Tyler Ott Bio
Tyler Ott is an American professional football long snapper for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Born on February 28, 1992, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ott has carved out a steady pro career as a specialist since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He played college football for the Harvard Crimson and has also been a member of the New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, and Baltimore Ravens.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 250 pounds, Ott has been valued for his accuracy and consistency at the long snapper position, a specialized role critical to field goals, punts, and extra-point attempts. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2020 during his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks, recognition of his place among the league’s top long snappers.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Ott was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 28, 1992, to Dan Ott and Laurie Ott, now Laurie Applekamp. He grew up in the Jenks Public School system and attended Jenks High School, where he became a multi-sport standout in a community that takes its athletics seriously. Jenks, a suburb of Tulsa, has produced a long line of competitive football programs, and Ott’s development within that environment helped shape his approach to the game.
At Jenks High School, Ott was a three-year letter winner in football, basketball, and track and field. He served as a three-year captain in football and a senior captain in both basketball and track and field. On the track, he competed in the shot put and discus, finishing his career with personal records of 50 feet 2 inches in the shot put and 148 feet 9 inches in the discus. He played in three football state championships, winning one in 2007 when Jenks defeated Tulsa Union High School 42-24.
On the football field, Ott played tight end and long snapper for the Trojans. He finished his high school career with 47 catches, 771 total receiving yards, and 7 receiving touchdowns. That dual role as both a receiving threat and a specialist foreshadowed the path he would later follow at the college and professional levels.
Path to Professional Football
Ott’s journey to the NFL ran through one of the most academically rigorous football programs in the country. He played college football at Harvard University, where he served as the team’s tight end and long snapper for all four years. Though he spent his first year as a blocking tight end, he emerged as the Crimson’s primary long snapper during his sophomore season and continued to grow in both roles. As a junior, he recorded his first career catch as a tight end against Columbia.
In his senior year, Ott became one of two starting tight ends in Harvard’s two-tight-end offense. That season, he finished with 15 receptions, 188 yards, and four touchdowns. On October 28, 2013, he was named National Tight End of the Week by College Performance Awards after catching three touchdowns in a triple-overtime loss to Princeton. His three-touchdown performance tied the Harvard record for single-game touchdown receptions. He also played alongside future San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk during his time in Cambridge.
Ott graduated from Harvard in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a minor in Environmental Science and Public Policy. He lived in Dunster House during his undergraduate years and was an honorary member of the golf team. Following his senior season, he was invited to play in the Senior Bowl, a showcase that gave him visibility in front of NFL scouts despite his projection as a specialist rather than a skill position player.
Tyler Ott Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
The New England Patriots signed Tyler Ott as an undrafted free agent on May 16, 2014, beginning his professional career. He was released by the Patriots on August 17, 2014, during the first wave of training-camp cuts. The Patriots re-signed him on March 4, 2015, but he was released again on May 5, 2015, as the team reshaped its roster heading into the offseason program.
On May 12, 2015, Ott signed with the St. Louis Rams after a minicamp tryout, but was released on September 1, 2015, ahead of the regular season. He then joined the New York Giants, who signed him to the active roster on December 31, 2015, after long snappers Zak DeOssie and Danny Aiken suffered season-ending injuries. With that move, he became the first Harvard Crimson football player to play for the Giants. He was waived by the Giants on August 30, 2016, re-signed to the practice squad on October 19, 2016, and released on October 25, 2016. He also spent time on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad in late 2016 before being promoted to the active roster on November 26, 2016, and released on December 20, 2016.
Seattle Seahawks Breakthrough (2017–2022)
On January 3, 2017, Ott signed with the Seattle Seahawks to take the place of the injured Nolan Frese, and that stop would become the defining chapter of his career. He held down the long snapper role for Seattle through the 2017 and 2018 seasons, earning a reputation for reliable snaps on field goals, extra points, and punts. His consistency in a specialist role is typically measured less by flashy statistics and more by clean, accurate delivery, and Ott built a strong reputation within the Seahawks organization.
On August 1, 2019, Ott signed a new four-year contract with the Seahawks, securing his place as the team’s long snapper. The biggest individual recognition of his career came on December 21, 2020, when he was named as the long snapper for the NFC in the 2021 Pro Bowl. That selection placed him among the elite at his position and marked a career milestone.
His Seahawks tenure, however, ended on September 14, 2022, when he was placed on injured reserve. The injury cut short what had been a long, productive run in Seattle, and he would not return to the Seahawks roster.
Washington Commanders Era (2024–Present)
After spending the 2023 season with the Baltimore Ravens, where he signed on July 25, 2023, to replace Nick Moore, who had torn his Achilles tendon during the offseason, Tyler Ott moved to a new organization. On March 14, 2024, he signed a three-year contract with the Washington Commanders, a deal that runs through the 2027 season.
In Washington, Ott serves as the team’s primary long snapper, anchoring the specialist units on field goals and punts. His veteran presence gives the Commanders continuity at a position that is often overlooked but critical to a successful kicking game.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a long snapper, Ott’s value lies in his accuracy, timing, and durability. He has demonstrated the ability to deliver consistent snaps across various weather and field conditions throughout his career, traits that have helped him stick with multiple organizations. His background as a college tight end gives him functional athleticism beyond the specialist role, and his size at 6 feet 3 inches allows him to handle the physical demands of NFL special-teams play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Tyler Ott’s most notable career moments is his selection to the 2021 Pro Bowl as the NFC’s long snapper, a recognition earned during the 2020 season. Becoming the first Harvard Crimson football player to play for the New York Giants is another career milestone, as is winning a state championship with Jenks High School in 2007.
Tyler Ott Career Highlights
Over the course of his professional career, Tyler Ott has built a reputation as a reliable specialist across multiple NFL franchises. While long snappers rarely accumulate traditional counting statistics, his longevity and recognition speak to a steady body of work that has included stops with seven NFL teams.
NFL Highlights
Ott’s most celebrated season came in 2020 with the Seattle Seahawks, when he was named to the Pro Bowl as the NFC’s long snapper. He signed a four-year extension with the Seahawks in 2019, a sign of the organization’s confidence in his consistency, and he handled long-snapping duties for Seattle for several seasons before an injured-reserve stint in 2022. He then joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and the Washington Commanders in 2024 on a three-year contract.
Other Performances
Earlier in his career, Ott showed his receiving ability at Harvard, where he tied a school record with three touchdown catches in a single game against Princeton in 2013 and finished his senior season with 15 receptions, 188 yards, and four touchdowns. That same year, he was invited to the Senior Bowl, a notable honor for a player projected primarily as a specialist.
Tyler Ott Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tyler Ott was raised in the Jenks Public School system in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area by his parents, Dan Ott and Laurie Ott, now Laurie Applekamp. The family supported his multi-sport development through high school, where he lettered in football, basketball, and track and field.
Personal Life
Ott is widely recognized for his achievements on the football field and for representing Harvard in the NFL. Public details about his personal life beyond his family background and his academic path at Harvard remain limited.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Tyler Ott enters the second year of a three-year contract he signed with the Washington Commanders in March 2024. The contract, which runs through 2027, signals the organization’s continued confidence in his reliability as a long snapper and a veteran presence in the locker room.
As Washington’s primary long snapper, Ott is expected to anchor the field-goal, extra-point, and punt units throughout the 2025 campaign. His experience with multiple teams, including playoff-caliber rosters in Seattle and Baltimore, provides a stabilizing presence for the Commanders’ special-teams operation.
With the 2025 season underway, Ott’s role centers on consistency and clean execution. His long track record in the league, including a Pro Bowl nod in 2020, sets a clear standard for what the Commanders can expect from the 33-year-old specialist in the middle of his current deal.