Brayden Willis Bio
Brayden Willis is an American professional football tight end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 4 in and listed at 240 lb, Willis plays a physical, blocking-friendly style of tight end and has remained on the San Francisco roster since entering the league in 2023. After playing college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, he was selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft and has since worked to carve out a role within one of the NFL’s most consistent rosters.
Born on November 11, 1999, in Dallas, Texas, Willis grew up in the Arlington area and developed into a multi-year contributor at Oklahoma before turning pro. Although drafted late, his combination of size, special-teams toughness, and pass-catching upside has kept him in the 49ers organization across multiple seasons.
Early Life and Background
Brayden Willis was born on November 11, 1999, in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in nearby Arlington. He attended Martin High School in Arlington, where he played football and began attracting attention as a tight end prospect. Coming out of Martin, Willis was rated a three-star recruit, a ranking that reflected his potential rather than national headlines.
Despite the modest recruiting rating, Willis drew interest from college programs and committed to play for the Oklahoma Sooners. His decision to head to Oklahoma set the stage for a long college career built on steady improvement and a willingness to add value as both a blocker and a receiver.
Path to Professional Football
Willis played five seasons of college football at Oklahoma between 2018 and 2022, taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The extended stay allowed him to grow into a more complete tight end after a relatively quiet start to his college career.
As a senior, Willis caught 15 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, showing enough flashes to justify his return for a fifth year. In that final collegiate season in 2022, he emerged as a reliable target, finishing with 39 receptions for 514 yards and seven touchdowns. His strong finish earned him Second-team All-Big 12 honors and put him on the radar of NFL scouts.
Brayden Willis Career
Early Career (2023)
Willis entered the 2023 NFL draft after his fifth season at Oklahoma and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round with the 247th overall pick. As a late-round choice, he was expected to compete for a depth role and contribute on special teams while developing his receiving game.
He spent his rookie season working within the 49ers organization, learning the offensive system and adjusting to the speed of the professional game. Although his snap counts were limited, Willis used the year to build the foundation that would later help him survive several rounds of roster moves.
San Francisco 49ers Tenure (2023–Present)
Willis has spent his entire NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers, though his roster status has shifted multiple times between the active roster and the practice squad. On August 27, 2024, he was waived by the 49ers as part of roster trimming, but he was re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He was then promoted back to the active roster on October 8 of that year.
On April 22, 2025, Willis re-signed with the 49ers, continuing his long association with the organization. He was waived again on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, re-signed to the practice squad the next day, and promoted to the active roster on September 17. After another waiver on October 18 and a quick return to the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster once more on January 13, 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 ft 4 in and 240 lb, Willis fits the modern mold of a hybrid tight end who can line up attached to the offensive line or split out as a receiver. His size makes him an effective blocker in the run game and an asset in short-yardage situations, while his college production showed he can stretch the field as a pass catcher.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Willis’s most notable milestones are his Second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022, his 247th overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft, and the series of promotions back to the 49ers’ active roster that have defined his early professional journey. Each return to the active roster has reinforced his value as a dependable depth piece within a competitive roster.
Brayden Willis Career Stats and Honors
Across his college and professional career, Brayden Willis has been recognized primarily for his reliable contributions as a tight end rather than headline-grabbing statistics. His most decorated season came in 2022 at Oklahoma, when he earned Second-team All-Big 12 honors after posting 39 receptions for 514 yards and seven touchdowns.
College Highlights
Willis played five seasons for the Oklahoma Sooners, finishing his college career with a strong senior campaign. His 39-reception, 514-yard, seven-touchdown final season stands as the statistical high point of his time in Norman and was the primary reason the 49ers invested a draft pick in him.
NFL Honors and Performances
Through his time in the NFL, Willis has tallied 10 tackles according to his career NFL statistics, reflecting a role that has leaned heavily on blocking and special teams. While he has not yet earned league-wide individual awards, his repeated promotions back to the 49ers’ active roster speak to the organization’s continued confidence in his skill set.
Brayden Willis Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Brayden Willis’s family background is limited, with verified details centered on his upbringing in the Dallas-Arlington area of Texas. He attended Martin High School in Arlington, where he developed into a college prospect before committing to Oklahoma.
Willis has kept most of his personal and family life private, and no widely confirmed details about his parents, siblings, spouse, or children are available from verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been another year of resilience for Brayden Willis with the San Francisco 49ers. After re-signing with the team in April, he was waived during final roster cuts in late August, returned to the practice squad the following day, and was promoted back to the active roster on September 17. The quick turnaround highlighted his standing within the 49ers’ depth chart at tight end.
Willis was waived again on October 18 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, continuing a familiar cycle of movement between the active roster and the practice squad. Each promotion reflected the 49ers’ need for tight end depth and special-teams contributors throughout the season.
Looking ahead, Willis was promoted back to the active roster on January 13, 2026, positioning him to contribute during the closing stretch of the 49ers’ campaign. His role within a contending San Francisco roster, combined with his blocking ability and special-teams experience, suggests he will continue to be a reliable depth option as the team pushes toward the postseason.