Tucker Kraft
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Tucker Kraft
| image = Tucker Kraft at Fisher House (54441676575) (1).jpg
| caption = Kraft in 2025
| current_team = Green Bay Packers
| number = 85
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|11|3}}
| birth_place = Timber Lake, South Dakota, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 259
| high_school = Timber Lake
| college = South Dakota State (2019–2022)
| draftyear = 2023
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 78
| pastteams =
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- FCS national champion (2022)
- FCS All-American (2021, 2022)
- 2× First-team All-MVFC (2021, 2022)
| statweek =
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 81
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 1,062
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 9
| pfr = K/KrafTu00
}}
Tucker Kraft (born November 3, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits and was selected by the Packers in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Early life
Kraft was born on November 3, 2000, in Timber Lake, South Dakota.{{cite web |author1=The NFL Draft Bible |title=NFL Draft Profile: Tucker Kraft, Tight End, South Dakota State Jackrabbits |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/tuckerkraft |website=Sports Illustrated |access-date=February 24, 2023}} His father, Doug Kraft, passed away in 2013. He has two brothers named Cody and Tanner Kraft.{{Cite web |last=Ranjan |first=Rashmi |date=July 4, 2023 |title=Tucker Kraft Net worth, Girlfriend, Age, Family & More [2023] |url=https://celebs.infoseemedia.com/tucker-kraft/ |access-date=December 4, 2023 |website=Celebrities InfoSeeMedia |language=en-US}}
Kraft grew up along the northern border of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation and in April 2024, he was named an honorary tribal member for his acts of service to the community. Kraft wears a Cheyenne River Sioux tribal flag on his football helmet alongside the American flag. {{Cite web |last=Lind |first=Andrew |date=2024-09-30 |title=‘He’s one of us’: South Dakotan, NFL’s Tucker Kraft honors local tribe |url=https://www.kotatv.com/2024/09/30/hes-one-us-south-dakotan-nfls-tucker-kraft-honors-local-tribe/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=www.kotatv.com |language=en}}
He later attended Timber Lake High School, where he played running back, middle linebacker, and punter on the football team.{{cite web|url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/sports/college/south-dakota-state-university/2021/11/04/jackrabbits-leading-receiver-tucker-kraft-latest-south-dakota-state-tight-end-star-ncaa-mvc/6260250001/|title=Receiver Tucker Kraft is latest South Dakota State tight end star|work=Argus Leader|date=November 4, 2021|access-date=July 26, 2022}} As a senior, Kraft rushed for 1,405 yards and 24 touchdowns and was named first team All-State.{{cite web|url=https://www.thepublicopinion.com/story/sports/2018/11/20/five-area-players-named-to-class-9a-all-state-football-team/116590702/|title=Five area players named to Class 9A All-State football team|first=Ryan|last=Deal|work=Watertown Public Opinion|date=November 20, 2018|access-date=July 26, 2022}} He committed to play college football at South Dakota State over a late offer from Wyoming.{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2018 |title=Jackrabbits unveil 2019 football recruiting class |url=https://www.brookingsregister.com/article/jackrabbits-unveil-2019-football-recruiting-class |access-date=July 26, 2022 |website=The Brookings Register}}
College career
Kraft redshirted his true freshman season.{{cite web|url=https://www.keloland.com/sports/tucker-kraft-and-zach-heins-two-south-dakota-natives-playing-big-roles-in-south-dakota-states-offense/|title=Tucker Kraft and Zach Heins, two South Dakota natives playing big roles in South Dakota State's offense|first=Tanner|last=Castora|website=KELOland|date=November 1, 2021|access-date=July 26, 2022}} He caught seven passes for 90 yards during the spring 2021 season, which was delayed from the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |last=Holtan |first=Andrew |date=August 6, 2021 |title=South Dakota State opens fall camp |url=https://www.brookingsregister.com/article/south-dakota-state-opens-fall-camp |access-date=July 26, 2022 |website=The Brookings Register}} As a redshirt sophomore, Kraft started all 15 of South Dakota State's games and had 65 receptions for 780 yards and six touchdowns.{{cite web|url=https://espnsiouxfalls.com/two-sdsu-jackrabbits-land-in-top-5-of-returning-fcs-tight-ends/|title=Two SDSU Jackrabbits Land in Top 5 of Returning FCS Tight Ends|first=Bert|last=Remien|website=ESPNSiouxFalls.com|date=June 30, 2022|access-date=July 26, 2022}} He was named consensus FCS All-American and All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC).{{cite web|url=https://www.timberlakesouthdakota.com/news/tucker-kraft-earns-all-mvfc-honors|title=Tucker Kraft earns All-MVFC honors|first=Jon|last=Flatland|work=Timber Lake Topic|date=December 1, 2021|access-date=July 26, 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Ralph D. |date=December 14, 2021 |title=SDSU's Strong, Kraft named All-Americans |url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/sdsus-strong-kraft-named-all-americans/article_8e410c7d-6eed-59bc-a4ba-6e4b36c3bb48.html |access-date=July 26, 2022 |website=Rapid City Journal}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 3/4
| weight = 254
| dash = 4.63
| ten split = 1.64
| twenty split = 2.60
| shuttle = 4.29
| cone drill = 7.08
| vertical = 36.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 2
| bench = 23
| arm span = 32 3/4
| hand span = 10
| note = Sources:{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/tucker-kraft/32004b52-4114-4054-e146-c099ad4f2842 |title=Tucker Kraft Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |publisher=National Football League |access-date=April 14, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1056174&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Tucker Kraft College Football Profile |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
Kraft was selected in the third round, 78th overall, by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL draft.{{Cite web |url=https://www.packers.com/news/packers-south-dakota-st-te-tucker-kraft-2023-nfl-draft|title=2023 NFL Draft: Packers select South Dakota State TE Tucker Kraft in third round, No. 78 overall|website=packers.com |access-date=April 28, 2023|date=April 28, 2023}} He signed his rookie contract on May 17.{{cite web|title=Packers sign TE Tucker Kraft, P Daniel Whelan|url=https://www.packers.com/news/packers-sign-te-tucker-kraft-p-daniel-whelan|website=packers.com |access-date=May 17, 2023|date=May 17, 2023}} In Week 11, against the Lions, he scored his first NFL touchdown.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-24 |title=Packers' Tucker Kraft: Tallies first career touchdown |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/packers-tucker-kraft-tallies-first-career-touchdown/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} In Week 14 against the New York Giants, Kraft had a career-high game in yardage with 64 yards in four receptions.{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2023 |title=Packers' Tucker Kraft: Career-high yardage total in loss |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/packers-tucker-kraft-career-high-yardage-total-in-loss/ |access-date=December 12, 2023 |website=CBS Sports}} As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 games and made eight starts. He finished with 31 receptions for 355 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Tucker Kraft 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KrafTu00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} In the Divisional Round loss to the 49ers, Kraft scored his first playoff touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers - January 20th, 2024 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202401200sfo.htm |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
In May 2024, Kraft suffered a torn pectoral muscle, causing him to miss part of Green Bay's offseason training program.{{Cite web |last=Kruse |first=Zach |date=May 21, 2024 |title=Packers TE Tucker Kraft, OL Zach Tom out until training camp with pectoral injuries |url=https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2024/05/21/packers-te-tucker-kraft-ol-zach-tom-out-until-training-camp-with-pectoral-injuries/ |access-date=June 1, 2024 |website=Packers Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en}}
NFL career statistics
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||
| Year | Team | GP | GS | REC | YDS | AVG | Lng | TD | FUM | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 || GB
| 17 || 8 || 31 || 355 || 11.5 || 43 || 2 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2024
!GB | 17 || 17 || 50 || 707 || 14.1 || 67 || 7 || 1 || 1 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2" | Total || 34 || 25 || 81 || 1,062 || 13.1 || 67 || 9 || 1 || 1 | ||||||||||
| colspan="11"|Source: [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KrafTu00.htm pro-football-reference.com] |
=Postseason=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||
| Year | Team | GP | GS | REC | YDS | AVG | Lng | TD | FUM | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 || GB
| 2 || 2 || 5 || 24 || 4.8 || 10 || 1 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2" | Total || 2 || 2 || 5 || 24 || 4.8 || 10 || 1 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| colspan="11"|Source: [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KrafTu00/gamelog/post/ pro-football-reference.com] |
Personal life
Kraft is a Christian.{{Cite web |last=Gaydos |first=Ryan |date=January 23, 2024 |title=Packers' Tucker Kraft hopes to bring fans 'closer to our Lord and Savior' as he backs CJ Stroud |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/packers-tucker-kraft-hopes-to-bring-fans-closer-our-lord-and-savior-backs-cj-stroud.amp |access-date=January 29, 2024 |website=Fox News}} He married Baylee Jandahl, a graphic designer, on May 18, 2024.{{cite web | last=Clack | first=Erin | title=Green Bay Packers Tight End Tucker Kraft Marries Baylee Jandahl in Outdoor Wedding in South Dakota | website=People.com | date=2024-05-21 | url=https://people.com/nfl-player-tucker-kraft-marries-baylee-jandahl-south-dakota-8651674 | access-date=2025-01-02}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|yahoo=40102|espn=4572680|nfl=tucker-kraft}}
- [https://www.packers.com/team/players-roster/tucker-kraft/ Green Bay Packers bio]
- [https://gojacks.com/sports/football/roster/tucker-kraft/11605 South Dakota State Jackrabbits bio]
{{Green Bay Packers roster navbox}}
{{Green Bay Packers 2023 NFL draft picks}}
{{2022 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kraft, Tucker}}
Category:People from Dewey County, South Dakota
Category:American football tight ends
Category:South Dakota State Jackrabbits football players
Category:Players of American football from South Dakota