Isaiah Likely Bio
Isaiah Leroy Likely (born April 17, 2000) is an American professional football tight end who plays in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Coastal Carolina University before being selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2022 NFL Draft. After four seasons in Baltimore, he signed with the New York Giants in March 2026 as a free agent.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at 241 pounds, Likely has developed into one of the more productive young tight ends in the league. Over his first four NFL seasons, he accumulated 135 receptions for 1,568 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns, while earning recognition as a reliable pass catcher and red-zone target.
Early Life and Background
Isaiah Leroy Likely was born on April 17, 2000, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and grew up in the surrounding area. He attended Malden High School before transferring to Everett High School for his senior year, finishing his high school career in Everett, Massachusetts. The move allowed him to showcase his skills in a new program during his final prep season.
As a junior at Malden, Likely emerged as a productive receiver, catching 59 passes for 917 yards with 11 touchdowns. That production helped establish him as a college prospect and ultimately drew attention from collegiate recruiters. He went on to commit to Coastal Carolina University, where he would spend the next four years developing his game.
Path to the NFL
At Coastal Carolina, Likely quickly carved out a role in the Chanticleers offense. As a freshman in 2018, he appeared in seven games and caught 12 passes for 106 yards and five touchdowns, showing early flashes of red-zone ability. His combination of size and athleticism made him a difficult matchup inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
After a sophomore campaign in which he posted 32 receptions for 431 yards and five touchdowns, Likely earned third-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. As a junior in 2020, he added first-team All-Sun Belt recognition and was named a second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus. He closed his senior season in 2021 with 59 catches for 912 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns, including a 99-yard reception that tied the NCAA record for the longest touchdown reception in a single play.
Likely’s final college résumé featured two first-team All-Sun Belt selections, a second-team All-American nod, and a conference lead in receiving touchdowns in 2021. His size, speed, and scoring instincts convinced the Baltimore Ravens to select him in the fourth round, 141st overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Isaiah Likely Career
Early Career (2022)
Likely spent his rookie season as the second tight end on Baltimore’s depth chart behind Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews. He caught his first NFL touchdown in a Week 8 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a 27–22 victory that highlighted his growing comfort in the Ravens’ offense. By season’s end, he had appeared in 16 games with two starts.
As a rookie, Likely finished with 36 receptions for 373 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He showed steady improvement over the second half of the year, capped by an eight-catch, 103-yard performance in the Week 18 finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. That finish positioned him for a larger role entering his second season.
Baltimore Ravens Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Likely started slowly in 2023 as he remained behind Andrews on the depth chart. When Andrews suffered a severe ankle injury in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals and missed the rest of the regular season, Likely stepped into the lead tight end role and thrived. Over the final six games of the year, he recorded 21 receptions for 322 yards and five touchdowns.
His best performance of the 2023 regular season came in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams, when he caught five passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in a 37–31 overtime win. He later produced his first career multi-touchdown game in Week 17, hauling in two scores during a 56–19 rout of the Miami Dolphins. Likely closed 2023 with 30 receptions for 411 yards and five touchdowns, then carried that momentum into the postseason with a two-catch, 34-yard, one-touchdown performance in the Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans.
Likely opened 2024 with a career-high 111 receiving yards on nine catches against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, narrowly missing a potential game-winning touchdown as time expired. He later caught two touchdowns in a Week 5 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the regular season with 42 receptions for 477 yards and six touchdowns and added a receiving touchdown in the Divisional Round loss to the Buffalo Bills.
New York Giants Era (2026–Present)
On March 12, 2026, Likely signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the New York Giants, marking a fresh chapter in his career. The agreement reflected his value as a young, productive tight end entering his prime. His move reunited him with an offense looking to expand its passing game.
Likely joined a Giants team that saw him as a featured receiving tight end. His track record of red-zone production and chain-moving catches gave the franchise confidence in his ability to handle a larger workload. He entered the season as a central piece of the team’s tight end group.
Driving Style and Strengths
Likely is a large, athletic tight end who excels as a red-zone target because of his frame and catch radius. He is most effective on seam routes, crossing patterns, and back-shoulder throws where his size creates a mismatch against smaller defensive backs. His willingness to work the middle of the field and finish through contact has been a defining part of his game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Likely’s signature moments are his 99-yard touchdown reception at Coastal Carolina, which tied the NCAA record for longest touchdown catch. In the NFL, his eight-catch, 103-yard finale as a rookie and his 111-yard performance against Kansas City in 2024 stand out as career-best receiving days. He has also produced in multiple postseason games, including a touchdown in the 2023 Divisional Round and another in the 2024 Divisional Round.
Isaiah Likely Career Wins
Across his college and professional career, Isaiah Likely has compiled a strong résumé of statistical achievements and team victories. His production as a pass catcher and scorer has been the hallmark of his career, from his record-tying college moments to his role as a starting NFL tight end.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Likely has played in four seasons, accumulating 135 receptions for 1,568 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns through the 2025 campaign. His first NFL touchdown came in Week 8 of his rookie year against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and his first multi-touchdown game arrived in Week 17 of the 2023 season against the Miami Dolphins.
He has also been a reliable playoff contributor, recording a touchdown in the 2023 Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans and another in the 2024 Divisional Round loss to the Buffalo Bills. His first multi-touchdown regular-season game and several late-game heroics helped cement his role in Baltimore.
Other Wins and Performances
At Coastal Carolina, Likely earned two first-team All-Sun Belt selections in 2020 and 2021, a third-team All-Sun Belt nod in 2019, and a second-team All-American honor from Pro Football Focus in 2021. He led the Sun Belt Conference in receiving touchdowns during his senior season, capping his college career with 12 scores.
Isaiah Likely Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Isaiah Likely’s parents and family background is limited. He grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and attended schools in Malden and Everett before launching his football career.
Personal Life
Likely has kept much of his personal life private, and no verified information about a spouse or children is publicly available. He resides in the United States and continues to focus on his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
Likely’s 2025 campaign with the Baltimore Ravens was disrupted by a foot injury that required surgery in late July, forcing him to miss the first three games of the season. He returned in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs and gradually worked his way back into the offensive rotation.
Over 14 games, Likely recorded 27 receptions for 307 yards and one touchdown, a statistical step back from his 2024 totals. The reduced production reflected both his recovery and a crowded tight end room in Baltimore.
Despite the down season statistically, Likely remained healthy by year’s end and entered free agency as a proven young pass catcher. His strong 2023 and 2024 tape, combined with his size and red-zone skill set, ultimately helped him land a three-year, $40 million contract with the New York Giants in March 2026. The agreement positioned him for a featured role as he enters his fifth NFL season.
