Dalton Schultz Bio
Dalton Chase Schultz is an American professional football tight end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and listed at 242 pounds, he plays the tight end position wearing jersey number 86. He previously played for the Dallas Cowboys after entering the NFL as a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Schultz played college football for the Stanford Cardinal from 2014 through 2017, developing into one of the top tight ends in the Pac-12 Conference. He earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors in his senior season before declaring for the NFL draft. Over his professional career, he has built a reputation as a reliable pass catcher and a dependable blocker in both run and pass schemes.
Early Life and Background
Dalton Chase Schultz was born on July 11, 1996, in Sandy, Utah, in the United States. He grew up in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area and attended Bingham High School in nearby South Jordan, Utah, where he played for the Miners athletic teams. In addition to football, Schultz played basketball during his time at Bingham, giving him an athletic foundation that translated well to multi-skill demands on the football field.
As a senior at Bingham High School, Schultz caught 31 passes for 512 yards and nine touchdowns, establishing himself as a reliable receiving target. Across his full high school career, he totaled 76 receptions for 1,120 yards and 12 touchdowns. In January 2014, Schultz committed to play college football for the Stanford Cardinal, choosing the program over other suitors.
Path to American Football
Schultz accepted a football scholarship from Stanford University and joined the Cardinal program in 2014. He did not see any action as a true freshman and was redshirted, preserving a year of eligibility. The redshirt year allowed him to develop physically and learn the offensive system before contributing on the field.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015, Schultz played in all 14 games as a backup to Austin Hooper, catching 10 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. The following year, as a sophomore in 2016, he was named the starter after Hooper declared for the NFL draft. Schultz appeared in all 13 games and recorded 23 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown, while earning honorable-mention All-Pac-12 recognition.
Prior to the 2017 season, Schultz was named to the John Mackey Award watch list, which honors the nation’s top collegiate tight end. He played in 13 games that season, catching 22 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns while serving as a lead blocker. He helped running back Bryce Love rush for 2,118 yards and was named First-team All-Pac-12, then declared for the 2018 NFL Draft.
Dalton Schultz Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Dalton Chase Schultz in the fourth round, 137th overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Cowboys added him to improve depth at tight end following the surprising retirements of Jason Witten and James Hanna. He opened his rookie season as the third-string tight end behind Geoff Swaim and Blake Jarwin.
After Swaim was lost to injury in Week 11, Schultz moved ahead of Jarwin on the depth chart and started seven of the 11 games he played, including both playoff contests. He finished his rookie year with 12 receptions for 116 yards while contributing to running back Ezekiel Elliott winning the NFL rushing title. In 2019, with Witten returning from a one-year stint in broadcasting, Schultz remained a third-string option and appeared in 16 games, registering one reception for six yards and one kickoff return for five yards in limited duty.
Dallas Cowboys Breakthrough (2020-2022)
On March 17, 2020, Witten left the Cowboys to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders, opening the door for Schultz to compete for a larger role. After Blake Jarwin suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the opener against the Los Angeles Rams, Schultz took over as the starting tight end. During Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons, he caught nine passes for 88 yards and his first NFL touchdown in a 40-39 comeback victory.
Schultz finished 2020 with 63 receptions for 615 yards and four touchdowns, becoming the fourth tight end in franchise history with at least 60 receptions in a regular season. In 2021, he started 15 of 17 games and posted career highs across the board, with 78 receptions (second on the team), 808 receiving yards (third on the team), and eight touchdowns (tied for the team lead). He became the second tight end in Cowboys history to reach 70 receptions in a single season and the seventh to surpass 100 career receptions with the franchise.
The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Schultz before the 2022 season. He posted 63 receptions for 615 yards and four touchdowns, with seven touchdowns across the final nine regular-season games plus three scores in two playoff contests. A PCL injury suffered early in the year and the emergence of rookie tight ends Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot limited his snap count as the season progressed.
Houston Texans Era (2023-Present)
On March 24, 2023, Schultz signed a one-year contract as a free agent with the Houston Texans. He began the year as a backup but soon became a trusted target for rookie quarterback C. J. Stroud, contributing to Stroud earning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. In Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints, Schultz became the third player in Texans history to score a touchdown in three consecutive games.
Three weeks later against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he recorded 10 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown, becoming the second tight end in Texans history to post at least 8 catches and 100 receiving yards in a single game, joining Owen Daniels. After missing Weeks 13 and 14 with a hamstring injury, Schultz finished 2023 with 59 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns across 15 games and eight starts.
On March 8, 2024, Schultz signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension with the Texans. In 2024 he appeared in 17 games with 13 starts, collecting 53 receptions for 532 yards and two touchdowns as his production dipped slightly from the prior year.
Driving Style and Strengths
Schultz is regarded as a well-rounded tight end with strong hands, reliable route-running, and above-average blocking ability. He excels as a possession receiver over the middle of the field and as a red-zone target, where his size and catch radius create mismatches against smaller defensive backs. His willingness to contribute in the run game has made him a complete three-down tight end at the NFL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Schultz’s first NFL touchdown came in Week 2 of 2020 against the Atlanta Falcons during a 40-39 comeback win. He later became the fourth Cowboys tight end with at least 60 receptions in a single season and the second with 70. With the Texans, he joined Owen Daniels as the only tight ends in franchise history to record 8 catches and 100 receiving yards in one game.
Dalton Schultz Career Wins
Schultz has built a productive career as a pass-catching tight end, highlighted by single-season marks of 78 receptions, 808 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns with the Cowboys in 2021. His career NFL totals include 405 receptions, 4,066 receiving yards, and 27 receiving touchdowns.
NFL Highlights
Across his NFL career, Schultz has appeared in multiple playoff games with both the Cowboys and Texans and has produced multiple 60-reception seasons. His top statistical season came in 2021 with the Cowboys, when he set career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. With the Texans, his best all-around game came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, when he posted 10 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown.
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Dalton Schultz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Schultz grew up in Sandy and South Jordan, Utah, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete at Bingham High School. He came from a supportive background that allowed him to pursue basketball alongside football during his formative years.
Personal Life
Dalton Chase Schultz is married to Laurel Heinrich. The couple has a son and a daughter. Schultz signed a three-year contract extension with the Houston Texans in March 2024 worth $36 million, securing his family in Houston through 2027.
2025 Season Performance
Schultz entered the 2025 season as a veteran starting tight end for the Houston Texans, working alongside quarterback C. J. Stroud. His role as a reliable security blanket and red-zone target remained central to the Texans’ passing attack. He continued to log meaningful snaps as both an in-line blocker and a pass catcher.
Across the season, Schultz produced steady contributions in receptions and receiving yards, though his per-game totals dipped slightly from his 2023 peak. He remained a trusted option on third downs and in scoring territory, helping the Texans maintain offensive balance alongside their younger receiving corps. His veteran presence also supported the continued development of the team’s young offensive playmakers.
Looking ahead, Schultz is signed in Houston through the 2027 season under his three-year extension. With his contract security and established role, he is positioned to remain a key piece of the Texans’ offense and to add to his career totals of 405 receptions, 4,066 receiving yards, and 27 touchdowns.
