secondary option.
As a senior in 2023, McLachlan recorded 45 catches for 528 yards and four touchdowns, cementing his reputation as one of the top tight end prospects in the country. He closed his Arizona career with 79 receptions, a total that broke Rob Gronkowski’s school record for career receptions by a tight end. That achievement drew significant national attention and positioned McLachlan as a credible NFL prospect heading into the 2024 draft cycle.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2025–Present)
On August 26, 2025, McLachlan was waived by the Cincinnati Bengals with an injury designation as part of final roster cuts. After working back to full health, he was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad on December 11, 2025. The move gave McLachlan a fresh opportunity to develop within a new offensive system.
His current contract with the Los Angeles Chargers began in 2025 and runs through the present, suggesting the organization views him as a longer-term developmental piece. McLachlan’s combination of size, receiving production, and special-teams versatility aligns with the type of player the Chargers have historically developed at the tight end position.
Driving Style and Strengths
McLachlan is a well-built tight end whose strengths include reliable hands, the ability to line up both inline and detached from the formation, and consistent production as a pass catcher. His college statistics show a player who can be trusted in intermediate and red-zone situations, while his frame gives him the physicality required for in-line blocking duties.
Notable Events and Milestones
McLachlan’s most notable milestone came at the University of Arizona, where his 79 career receptions broke Rob Gronkowski’s school record for career receptions by a tight end. He was also selected 194th overall in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and was the third highest rated prospect ahead of the 2024 CFL Draft, where he was selected 51st overall in the sixth round by the Calgary Stampeders.
Tanner McLachlan Career Wins
Tanner McLachlan has not yet been credited with major championship wins at the professional level, as he remains in the early stages of his NFL career. His most celebrated statistical achievements came during his college career at the University of Arizona, where he set a program record for career receptions by a tight end.
Arizona Wildcats Highlights
Across two seasons with the Arizona Wildcats, McLachlan recorded 79 receptions, surpassing the previous school record held by Rob Gronkowski. His 2023 senior season was his most productive, with 45 catches for 528 yards and four touchdowns, and his 2022 debut season added 34 receptions for 456 yards and two scores. Together, those performances established him as one of the top tight end stories of the 2024 NFL Draft cycle.
Other Wins and Performances
At Southern Utah University from 2018 to 2021, McLachlan contributed 15 receptions for 168 yards while learning the demands of the college game. Although his statistical output there was modest, the experience laid the foundation for his breakthrough at Arizona and his eventual selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Tanner McLachlan Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Tanner McLachlan was raised in Lethbridge, Alberta, where he attended Lethbridge Collegiate Institute and began his organized football journey. Detailed information about his parents and extended family is not publicly verified at this time.
Personal Life
McLachlan is a Canadian by nationality and spent his early life in Lethbridge, Alberta. Publicly available information about his marital status, spouse, and children is not confirmed at this time.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began for McLachlan with the Cincinnati Bengals, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was waived with an injury designation on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts, which interrupted his early-season momentum and forced him to focus on recovery.
On December 11, 2025, McLachlan was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad, giving him a new platform to compete for a roster spot. Practice squad players often receive opportunities to contribute on special teams and in select offensive packages, and McLachlan’s size and receiving skills make him a strong candidate to earn an expanded role.
Looking ahead, McLachlan’s primary objective will be to transition from the practice squad to the active roster and secure his first full NFL season of meaningful snaps. Given his college production and professional pedigree, the Chargers’ organization appears committed to developing him into a long-term contributor at the tight end position.