Thomas Yassmin Bio
Thomas Yassmin is an Australian professional American football tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 196 cm and playing at roughly 114 kg, Yassmin brings the size and physical background of a former rugby player to the tight end position. He played college football for the Utah Utes before reaching the professional ranks with the Denver Broncos and later the Los Angeles Chargers.
Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Yassmin is among a small group of Australians who have transitioned from rugby to gridiron football and reached an NFL roster. His route from the rugby pitches of Sydney to the tight end room in Los Angeles traces a clear path through American college football and the NFL International Player Pathway Program.
Early Life and Background
Thomas Yassmin was born on 21 October 1999 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He grew up in Sydney and attended Scots College, one of Australia’s prominent private schools with a strong sporting tradition. Sydney’s rugby culture shaped much of his early athletic life, and Yassmin developed his athletic foundation in that environment.
At Scots College, Yassmin played rugby and developed into a physically imposing wing. His performances were strong enough to earn selection on the wing for the Australian Schoolboys rugby side, a recognition typically reserved for the country’s top young rugby prospects. This rugby grounding gave him the contact skills, conditioning base, and field awareness that later supported his move to American football.
Path to American Football
Rather than pursue a professional rugby career, Yassmin chose to play gridiron football in the United States. He joined the Utah Utes college football program, taking on a significant positional shift from rugby wing to tight end. The change required him to learn a new playbook, blocking schemes, and route tree while adapting to the pace and structure of American college football.
Yassmin’s recruitment by Utah reflected the growing interest college programs have shown in athletes with elite rugby backgrounds. His combination of size, footwork, and competitive toughness made him an attractive developmental prospect. His early seasons in Salt Lake City were spent adjusting to the demands of the position while building the technical foundation required to compete at the college level.
Thomas Yassmin Career
College Career (2018–2023)
Yassmin’s first season at Utah in 2018 was a redshirt year, and he did not appear in any games as he adjusted to the program and the sport. In 2019 and 2020, he worked his way onto special teams, appearing in 16 games across the two seasons while recording just two tackles. The 2021 season brought limited offensive involvement, with Yassmin recording one reception for six yards.
His breakthrough came during the 2022 season. In the regular-season finale against rival Colorado, Yassmin caught a 41-yard touchdown to help the Utes secure the win. He followed that with a 60-yard touchdown catch in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game victory over USC. Across the 2022 season, Yassmin finished with 13 receptions for 301 yards and six touchdowns. His 2023 season, however, was cut short by a season-ending injury in week seven, finishing the year with eight receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown.
Denver Broncos (2024–2025)
Yassmin went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and signed with the Denver Broncos shortly afterward. Two days later, he was selected in the second round, 14th overall, by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2024 CFL Global Draft. He was assigned the Broncos’ exempt/international roster spot as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), a pathway designed to give international athletes a route into NFL rosters.
His time in Denver was marked by several roster moves. On 27 August 2024, Yassmin was waived by the Broncos, then re-signed to the practice squad the next day. On 13 January 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with Denver, securing his place with the organization into the offseason. On 12 May 2025, Yassmin was once again waived by the Broncos, closing his initial NFL chapter with the franchise that had first brought him into the league.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2025–Present)
On 7 August 2025, Yassmin signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. He was waived on 26 August as part of final roster cuts, then re-signed to the Chargers’ practice squad the following day. His placement on the practice squad kept him within the organization and continued his development under the Chargers’ coaching staff.
Yassmin’s path to the Chargers reflected both his continued growth and the structural realities of the international pathway. Working through the practice squad allowed him to refine his blocking and route-running in an NFL setting while remaining within reach of an active roster opportunity.
Driving Style and Strengths
Yassmin’s strengths are rooted in his rugby background. His background as a wing gave him strong footwork in open space, while his size at 196 cm and 114 kg allows him to function as a credible in-line blocker. His capacity to contribute on special teams, combined with his developmental receiving skills, has shaped his profile as a tight end prospect with both physical and athletic upside.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Yassmin’s signature moments was his 41-yard touchdown against Colorado in the 2022 regular-season finale and his 60-yard scoring catch in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship win over USC. Selection in the 2024 CFL Global Draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats marked another milestone, highlighting his standing within the international player pool. His signing with the Los Angeles Chargers in August 2025 represented his second NFL franchise.
Thomas Yassmin Career Wins
Yassmin’s verified career highlights are concentrated at the college level with the Utah Utes, where he recorded 13 receptions for 301 yards and six touchdowns in 2022 and added eight receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown in an injury-shortened 2023 season. His professional career to date has been defined by developmental progress through the International Player Pathway Program and practice squad opportunities rather than headline statistical production.
College Highlights
Yassmin’s most productive college stretch came during the 2022 season, when he scored six touchdowns and posted 301 receiving yards. His first notable college score came against rival Colorado in the 2022 regular-season finale, followed by a long touchdown against USC in the Pac-12 Championship. His 2023 season was limited by a week-seven injury but still included a touchdown among his eight receptions.
Thomas Yassmin Family
Personal Life
Thomas Yassmin was raised in Sydney, New South Wales, and attended Scots College, where his rugby development took place. Publicly verified personal details about his immediate family remain limited beyond his Sydney upbringing and schooling. Information about a spouse, partner, or children has not been confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Yassmin entered 2025 coming off a reserve/future contract with the Denver Broncos. On 12 May 2025, he was waived by Denver, ending his initial stint with the franchise. Shortly afterward, on 7 August 2025, he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as he looked to secure a roster opportunity in his second NFL season.
Yassmin was waived by the Chargers on 26 August as part of final roster cuts, then re-signed to the practice squad the following day. His placement on the practice squad kept him within the Chargers’ system and continued his development as a tight end.
Looking ahead, Yassmin’s 2025 outlook centers on earning a promotion from the practice squad and contributing on special teams while refining his tight end skill set. His progression through the International Player Pathway Program continues to shape his professional trajectory with the Chargers.