Dalton Keene Bio
Dalton Keene is an American professional football tight end who plays in the National Football League. Born on April 14, 1999, in St. Louis, Missouri, he has spent his career as a versatile in-line and move tight end after being drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Over the course of his career, Keene has worn the uniforms of the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans, working to establish himself as a dependable depth player.
Keene developed into a professional prospect through the Virginia Tech Hokies program, where he was a multi-year starter at tight end. Standing 6 ft 4 in and listed around 251 lb, he combines the frame of a traditional Y tight end with the movement skills of a flex receiver. His professional journey has included notable moments such as an early NFL debut with New England and a series of practice squad moves that have carried him across the league.
Early Life and Background
Dalton Keene was born on April 14, 1999, in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Littleton, Colorado, where he attended Chatfield High School. As a young athlete, he lined up at middle linebacker and running back on the Chargers football team while also competing on the school’s track and field roster. His development on both sides of the ball and in multiple events helped him gain attention from college recruiters across the region.
As a senior at Chatfield, Keene was named first-team All-State after rushing for 1,175 yards and 18 touchdowns, a performance that established him as one of the top prep prospects in Colorado. That senior season put him on the radar of Atlantic Coast Conference programs looking for athletic tight end prospects. He ultimately committed to Virginia Tech, choosing the Hokies over other suitors because of their tradition of developing tight ends and his comfort with the offensive scheme.
Path to American Football
Keene arrived at Virginia Tech in 2017 and immediately earned playing time, starting 12 games as a true freshman and finishing the year with 10 receptions for 167 yards. The Hokies coaching staff deployed him in a variety of roles, including traditional in-line blocking and detached receiving alignments, which helped him round out his skill set. By the end of his freshman year, he had shown enough to be considered a foundational piece of the tight end room.
In his sophomore season, Keene was named honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference after recording 28 receptions for 341 yards and three touchdowns. As a junior, he caught 21 passes for 240 yards and five touchdowns, showing steady growth as a pass catcher and a blocker at the point of attack. Following the end of that junior season, Keene announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the 2020 NFL Draft. He finished his collegiate career with 59 receptions for 748 yards and eight touchdowns in 39 games played, a résumé that placed him firmly on NFL scouting boards.
Dalton Keene Career
New England Patriots (2020-2021)
Dalton Keene was selected in the third round with the 101st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. The Patriots acquired the pick from a division rival, the New York Jets, trading two fourth-round picks in the 2020 draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to move up. The trade was the first time in Bill Belichick’s 20 years as head coach of the Patriots that the team included a future draft pick to move up in a draft. Keene made his NFL debut in Week 7, recording one catch for eight yards against a divisional opponent.
His rookie season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on November 10, 2020, with a knee injury. He was activated on December 5, 2020, but his first year ended with limited production as he worked his way back from the setback. In 2021, Keene was again placed on injured reserve on August 7 with a knee injury, limiting his availability throughout the season. On August 21, 2022, the Patriots waived him, ending his New England tenure after two seasons.
Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos (2022-2023)
On September 6, 2022, Dalton Keene was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. His time with the Eagles was short, as he was released on October 4, 2022, just under a month after joining the organization. Keene quickly caught on elsewhere, signing with the Denver Broncos practice squad on October 15, 2022, before being released three days later. The Broncos re-signed Keene to their practice squad on December 27, 2022, and his practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on January 8, 2023.
On January 20, 2023, Keene was signed to a reserve or future contract by the Philadelphia Eagles, returning to the franchise for a second stint. That spring, however, the Eagles waived him on July 26, 2023, opening the door for another opportunity elsewhere. Across 2022 and 2023, Keene worked primarily on practice squads, refining his role as a versatile blocker and special teams contributor while waiting for another chance.
Houston Texans Era (2023-Present)
On August 1, 2023, Dalton Keene signed with the Houston Texans, beginning what would become his longest professional stop. The Texans waived him on August 29, 2023, and re-signed him to the practice squad, a pattern that highlighted his value as a familiar depth piece within the organization. On January 22, 2024, Keene signed a reserve or future contract with Houston, locking in his place on the offseason roster and positioning him for a push at a depth tight end role.
His 2024 season was interrupted when he was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL on August 21, ending his year before it began. Keene re-signed with the Texans on August 5, 2025, in another bid to compete for a roster spot, but was released on August 22 after suffering an undisclosed injury that led to an injured reserve placement. He was re-signed to the practice squad on October 29 before being released on November 5.
Driving Style and Strengths
Keene is known for a physical blocking style that translates well to in-line duties and the edge of the formation. He tracks the ball well in traffic and uses his frame to shield defenders in contested catch situations. Coaches have valued his special teams reliability and his willingness to handle the unglamorous assignments that keep an offense on schedule.
Notable Events and Milestones
Keene’s most notable career milestone remains his third-round selection by the New England Patriots in the 2020 NFL Draft, a pick that highlighted his pedigree as a multi-year starter at Virginia Tech. His NFL debut in Week 7 of his rookie season produced his first career reception, an eight-yard catch that remains a career marker. Beyond those moments, his career has been defined by perseverance through repeated knee injuries and the challenge of working his way back from injured reserve multiple times.
Dalton Keene Career Stats
Through his time in the NFL, Dalton Keene has appeared in limited regular-season action, with his career production reflected in modest receiving totals. As of the 2024 season, his career NFL statistics include 3 receptions for 16 receiving yards, numbers that reflect both his depth role and the injuries that have shaped his professional path. He has primarily contributed on special teams and in practice squad roles while continuing to develop his receiving game.
Dalton Keene Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Dalton Keene’s family background is limited, with few verified details available about his parents or any immediate family ties to football. He grew up in Littleton, Colorado, after being born in St. Louis, Missouri, and has been associated with the Littleton community throughout his professional career. Keene has largely kept his personal life out of the public eye, focusing his public presence on training updates and team-related posts through his social media channels.
2025 Season Performance
Dalton Keene’s 2025 season with the Houston Texans has been a study in perseverance. He re-signed with the Texans on August 5, 2025, looking to compete for a depth role at tight end, but was released on August 22 after suffering an undisclosed injury that led to an injured reserve placement. The Texans re-signed Keene to the practice squad on October 29, keeping him within the organization as he continued his recovery.
On November 5, Keene was released by the Texans, ending his latest practice squad stint. Through the 2025 campaign, Keene has not appeared in a regular-season game for Houston, with his contributions limited to practice participation as he worked back from injury. His outlook beyond the season will depend on his medical clearance and whether teams view him as a developmental depth piece worthy of a reserve or future contract for the following offseason.