Grant Calcaterra Bio
Grant Calcaterra is an American professional football tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 4 in and weighing about 240 lb, he plays the tight end position wearing jersey number 81. He joined the Eagles as a sixth-round draft pick in 2022 and is listed as active on the roster.
Calcaterra played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners before transferring to the SMU Mustangs. His path to the league was unusual because he stepped away from the sport for a year before resuming his career at SMU. He is a Super Bowl champion, having been part of the Eagles team that won Super Bowl LIX.
Early Life and Background
Grant Calcaterra was born on December 4, 1998, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States. He grew up to pursue football and eventually attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, where he developed into a prominent receiving tight end prospect.
As a junior at Santa Margarita Catholic, Calcaterra caught 48 passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns, establishing himself as a high-level recruit. He committed to play college football at the University of Oklahoma after his junior season. As a senior, he caught 57 passes for 958 yards and eight touchdowns, and was named to the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game, a recognition reserved for the top high school seniors in the country.
Path to American Football
Calcaterra arrived at Oklahoma in 2017 as a highly regarded tight end recruit. He immediately earned playing time and steadily increased his production across his first two college seasons. The early portion of his college career showed steady growth, with a freshman role giving way to a more featured sophomore season in 2018, when he earned first-team All-Big 12 honors.
His path took a difficult turn in 2019 when he missed most of the season because of a concussion. After that year, Calcaterra announced he was retiring from football due to multiple concussions. He sat out the 2020 season entirely before reversing course in November of that year, first announcing plans to play at Auburn University, then pivoting in January 2021 to Southern Methodist University. His 2021 season at SMU produced second-team All-AAC recognition, restoring his draft profile.
Grant Calcaterra Career
Early Career (2017-2019)
Calcaterra began his college career at Oklahoma in 2017, appearing in 14 games as a freshman and recording 10 receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns. In his sophomore season of 2018, he appeared in 14 games and registered 26 catches for 396 yards and six touchdowns, a performance that earned him first-team All-Big 12 honors.
His junior year in 2019 was cut short by a concussion that kept him out for most of the season. The injury began a period of uncertainty that would lead to his retirement announcement after the 2019 campaign and a year away from competitive football.
SMU Breakthrough (2021)
After sitting out the 2020 season, Calcaterra enrolled at Southern Methodist University for the 2021 season. He appeared in 11 games for the Mustangs and caught 38 passes for 465 yards and four touchdowns, finishing as one of the top tight ends in the American Athletic Conference.
His strong 2021 production earned him second-team All-AAC honors and rebuilt his NFL draft stock. The single season at SMU was enough to convince the Philadelphia Eagles to invest a sixth-round pick in him.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2022-Present)
Calcaterra was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round with the 198th overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft. He signed a four-year, $3.8 million contract with the Eagles that included a $174,142 signing bonus. He made his NFL debut in Week 3 of the 2022 season against the Washington Commanders, catching a 40-yard pass from Jalen Hurts for his first career reception. As a rookie, he finished with five receptions for 81 yards across 15 games and two starts.
In the 2023 season, he finished with four receptions for 39 yards in 15 games and one start. In 2024, Calcaterra scored his first career touchdown on December 8 against the Carolina Panthers. During Week 16 of the 2024 season, he recorded a one-handed catch from Kenny Pickett for a 34-yard gain on third down and 8 against the Dallas Cowboys. He won a Super Bowl championship when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. On March 13, 2026, Calcaterra signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles.
Driving Style and Strengths
Calcaterra fits the modern NFL tight end profile at 6 ft 4 in and 240 lb, with the size to handle inline blocking duties and the athleticism to separate as a receiver. He has shown the ability to contribute as a pass catcher on intermediate routes, as shown by his first NFL reception going for 40 yards. His progression from limited rookie production to a Super Bowl roster role reflects steady development within the Eagles system.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first career NFL reception, a 40-yard catch from Jalen Hurts in Week 3 of the 2022 season, marked his arrival in the league. Scoring his first career touchdown in December 2024 against the Carolina Panthers was another milestone. The biggest moment of his career came when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX, earning Calcaterra a Super Bowl championship. On March 13, 2026, he signed a one-year contract extension with Philadelphia.
Grant Calcaterra Career Wins
Grant Calcaterra is a Super Bowl champion, having helped the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. His championship came in his third professional season after entering the league as a 2022 sixth-round pick. Beyond that team accomplishment, his individual accolades include first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2018 and second-team All-AAC honors in 2021.
NFL Highlights
Calcaterra has played four NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, serving primarily as a depth tight end. Through the 2025 season, he has 42 career receptions for 494 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. His most memorable regular-season play came in Week 16 of 2024, when he hauled in a one-handed 34-yard grab from Kenny Pickett on third down against the Dallas Cowboys.
Other Wins & Performances
Calcaterra is a Super Bowl LIX champion with the Philadelphia Eagles. His college career produced first-team All-Big 12 recognition in 2018 at Oklahoma and second-team All-AAC honors in 2021 at SMU. He was also named to the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game as a high school senior.
Grant Calcaterra Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Grant Calcaterra’s family background is limited. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later moved to California, where he attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Personal Life
Calcaterra was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently plays in the NFL. Public details about his personal relationships are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
Calcaterra entered the 2025 season as a returning member of the Philadelphia Eagles, coming off a 2024 campaign in which he scored his first career touchdown and helped the team win Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles retained him through a one-year contract extension signed in March 2026, signaling continued confidence in his role within the tight end room. He remained active on the roster heading into 2025, providing depth at the position.
Through the 2025 season, Calcaterra’s career NFL totals stood at 42 receptions for 494 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. He continued to contribute primarily as a situational tight end, working within the offensive system in Philadelphia. The 2025 season added to his experience as the Eagles aimed to remain among the league’s top contenders.
Looking ahead, Calcaterra’s outlook in Philadelphia remained tied to his ability to contribute as a blocker and a short-to-intermediate pass catcher. With the contract extension in place, his role in the Eagles offense was expected to remain consistent in 2025 and beyond.
