Tyler Owens Bio
Tyler Owens is an American professional football safety and special teamer for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League. Born on May 12, 2001, in Plano, Texas, he played college football at the University of Texas and Texas Tech University before signing with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He wears jersey number 18 and has quickly established himself as a depth defender and core special teams contributor.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Owens was born on May 12, 2001, in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas known for producing competitive high school football talent. He grew up in the region and attended Plano East Senior High School, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete. In addition to playing defensive back, Owens competed on the school’s track and field program, which helped him build the speed and explosiveness that later became hallmarks of his playing style.
As a senior at Plano East, Owens recorded 67 tackles, eight pass breakups, and two interceptions, earning a selection to the All-American Bowl. Recruiting analysts rated him as a four- or five-star safety prospect, and his combination of size, range, and ball skills drew interest from several major college programs. He ultimately committed to play college football for the Texas Longhorns, setting the stage for a multi-year development path through two Power Five programs.
Path to American Football
Owens entered the University of Texas in 2019 as one of the more highly regarded defensive back recruits in the program. As a true freshman he appeared in 13 games and made one start, finishing with eight tackles and a steady introduction to the speed of the college game. He followed that with two tackles in nine games during the 2020 season and two more tackles in five games in 2021, gradually building experience within a stacked Longhorns secondary.
Following the 2021 season, Owens entered the NCAA transfer portal and continued his career at Texas Tech University, where he had the opportunity to take on a larger role. That move became the turning point that pushed him from rotational contributor to NFL prospect, as his production, measurables, and testing numbers placed him on league radars by the end of his Red Raiders tenure.
Tyler Owens Career
Early Career at Texas (2019–2021)
Owens joined the Texas Longhorns in 2019 and spent three seasons developing under the program’s defensive staff. He appeared in 27 games across his three years in Austin, starting once and serving primarily as a reserve safety and special teams player. His statistical totals at Texas were modest, with 12 tackles across those three seasons, but the experience allowed him to learn the demands of Big 12 play and refine his tackling technique.
While Owens was not a full-time starter at Texas, his size, length, and physicality stood out on special teams and in spot defensive duty. After the 2021 season, he decided that a fresh start would better position him to reach his potential, leading to his entry into the transfer portal and a commitment to Texas Tech.
Texas Tech Era (2022–2023)
Owens transferred to the Texas Tech Red Raiders and immediately saw a larger role. In his first season in Lubbock, he appeared in 12 games, started two, and recorded 19 tackles, two forced fumbles, and an interception, signaling the kind of disruptive playmaker he could become. His ability to attack the line of scrimmage on run support and challenge receivers in coverage began to attract attention from NFL scouts.
Owens returned to Texas Tech in 2023 and produced his best collegiate season, posting a career-high 37 tackles along with two pass breakups. His strong senior campaign earned him an invitation to the East–West Shrine Bowl, one of the premier pre-draft all-star games for NFL prospects. At the NFL Combine, he posted the best vertical jump among safeties and recorded a 12-foot, 2-inch broad jump, falling just one inch short of the world record, a performance that cemented his reputation as one of the most explosive athletes in his draft class.
Washington Commanders Era (2024–Present)
Owens signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024, joining a defensive backfield that valued his combination of size and speed. Despite going undrafted, his testing numbers and special teams experience made him a logical developmental signing, and he earned a roster spot. Wearing number 18, he serves as a safety and core special teamer for the Commanders.
In his rookie season, Owens appeared in games as part of the defensive rotation and special teams units, finishing with 24 tackles and one forced fumble. On January 4, 2025, he was placed on injured reserve, a setback that cut short his first year in the league. He remains an active member of the Commanders organization as he continues his professional development.
Driving Style and Strengths
Owens is best known for his elite athletic testing, including top-tier explosiveness among NFL safeties. His track background shows up in his long speed and closing burst, and his size allows him to match up with bigger tight ends and contribute in run support. As a special teamer, he brings the same physicality and finishing mentality that defined his college résumé.
Notable Events and Milestones
Owens’ standout moment during the pre-draft process came at the 2024 NFL Combine, where he led all safeties in vertical jump and posted a broad jump that narrowly missed the world record. He was also selected to the All-American Bowl out of high school, and his 2023 season at Texas Tech established him as one of the Big 12’s most improved defensive backs. His comments at the Combine regarding outer space and flat-earth theories also generated widespread media attention.
Tyler Owens Career Wins
As a young professional, Tyler Owens has not yet accumulated the headline victory totals of a veteran starter. His statistical résumé to this point is built around defensive and special teams production rather than win totals, and his individual achievements have come through testing numbers, all-star game invitations, and reliable tackling totals rather than championship hardware. The next phase of his career will be defined by how he builds on his rookie production.
Washington Commanders Highlights
During his 2024 rookie season, Owens appeared for the Washington Commanders and contributed 24 tackles and one forced fumble while playing safety and on special teams. His role in the kicking game and as a depth defender gave him a pathway to remain on the active roster before his late-season injured reserve placement. He has not yet notched a signature win on the stat sheet, but his combination of tackles and forced fumbles reflects a physical, downhill style that fits the Commanders’ defensive identity.
Other Wins and Performances
Owens earned recognition as an All-American Bowl selection in high school and an East–West Shrine Bowl invitee after his senior season at Texas Tech, both markers of the respect he earned from coaches and evaluators. His 19-tackle, two-forced-fumble, one-interception season at Texas Tech in 2022 and his 37-tackle campaign in 2023 represent his most productive performances to date.
Tyler Owens Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Owens grew up in Plano, Texas, where he developed his athletic foundation in a region with a strong football culture. Public information about his parents or extended family has not been widely reported.
Personal Life
Owens has kept much of his personal life private as he focuses on his professional career. He received significant media attention at the 2024 NFL Combine for sharing that he does not believe in outer space and that he finds the flat-earth theory to present valid points, citing his faith as the basis for his views. He attributes his beliefs to the Bible, and those comments became a notable off-field storyline of his pre-draft process.
2025 Season Performance
Tyler Owens enters the 2025 season as a member of the Washington Commanders working to bounce back from a rookie year that ended on injured reserve. The Commanders’ defensive staff will be looking for him to translate his testing numbers into more consistent on-field production, particularly in the passing game and on special teams. His ability to stay healthy and earn a regular role on multiple units will be central to his development.
With the team investing in him as a safety and core special teamer, Owens has a clear pathway to expanded snaps if he can build on his 2024 tackle and forced fumble totals. The depth chart in the Washington secondary is competitive, but his size and explosiveness give him a distinct profile among the group. A strong camp and preseason would go a long way toward securing a stable role once the regular season begins.
For Owens, the 2025 campaign is essentially a second rookie year, an opportunity to prove he belongs in a league that did not draft him. If he can stay available, contribute on coverage and return units, and deliver the kind of splash plays that defined his Texas Tech season, he has a realistic path to becoming a longer-term piece of the Commanders’ defensive plans.