E.J. Jenkins Bio
Emanuel E. “E. J.” Jenkins (born November 3, 1998) is an American professional football tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 6 in and listed at 245 lb, Jenkins has built his career as a pass-catching tight end after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He is a Super Bowl champion, having been part of the Eagles team that won Super Bowl LIX.
Jenkins played college football at three programs, beginning at Saint Francis before transferring to South Carolina and then Georgia Tech. He has also spent time with the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders on practice squads, working his way back to a championship roster in Philadelphia.
Early Life and Background
E.J. Jenkins was born on November 3, 1998, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He grew up in the Fredericksburg area and attended Chancellor High School, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete. In addition to football, Jenkins played basketball during his high school years, helping him build the athleticism that would later define his receiving skills.
As a senior at Chancellor, Jenkins emerged as one of the top high school receivers in the region, recording 44 receptions for 1,002 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was named first-team all-conference and earned the Free Lance-Star Male Athlete of the Year award, and he set five school receiving records, including marks for career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Rated a three-star recruit, Jenkins initially committed to Old Dominion before changing course and choosing the Saint Francis Red Flash.
Path to Professional Football
Jenkins began his college career at Saint Francis, where he redshirted as a freshman in 2017 before catching five passes for 52 yards the following year. His breakout came in 2019, when he finished with 39 catches for 779 yards and set a school record with 13 receiving touchdowns, earning second-team All-Northeast Conference honors. The Saint Francis 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which opened the door for a transfer.
In 2021, Jenkins joined the South Carolina Gamecocks, where he appeared in 12 games and totaled eight receptions for 117 yards. Seeking a larger role, he entered the transfer portal again in 2022 and landed with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. In his only season in Atlanta, Jenkins started 11 of 12 games and recorded 17 catches for 316 yards with three touchdowns, and he was invited to the Hula Bowl to close out his college career.
E.J. Jenkins Career
Early Career (2023)
Jenkins impressed scouts at his pro day but went unselected in the 2023 NFL draft. He signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent and caught three passes for 23 yards during the preseason. Despite that production, the Jets waived him at the final roster cuts on August 29, 2023, sending him into the early part of his first professional season looking for a new opportunity.
On November 1, 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Jenkins to their practice squad, marking his first organization beyond the Jets. He was released from the Eagles’ practice squad on November 14, ending his first Philadelphia stint.
Las Vegas Raiders Stint (2023–2024)
Jenkins signed with the Las Vegas Raiders to their practice squad on January 2, 2024, ahead of the team’s season finale. He was released by the Raiders on January 15, finishing his brief time in Las Vegas without an appearance on an active regular-season roster.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2024–Present)
Jenkins returned to the Philadelphia Eagles by signing a reserve/future contract on January 18, 2024. He was waived on August 27 as part of preseason cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the same window, keeping him within the organization. On December 7, he was promoted to the active roster, beginning the most meaningful stretch of his NFL career.
In Week 18 against the New York Giants, Jenkins made his first career catch, a 7-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Tanner McKee, giving him his first NFL score. He capped that season by winning a Super Bowl championship when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 in Super Bowl LIX. On August 26, 2025, Jenkins was waived by the Eagles as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, and on January 13, 2026, he signed another reserve/future contract to remain with the team.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jenkins’ first NFL touchdown against the Giants and his role on a Super Bowl LIX championship team stand as the defining milestones of his early career. Going from undrafted free agent to a championship roster within two seasons highlights how quickly his professional arc has developed.
E.J. Jenkins Career Wins
E.J. Jenkins’ career win total is anchored by one Super Bowl championship earned with the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Outside of team championships, he does not have individually credited regular-season or playoff victories listed in his verified record, and his career NFL receiving line through the 2024 season stands at 1 reception for 7 yards and 1 receiving touchdown.
Super Bowl Highlights
Jenkins was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles roster that won Super Bowl LIX, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22. The championship marked the first major team title of his professional career and came in his second season in the league.
E.J. Jenkins Family
Personal Life
Jenkins remains connected to his Fredericksburg, Virginia roots and was a close teammate and friend of high school quarterback Jason Brown at Chancellor, which influenced his initial college choice. Public details about his broader family life are limited, and beyond that connection there are no widely verified personal-life entries on record.
2025 Season Performance
Jenkins entered the 2025 offseason with momentum after his first NFL touchdown and a Super Bowl LIX ring. The Eagles moved him through final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, before re-signing him to the practice squad the following day, indicating the team wanted to keep him in the organization.
His standing on the active roster going into the regular season was still developing, and his role was expected to depend on how the Eagles used their tight end rotation. A reserve/future contract signed on January 13, 2026, kept Jenkins tied to Philadelphia, suggesting the franchise continued to view him as a developmental tight end worth retaining.
For 2025, Jenkins’ outlook centered on earning a consistent spot on the active game-day roster and adding to his small but promising career stat line. Continued work on the practice squad positioned him as a depth option behind the team’s primary tight ends.