Cole Van Lanen Bio
Cole Thomas Van Lanen (born April 23, 1998) is an American professional football offensive guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 5 in and listed at 312 lb, he plays with the size and power typical of an interior offensive lineman. A Wisconsin native, he began his football journey in the upper Midwest before moving on to the college game and the NFL. He has been a professional since 2021, spending time with both the Green Bay Packers and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Early Life and Background
Cole Thomas Van Lanen was born on April 23, 1998, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in the United States. He grew up in the Green Bay area and attended Bay Port High School in Suamico, Wisconsin, where he developed as a football player. The region is well known for its football culture, and Van Lanen emerged from that environment with the size and fundamentals that would later draw NFL attention.
At Bay Port, Van Lanen played along the offensive line and built a reputation as a physical, technical blocker. His performance in high school earned him an opportunity to play Big Ten conference football. He committed to the University of Wisconsin, a program with a long tradition of producing pro-ready offensive linemen.
Path to American Football
Van Lanen enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in 2016, joining a program renowned for its offensive line development. He spent five seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers from 2016 through 2020, working his way into the rotation along the offensive front. His combination of height, weight, and technique made him a steady presence at guard.
By his later college seasons, Van Lanen had become a dependable starter for the Badgers. His play in the Big Ten and his overall consistency were strong factors in his draft evaluation. He declared for the 2021 NFL Draft and was selected in the sixth round, 214th overall, by the Green Bay Packers.
Cole Van Lanen Career
Early Career (2021)
On May 1, 2021, Cole Thomas Van Lanen was selected 214th overall by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Just over a week later, on May 13, the Packers signed him to a four-year rookie contract. He competed for a roster spot along the offensive line during training camp and the preseason.
On August 31, 2021, the Packers released Van Lanen as part of their final roster cuts, but the team signed him to its practice squad the next day. He continued to develop with Green Bay, and on December 18, 2021, he was elevated to the active roster ahead of a Week 15 game against the Baltimore Ravens. He then signed a reserve/future contract with the Packers on January 25, 2022.
Green Bay Packers Era (2021–2022)
Van Lanen spent the 2021 season bouncing between the practice squad and the active roster, gaining valuable experience inside the Packers organization. Green Bay is his hometown team, and his time there represented a meaningful first chapter in his NFL career. Even with limited game action, he used the year to adjust to the speed and complexity of the professional level.
His work with the practice squad helped him refine his technique and conditioning. The brief elevations to the active roster allowed him to be part of an NFL gameday environment during the regular season. That foundation set the stage for the next step in his professional journey.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2022–Present)
On August 24, 2022, the Green Bay Packers traded Cole Thomas Van Lanen to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for a larger role in Jacksonville. He transitioned into the Jaguars’ offensive line group and gradually built a place in the rotation.
Through the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons, Van Lanen appeared in games for Jacksonville while continuing to develop. By the 2025 season, he was featured at both guard and tackle spots, starting nine games and showing the versatility the Jaguars had hoped for when they acquired him.
Driving Style and Strengths
Van Lanen is valued for his size, length, and positional flexibility, having played guard and tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars. His 6 ft 5 in frame and 312 lb build allow him to anchor against powerful defensive linemen, while his footwork and technique developed at Wisconsin help him handle speed rushers. Coaches have utilized his ability to plug multiple spots along the offensive line.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most significant milestones of his career came on January 3, 2026, when Cole Thomas Van Lanen and the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to a three-year extension worth 32.5 million dollars guaranteed, with a maximum value of 55.5 million dollars including incentives. Earlier, on April 21, 2025, he had re-signed with the Jaguars, setting the stage for his breakout 2025 campaign in which he started nine games at guard and tackle.
Cole Van Lanen Career Wins
Cole Thomas Van Lanen’s professional career has been built on steady development rather than headline award counts. Through the 2025 NFL season, his career totals include 51 games played and 13 games started. Those numbers reflect his gradual rise from practice squad contributor to regular starter along the offensive line.
NFL Highlights
Van Lanen made his NFL debut with the Green Bay Packers after being elevated to the active roster in December 2021, ahead of a Week 15 game against the Baltimore Ravens. After being traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in August 2022, he settled into a depth role before working his way into a starting position. By 2025, he was a regular contributor, starting nine games while playing both guard and tackle.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Van Lanen’s most notable off-field win came on January 3, 2026, when he agreed to a three-year extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The deal, reported at 32.5 million dollars guaranteed and up to 55.5 million dollars with incentives, marked a significant step in his career trajectory. It reflected the Jaguars’ confidence in his development as a versatile offensive lineman.
Cole Van Lanen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cole Thomas Van Lanen was raised in the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area, a community with deep football roots. He attended Bay Port High School in nearby Suamico, where his early development as an offensive lineman took place. Public details about his parents and extended family are limited in available sources.
Personal Life
Van Lanen is an American professional football player whose career has taken him from his hometown Green Bay Packers to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Information about his marital status, spouse, and children is not publicly detailed in the verified sources available. He remains based with the Jacksonville Jaguars organization as he continues his NFL career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a turning point for Cole Thomas Van Lanen with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After re-signing with the team on April 21, 2025, he became a regular part of the offensive line rotation. He featured at both guard and tackle, starting nine games and showing the versatility the Jaguars had envisioned when they traded for him in 2022.
His play throughout the 2025 campaign helped solidify the Jaguars’ offensive front, and his willingness to line up at multiple positions gave the coaching staff valuable flexibility. Through his career to that point, he had appeared in 51 games with 13 starts, with the bulk of his starting opportunities coming during the 2025 season.
The strongest validation of his 2025 performance came on January 3, 2026, when Van Lanen and the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to a three-year extension worth 32.5 million dollars guaranteed, reaching up to 55.5 million dollars with incentives. The contract signaled that the organization viewed him as a long-term building block. Entering 2026, he is expected to remain a key piece of the Jaguars’ offensive line.
