Dallin Holker Bio
Dallin Holker is an American former professional football player who spent one season as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New Orleans Saints after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL draft. A graduate of Brigham Young University (BYU) and Colorado State University, Holker is best remembered for his standout 2023 season at Colorado State, where he was recognized as a Second-team All-American and a Mackey Award finalist.
Early Life and Background
Dallin Holker was born on April 7, 2000, in Lehi, Utah, in the United States. He grew up in the same community where he would later build his early football reputation, attending Lehi High School. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 241 pounds during his professional career, Holker developed into a reliable pass-catching tight end thanks in part to his combination of size and athleticism.
As a senior at Lehi High School, Holker was one of the most productive receivers in Utah high school football, hauling in 97 receptions for 1,766 yards and 22 touchdowns. His performance earned him the Deseret News 5A MVP award, signaling his status as one of the top high school players in the state. Following that season, he committed to Brigham Young University (BYU) to continue his football career.
Path to American Football
Holker arrived at BYU as a true freshman in 2018 and immediately saw the field, playing in 12 games and finishing the year with 19 receptions for 235 yards and one touchdown. The following two seasons, however, took him away from football. Holker stepped away from the program in 2019 and 2020 to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an experience he later described as formative.
He returned to BYU in 2021 and played in 13 games, recording 14 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown. After appearing in just three games during the 2022 season, Holker entered the transfer portal and, in December 2022, announced that he would finish his college career at Colorado State University. The move proved pivotal, as it set the stage for his most productive collegiate season.
Dallin Holker Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Holker’s first extended stretch of college football came during his freshman year at BYU in 2018, when he finished with 19 receptions for 235 yards and a touchdown while playing in 12 games. The early production suggested promise, but his development was interrupted by a two-year absence spent on his Latter-day Saints mission in Vina del Mar, Chile.
When he returned to the field in 2021, Holker recorded 14 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown across 13 games. After a limited role during the first three games of the 2022 campaign, he decided to enter the transfer portal, a decision that ultimately pushed him toward a fresh opportunity at Colorado State.
Colorado State Breakthrough (2023)
Holker became the starting tight end at Colorado State in 2023 and quickly emerged as one of the most productive tight ends in the Mountain West Conference. His impressive senior season led to national recognition, as he was named a Second-team All-American and a First-team All-Mountain West selection. He also earned conference honors for his work as both a blocker and a receiver.
In addition to his All-American and All-Mountain West honors, Holker was one of three finalists for the Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s best tight end. The recognition underscored how far his game had come after transferring from BYU and cemented his reputation as a draft-relevant prospect entering the 2024 NFL cycle.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024–2025)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, Holker signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2024. He was also selected by the Birmingham Stallions in the fifth round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17, signaling interest from multiple professional leagues. During training camp, he earned a spot on the Saints’ initial 53-man roster as one of only four undrafted free agents to make the team.
As a rookie, Holker appeared in 12 games for New Orleans, including two starts, and finished the season with three receptions for 21 yards. Although his offensive role was limited, his ability to contribute on special teams helped him remain on the roster throughout the year.
Driving Style and Strengths
Holker profiles as a pass-catching tight end with reliable hands and the size to hold up as an in-line blocker. His background in BYU’s offense, combined with a full season as Colorado State’s featured tight end, gave him experience running a varied route tree and working from multiple formations. His willingness to contribute on special teams also helped him carve out a roster spot with the Saints.
Notable Events and Milestones
Holker’s senior season at Colorado State stands as his signature stretch, highlighted by Second-team All-American honors, First-team All-Mountain West recognition, and Mackey Award finalist status. At the professional level, his most notable milestone was making the Saints’ initial 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
Dallin Holker Career Wins
While tight ends are rarely measured by traditional win totals, Holker’s career is best summarized by his individual accolades and statistical production. He established himself as a reliable college receiver, peaking with a 2023 campaign at Colorado State that placed him among the nation’s best tight ends. His professional resume is defined by his rookie season with the Saints rather than by championship-level victories.
College Highlights
Holker’s most productive college season came in 2023 at Colorado State, where his play earned him Second-team All-American and First-team All-Mountain West honors. Earlier, his 2018 freshman campaign at BYU produced 19 receptions for 235 yards and a touchdown, while his 2021 return season added 14 receptions for 200 yards and another score.
Professional Highlights
Holker’s lone NFL season with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 produced three receptions for 21 yards across 12 appearances, including two starts. He also drew interest from the UFL, where he was a fifth-round pick of the Birmingham Stallions.
Dallin Holker Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Dallin Holker’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in Lehi, Utah, and has spoken about the role his faith and mission experience played in shaping his approach to football.
Personal Life
Holker is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission for the church in Vina del Mar, Chile, during 2019 and 2020. The mission interrupted his college career at BYU but provided a foundation he has often referenced in discussing his growth as a player and as a person.
2025 Season Performance
Holker did not play in the NFL during the 2025 season. On July 22, 2025, he announced his retirement from professional football via Instagram, bringing his playing career to a close after a single NFL campaign. The decision marked the end of a brief but accomplished football journey that spanned high school stardom in Utah, college stops at BYU and Colorado State, and a rookie year with the Saints.