Wesley French Bio
Wesley M. French (born November 30, 1996) is an American professional football center for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 305 to 310 pounds, French plays the demanding interior offensive line position after a long college career at Western Michigan University.
A late entry into the NFL, French signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and waited more than a year before making his first professional start on September 24, 2023, against the Baltimore Ravens. After time with the Dallas Cowboys, he joined the Cleveland Browns practice squad in December 2025, continuing his professional journey as a versatile lineman who has played both offense and defense at the highest level of college football.
Early Life and Background
Wesley M. French was born November 30, 1996, in St. Joseph, Michigan, located in the western part of the state. He grew up active in athletics from an early age, participating in wrestling and football, two sports that helped him build the physical foundation needed for a future in the trenches.
French attended St. Joseph High School, where he played offensive tackle for the Bears. By the end of his high school career, he had added several inches of height and roughly 25 pounds of muscle, eventually listing at 6 feet 5 inches tall and 300 pounds, which drew scholarship interest from programs including the University of Illinois, Iowa State University, San Diego State University, and at least eight schools from the Mid-American Conference.
In December 2014, French decided to accept the scholarship offer of Western Michigan University, located in Kalamazoo, where he enrolled as a freshman in the fall of 2015. His commitment to the Broncos launched a seven-year collegiate journey that would shape his development on both sides of the football.
Path to American Football
French’s path to the NFL was anything but typical, beginning with seven seasons at Western Michigan. He did not see game action as a freshman in 2015, preserving a year of eligibility, before cracking the lineup in 2016. That season, he appeared in four games for a Western Michigan team regarded as among the best in school history, which finished the regular season undefeated at 12-0 before falling to the University of Wisconsin in the January 2017 Cotton Bowl Classic.
In 2017, French returned to a reserve role, playing just 35 snaps over three games, including a contest against the number four ranked University of Southern California. The 2018 season brought a major position change, as French moved to defensive tackle, starting four games and appearing in all 13 while logging 347 snaps and recording 22 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss.
His junior season in 2019 ended before it began due to a foot injury suffered during camp, but French used the year productively, graduating from Western Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary health services. He later earned his master’s degree in business administration while continuing his playing career, demonstrating a balance of academics and athletics that would later earn him Academic All-MAC honors.
Wesley French Career
Early Career (2022)
On April 30, 2022, Wesley French signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL draft. He agreed to a three-year, $2.57 million contract that included a guaranteed signing bonus of $10,000, a modest deal that reflected his long college path rather than draft pedigree.
French did not see game action with the Colts during his 2022 rookie season, spending the year on the practice squad while adjusting to the speed and complexity of professional football. The patience of his first NFL chapter would set up a breakthrough the following fall.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2023-2025)
French was named to the Colts’ 53-man roster in 2023 and saw action during the first two games of the season. When starting center Ryan Kelly suffered an injury, French was thrust into the starting lineup on September 24, 2023, on the road against the Baltimore Ravens, making his first career NFL start against one of the AFC’s strongest defensive fronts.
The 2024 season brought another setback, as French was placed on injured reserve on August 7, 2024, after undergoing season-ending ankle surgery. On March 12, 2025, he re-signed with the Colts on a one-year contract, but was waived on August 26 as part of the final roster cuts, closing his time in Indianapolis after three seasons with the organization.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2025)
On September 17, 2025, French signed with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, joining another NFC contender as he looked to revive his professional trajectory. He was waived by Dallas on November 18, 2025, after a short stint with the team.
Cleveland Browns Era (2025-Present)
On December 17, 2025, French was signed to the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad, providing him another opportunity to compete for an interior offensive line role. His move to Cleveland came at a critical point in the NFL calendar, with teams evaluating roster options for the stretch run of the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
French is regarded as a versatile, assignment-sound lineman whose seven years of college experience allowed him to develop strength and technique on both sides of the ball. His most documented collegiate stretch came at center during the shortened 2020 season, when he started all six games and played 397 snaps without allowing a sack or a quarterback hit, while helping the Broncos rank 16th in FBS total offense and 10th in sacks allowed. His football intelligence, demonstrated by his completion of both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA, complements a physical style built on leverage and positional discipline.
Notable Events and Milestones
French’s signature NFL moment came on September 24, 2023, when he made his first career start at center for the Colts against the Baltimore Ravens, stepping in after an injury to Ryan Kelly. He is also noted for playing in the 2017 Cotton Bowl Classic as part of Western Michigan’s undefeated regular season squad, for being named to the Academic All-MAC team in 2021, and for winning the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl with the Broncos.
Wesley French Career Wins
Wesley French’s win totals at the NFL level remain limited, as his professional opportunities have come primarily through practice squad stints and a single starting role during the 2023 season. His most meaningful career milestones have come at the college level, where he helped Western Michigan to a 12-0 regular season in 2016 and a Quick Lane Bowl victory in 2021.
Western Michigan Highlights
French’s college highlights include his role on the 2016 Western Michigan team that finished the regular season undefeated before losing to Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl Classic. He later helped lead the Broncos to a victory over the University of Nevada in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl, capping his seventh collegiate season with a postseason win while earning Academic All-MAC honors.
Wesley French Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wesley French grew up in St. Joseph, Michigan, and has credited his family’s support and his early exposure to multiple sports for helping him develop into a professional athlete. Specific details about his parents and any broader athletic lineage in his family are not publicly documented in available sources.
Personal Life
French is known to have completed both a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary health services and a master’s of business administration at Western Michigan University, underscoring his commitment to academics alongside football. Public information about his marital status, spouse, and children is not available in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of transition for Wesley French. After re-signing with the Indianapolis Colts in March on a one-year deal, he was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, ending his three-year tenure with the team that originally signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
French quickly found a new home, signing with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad on September 17, 2025, before being waived on November 18. Less than a month later, on December 17, 2025, he was signed to the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad, keeping his NFL hopes alive late in the season.
While he has not yet secured a featured role in 2025, French’s ability to land with two different organizations in a single calendar year reflects a continued demand for his versatility and experience. His outlook hinges on whether he can impress during his time with the Browns and earn a roster spot for the 2026 offseason, building on the momentum of his 2023 starting debut and years of positional flexibility developed at Western Michigan.