Tyler Conklin
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{about|the American football tight end|the ice hockey goaltender|Ty Conklin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Tyler Conklin
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Los Angeles Chargers
| number = 83
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|7|30}}
| birth_place = Chesterfield, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 248
| high_school = L'Anse Creuse North
(Macomb Township, Michigan)
| college = Northwood (2013)
Central Michigan (2014–2017)
| draftyear = 2018
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 157
| pastteams =
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2018|2021}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2022|2024}})
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Third-team All-MAC (2017)
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 263
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 2,544
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 11
| pfr = C/ConkTy00
}}
Tyler Conklin (born July 30, 1995) is an American professional football tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played one season of college basketball at Northwood before transferring to Central Michigan to play college football. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Early life
Conklin attended L'Anse Creuse High School - North in Macomb Township, Michigan, where he was a standout two-sport athlete, playing as a wide receiver in football and combo guard in basketball.{{Cite web|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/tyler-conklin/4iwRCfTuEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/default.htm|title = Tyler Conklin's High School Timeline}} As a junior, Conklin led his basketball team to the Class A Final Four, scoring 22 points in a 59–46 semifinal loss to eventual state champion Saginaw High.{{cite web | last=Liverance | first=Shawn | title=L'Anse Creuse North falls to Saginaw, 59-46, in Class A state semifinals (with video and gallery) | website=mlive | date=2012-03-23 | url=https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/article/lanse-creuse-north-falls-to-saginaw-59-46-in-class-a-state-semifinals-with-video-and-gallery/ | access-date=2025-01-02}}
College career
After graduating from high school, Conklin was awarded a full-ride basketball scholarship to Division II Northwood University. He stayed for one semester and played in seven games, averaging 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 points and 1.4 assists per game. However, after the conclusion of the fall 2013 semester, Conklin realized he was unhappy and wanted to pursue a career in football. He transferred to Central Michigan University, where he walked on to the football team in the spring of 2014.{{cite web | last=Mizutani | first=Dane | title=Tyler Conklin passes on hoop dreams, earns shot with Vikings | website=Twin Cities | date=2018-04-28 | url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/04/28/tyler-conklin-passes-on-hoop-dreams-earns-shot-with-vikings/ | access-date=2025-01-02}} The Central Michigan coaching staff initially wanted him to play defensive end, despite Conklin's strong desire to play tight end. He began the process of transferring again, this time to play tight end with his close friend and former high school quarterback at NAIA Siena Heights University. However, when the Central Michigan coaching staff learned of this, they convinced him to stay, agreeing to let him play tight end and assuring him that he'd have the opportunity to earn a scholarship in the spring of 2015.{{cite web | last=Rosenblatt | first=Zack | title=How Tyler Conklin went from miserable college hoopster to an indispensable leader on the Jets | website=The New York Times| date=2024-09-27 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5797240/2024/09/27/tyler-conklin-basketball-background-breakout-season-jets/ | access-date=2024-12-24}}
Coming in at only 195 pounds, Conklin redshirted for his first season with the Chippewas, playing on the scout team while adding weight. After gaining 25 pounds during the offseason, he earned a scholarship and a role as a backup tight end for the 2015 season, playing in all 13 games and catching six passes for 95 yards. He became a starter as a redshirt sophomore in 2016, playing in 13 games with 11 starts, recording 42 receptions for 560 yards and six touchdowns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/tyler-conklin/3200434f-4e18-5250-1988-fe7b6c249df3|title=Tyler Conklin Draft and Combine Prospect Profile|website=NFL.com}}
During the first one-on-one drill of CMU's training camp in August 2017, Conklin broke a bone in his left foot and was diagnosed with a Jones Fracture. After his rehab went better than anticipated,{{Cite web|url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/central-michigan-te-tyler-conklin-ready-to-go/|title=Central Michigan TE Tyler Conklin Ready To Go|website=Senior Bowl}} Conklin was cleared to return to the field on October 7, 2017, for CMU's game against Ohio in which he set career-highs with 10 catches for 136 yards and two scores in a 26–23 victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.cm-life.com/article/2018/04/football-central-michigan-trevor-tyler-conklin-i-love-my-brother-nfl-draft-chippewas-4-24-18|title=Junior Trevor Conklin on NFL Draft prospect Tyler Conklin: 'I love my brother'|website=www.thescore.com}} After missing five games due to his foot injury, Conklin finished his redshirt junior season with 35 receptions for 504 yards and five touchdowns in 8 games played. He was named Third-team All-MAC for his efforts in the 2017 season.{{Cite web|url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/11/28/mac-announces-2017-postseason-football-awards.aspx|title=MAC Announces 2017 Postseason Football Awards|website=getsomemaction.com}}
Conklin finished his career at Central Michigan with 83 catches for 1,159 yards and 11 touchdowns.{{cite web | last=Greenberg | first=Ethan | title=Jets Sign TE Tyler Conklin | website=New York Jets | date=2022-03-18 | url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-te-tyler-conklin | access-date=2025-01-02}} Soon after graduating with a major in communications, Conklin received an invitation to the 2018 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, where he caught two passes including a 16-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown pass from Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, whom the Buffalo Bills drafted at No. 7 overall.{{cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/1474943-for-what-it-s-worth-josh-allen-stole-the-show-at-the-senior-bowl|title=Josh Allen stole the show at the Senior Bowl|website=www.cm-life.com}}
Professional career
Conklin performed well at the 2018 NFL Combine and ranked second among all tight ends in the vertical, fourth in the broad jump, fifth in the three-cone drill, and ninth in the 40-yard dash.{{cite web|url=http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/5-Things-to-Know-About-New-Vikings-TE-Tyler-Conklin/b26b22d3-5e8c-4c60-aae4-d06afa85c708|title=5 things to know about new Vikings TE Tyler Conklin|website=www.vikings.com}}
{{external media
| video1 = [http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/videos/Vikings-Select-Central-Michigan-TE-Tyler-Conklin-In-Round-5/46d9e939-c730-409e-befa-529952911a05 Conklin gets drafted by Minnesota]
}}
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3
| weight = 254
| dash = 4.80
| ten split = 1.60
| twenty split = 2.78
| shuttle = 4.23
| cone drill = 7.13
| vertical = 38
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 0
| bench = 18
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 33
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Tyler Conklin Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/tyler-conklin/3200434f-4e18-5250-1988-fe7b6c249df3 |access-date=December 29, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2018 NFL Draft Scout Tyler Conklin College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1006539&DraftYear=2018 |access-date=December 29, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Minnesota Vikings=
Conklin was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft.{{cite web|title=Vikings Select Central Michigan TE Tyler Conklin in Round 5|url=http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-Select-Central-Michigan-TE-Tyler-Conklin-in-Round-5/196d4521-9134-4179-b1c3-67ccac59e4b7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429035327/http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-Trade-Up-to-Select-Tyler-Conklin-in-5th-Round/196d4521-9134-4179-b1c3-67ccac59e4b7|website=Vikings.com|date=April 28, 2018|archive-date=April 29, 2018|url-status=dead}} On May 5, 2018, Conklin signed a four-year contract worth $2.741 million, including a signing bonus of $281,032.{{cite web|title=Vikings sign draft picks Jalyn Holmes, Tyler Conklin|url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/05/05/vikings-sign-fourth-round-pick-jalyn-holmes-fifth-round-selection-tyler-conklin/|website=TwinCities.com|date=May 5, 2018}} In the Vikings' season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, he had one reception for six yards in his NFL debut.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201809090min.htm |title=San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings - September 9th, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |access-date=October 2, 2018}}
In Week 15 of the 2020 season against the Chicago Bears, Conklin recorded 3 catches for 57 yards and his first career receiving touchdown during the 33–27 loss.{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings - December 20th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202012200min.htm |access-date=2020-12-20 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=New York Jets=
On March 18, 2022, Conklin signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the New York Jets.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign TE Tyler Conklin|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-te-tyler-conklin|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=March 18, 2022}}
=Los Angeles Chargers=
On March 21, 2025, Conklin signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web|date=March 21, 2025|title=Los Angeles Chargers Agree to Terms with Tyler Conklin|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/agree-to-terms-with-tyler-conklin-2025|website=Chargers.com}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | |||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 || MIN
|16 || 3 || 5 || 77 || 15.4 || 33 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || — || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2019 || MIN
|15 || 1 || 8 || 58 || 7.3 || 20 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || — || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2020 || MIN
|16 || 2 || 19 || 194 || 10.2 || 30 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || — || 0 || 1 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2021 || MIN
|17 || 15 || 61 || 593 || 9.7 || 40 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || — || 0 || 1 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2022 || NYJ
|17 || 16 || 58 || 552 || 9.5 || 30 || 3 || 2 || 3 || 1.5 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 2 | |||||||||||||
| 2023 || NYJ
|17 || 12 || 61 || 621 || 10.2 || 37 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2024 || NYJ
|16 || 15 || 51 || 449 || 5.8 || 27 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ConkTy00.htm Career]
!114 | 64 | 263 | 2544 | 9.7 | 40 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 0.8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
=Postseason=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | |||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | MIN
|2 || 0 || 1 || 5 || 5.0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ConkTy00.htm Career]
!2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.chargers.com/team/players-roster/tyler-conklin/ Los Angeles Chargers bio]
- [https://cmuchippewas.com/sports/football/roster/tyler-conklin/580 Central Michigan Chippewas bio]
- [https://www.gonorthwood.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/players/tylerconklinhv5n Northwood Timberwolves bio]
{{Vikings2018DraftPicks}}
{{Los Angeles Chargers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conklin, Tyler}}
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Central Michigan Chippewas football players
Category:Minnesota Vikings players
Category:Sportspeople from Chesterfield, Missouri
Category:Players of American football from St. Louis County, Missouri