Blake Whiteheart Bio
Blake Whiteheart, born on March 22, 2000, is an American professional football tight end who plays for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 250 pounds, he wears jersey number 86 for the Browns. After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, he began his professional career as an undrafted free agent and has since carved out a role through perseverance on practice squads and active rosters.
A native of North Carolina, Whiteheart developed his game at a local high school before continuing his football journey at Wake Forest University. He is currently in the early stages of his professional career, working to establish himself as a reliable contributor in the tight end room for Cleveland.
Early Life and Background
Blake Whiteheart was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he grew up surrounded by a strong local football culture. He attended Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, where he developed into a pass-catching tight end prospect. During his senior season at Mount Tabor, he recorded 24 receptions for 389 yards and four touchdowns, drawing attention from several college programs.
Coming out of high school, Whiteheart received scholarship offers from Appalachian State, Southern Miss, and Old Dominion. After weighing his options, he committed to Wake Forest to play college football, choosing to stay relatively close to home in North Carolina and compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Path to American Football
Whiteheart’s path to professional football began in earnest at Wake Forest, where he joined the Demon Deacons program. He redshirted his true freshman season, using the year to adjust to the speed and physical demands of college football while developing his frame and route-running skills. That patience helped set the foundation for his later production as a receiver out of the tight end position.
As a senior at Wake Forest, he posted 24 receptions for 295 yards and three touchdowns, showing enough consistency and size to attract NFL scouts despite not being viewed as a top prospect. His combination of size, dependable hands, and special teams potential made him an attractive undrafted free agent target once the 2023 NFL draft concluded.
Blake Whiteheart Career
Early Career (2023)
Blake Whiteheart entered the NFL when he signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2023. The Cardinals gave him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot as a developmental tight end and special teams contributor. Less than four months later, on August 29, 2023, the club announced that he had made the initial 53-man roster, validating his progress through training camp and the preseason.
His stay on the active roster proved brief, as he was waived a day later on August 30, 2023, before being re-signed to the practice squad. After continued strong showings in practice, the Cardinals promoted Whiteheart back to the active roster on October 24, 2023, giving him his first sustained exposure to regular-season NFL action.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2023–2024)
During his first NFL season with the Arizona Cardinals, Whiteheart served primarily in a depth role at tight end while contributing on special teams. He spent time moving between the practice squad and active roster, a common path for undrafted rookies adjusting to the professional level. The experience allowed him to refine his technique and learn the speed of the NFL game against top-level competition.
Whiteheart’s tenure in Arizona came to an end on August 27, 2024, when the Cardinals waived him as part of their final roster decisions. Although his time with the Cardinals was short, it provided him with valuable experience inside an NFL organization and positioned him for his next opportunity.
Cleveland Browns Era (2024–Present)
Just two days after being released by the Cardinals, Blake Whiteheart was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad on August 29, 2024. He was promoted to the Browns’ active roster on September 21, 2024, before being waived on October 8 and quickly returning to the practice squad the following day. His perseverance paid off again when he was promoted back to the active roster on November 30, 2024.
Building on that momentum, Whiteheart signed a tendered contract with the Browns on April 8, 2025, securing his place with the organization. He later re-signed with Cleveland on March 23, 2026, further cementing his future with the team and signaling the organization’s belief in his continued development.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 4 inches and approximately 250 pounds, Blake Whiteheart brings the kind of frame that NFL teams look for in a traditional in-line tight end. He has shown reliability as a pass catcher in short-to-intermediate areas and has the toughness required for the blocking duties that come with the position. His willingness to contribute on special teams has been a key factor in his ability to move between practice squads and active rosters early in his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Blake Whiteheart’s early career milestones are making an initial 53-man roster with the Cardinals in 2023, recording his first NFL receptions, and ultimately landing on the Cleveland Browns’ active roster. His repeated transitions between practice squad and active roster reflect the resilience required to survive in the NFL as an undrafted player.
Blake Whiteheart Career Statistics
Through his NFL career as of the 2025 season, Blake Whiteheart has recorded 8 receptions for 55 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown. These numbers reflect a player who has served primarily as a rotational tight end and special teams contributor while continuing to develop his role within the Browns’ offense.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
In the regular season, Whiteheart’s 8 receptions, 55 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown mark his first verified production at the NFL level. As he continues to earn snaps with the Browns, he will look to expand on these totals and become a more consistent target in the passing game.
Other Performances
Beyond his NFL regular-season statistics, Whiteheart posted 24 receptions for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns during his senior season at Wake Forest. He also recorded 24 receptions for 389 yards and 4 touchdowns in his senior year at Mount Tabor High School, highlighting a steady pattern of production as a pass-catching tight end throughout his football career.
| Level | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Regular Season | 8 | 55 | 1 |
| Wake Forest (Senior Season) | 24 | 295 | 3 |
| Mount Tabor HS (Senior Season) | 24 | 389 | 4 |
Blake Whiteheart Family
Family Background and Football Roots
Blake Whiteheart grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where his family supported his development into a multi-sport athlete and football player. His hometown and high school connections have been a consistent thread throughout his football journey, and choosing nearby Wake Forest allowed him to remain close to his North Carolina roots.
Personal Life
Blake Whiteheart currently resides in the United States as he pursues his professional football career with the Cleveland Browns. Public details about his spouse, children, and immediate family members are not widely documented, and he has largely kept his personal life out of the public spotlight while focusing on his development in the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a significant step for Blake Whiteheart with the Cleveland Browns after he signed a tendered contract in April 2025. Coming off a 2024 campaign in which he repeatedly moved between the practice squad and active roster, he entered the year looking to establish more stable footing in Cleveland’s tight end rotation. His presence on the active roster allowed him to contribute as a blocker and short-area pass catcher while also handling special teams duties.
Through the 2025 regular season, Whiteheart posted 8 receptions for 55 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown, statistics that reflected his growing but still developing role in the Browns’ offense. Each snap and each reception represented meaningful progress for a player who entered the league as an undrafted free agent just two years earlier.
Following the 2025 campaign, Whiteheart re-signed with the Browns on March 23, 2026, signaling that the organization views him as part of their ongoing plans at the tight end position. With continuity on his side, he is positioned to compete for an expanded role in the Browns’ offense and continue building on the foundation he has established.