Jack Conklin Bio
Jack Conklin is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected by the Tennessee Titans eighth overall in the 2016 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 308 pounds, Conklin has been named a first-team All-Pro twice in his career.
After four seasons in Tennessee, Conklin joined the Cleveland Browns in 2020 and quickly became a cornerstone of one of the league’s top offensive lines. He is widely recognized for his run-blocking and his durability when healthy, having started every game he has appeared in during several seasons.
Early Life and Background
Jonathan Jackson Conklin was born on August 17, 1994, in Plainwell, Michigan, to Darren Conklin and Jennifer Jackson. He grew up in the same small western Michigan community where he would eventually become a high school standout. His father, Darren, served as the head football coach at Plainwell High School, giving Jack an early and detailed education in the sport.
Conklin attended Plainwell High School in Plainwell, where he played football under his father’s guidance. He also played basketball, which helped him develop the footwork and conditioning that would later serve him well on the offensive line. Those formative years in Plainwell shaped his toughness and his approach to the game.
Path to American Football
Conklin joined the Michigan State University football team as a walk-on player, an unusual starting point for a player who would later be drafted in the top ten. After redshirting his first year, he started 13 of 14 games at either right or left offensive tackle during his redshirt freshman season in 2013. The following year, as a sophomore, he started all 13 games at left tackle.
As a junior in 2015, Conklin earned First-team All-American honors from Sporting News and USA Today, and he was also named First-team All-Big Ten Conference by both the coaches and the media. During his career with the Spartans, he started 38 of his 39 career games, including 35 at left tackle and three at right tackle. On January 6, 2016, Conklin announced that he would forgo his senior season and declare for the 2016 NFL draft.
Jack Conklin Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
The Tennessee Titans selected Conklin in the first round, eighth overall, of the 2016 NFL draft. The Titans traded their first and third round picks to the Cleveland Browns in order to move up and select him. Conklin was the second offensive tackle drafted that year. On May 26, 2016, he signed a four-year, $15.89 million rookie contract with $15.44 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $9.76 million.
Conklin entered training camp slated as the starting right tackle and held the role for the entire regular season under head coach Mike Mularkey. He started all 16 games during his rookie year, was named First-team All-Pro, and was also selected to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In 2017, he started all 16 games at right tackle and helped the Titans finish 9–7, earning a playoff berth for the first time since 2008. Conklin started in his first career playoff game, a narrow 22–21 AFC Wildcard victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, but tore his ACL the following week against the New England Patriots.
Tennessee Titans (2016–2019)
Conklin’s Titans tenure began with one of the most decorated rookie seasons in recent memory for an offensive lineman. He received an overall grade of 88.9 from Pro Football Focus in 2016, the fifth highest among all offensive linemen in the league and the highest among all rookie offensive linemen. The Titans’ offensive line was ranked as the top unit in the league that season by PFF, and the team improved from 3–13 to 9–7.
After recovering from his 2017 ACL injury, Conklin returned to the lineup in 2018 but was limited by a concussion and a separate knee injury that landed him on injured reserve. In 2019, he started all 16 regular season games and helped Derrick Henry win the NFL rushing yards title. The Titans finished 9–7 for the fourth straight season and advanced through the playoffs with upset wins over the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Conklin started all three of those postseason games.
Cleveland Browns Era (2020–Present)
On March 20, 2020, Conklin signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on November 18 of that season and was activated three days later. Conklin was named to the 2020 All-Pro Team alongside three of his teammates: defensive end Myles Garrett and guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, a remarkable showing for a single offensive line.
On December 23, 2022, Conklin signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension with the Browns, keeping him under contract through the 2026 season. In Week 1 of the 2023 season, he suffered a torn ACL and MCL and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on September 12, 2023. Conklin returned to action in 2024 and continued to anchor the offensive line before a concussion suffered in Week 13 of the 2025 season against the San Francisco 49ers placed him on season-ending injured reserve on December 20, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Conklin is best known for his physical run-blocking and his consistency in the trenches. He has been especially effective in gap and power running schemes, where his size, leverage, and finishing strength are major assets. Coaches and teammates have consistently praised his communication along the offensive line and his ability to play through contact, traits that have made him a reliable presence at right tackle for most of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Conklin’s signature moments are his First-team All-Pro selections in 2016 and 2020, his Pro Bowl alternate nod in 2016, and his three consecutive playoff games with the Titans in 2019. He has also appeared in 114 NFL games through the 2025 season, starting all 114, a testament to his durability when available.
Jack Conklin Career Wins
Jack Conklin’s career is defined less by individual win totals and more by team success and individual recognition. Through the 2025 season, his teams have earned multiple playoff berths, including an AFC Championship Game appearance with the Titans in 2019. He has been selected as a First-team All-Pro twice and has been widely regarded as one of the more reliable offensive tackles of his draft class.
NFL Highlights
Conklin’s first major professional win came in his rookie season of 2016, when he was named First-team All-Pro and helped lead the Titans to a 9–7 finish. He added a Second-team All-Pro recognition in 2020 with the Cleveland Browns, a season in which he also helped his team reach the postseason. Most recently, Conklin appeared in eight games during the 2025 season before being placed on season-ending injured reserve in December.
Other Wins and Performances
Conklin earned First-team All-American honors in 2015 and was a First-team All-Big Ten selection the same year. He was also a Second-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2014, reflecting steady development through his college career at Michigan State.
Jack Conklin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Conklin comes from a football family. His father, Darren Conklin, was the head football coach at Plainwell High School, where Jack developed his early skills. His mother is Jennifer Jackson. The combination of family coaching and a strong local program helped prepare him for the rigors of major college football at Michigan State.
Personal Life
Conklin is married to Caitlyn Riley, and the couple has a daughter. He has spent much of his professional career in the Midwest and Ohio, consistent with his Plainwell, Michigan roots.
2025 Season Performance
Conklin’s 2025 campaign with the Cleveland Browns saw him start all eight of his appearances before a Week 13 concussion against the San Francisco 49ers ended his season. On December 20, 2025, the team placed him on season-ending injured reserve. The injury came at a difficult stretch for the Browns and tested the depth of an offensive line that had been among the most stable units in the league.
Through his first eight games, Conklin continued to play his usual role as a starting offensive tackle, providing veteran leadership and run-blocking stability. His All-Pro pedigree and his previous work alongside guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller made him a central part of Cleveland’s identity up front whenever he was on the field.
Looking ahead, Conklin remains under contract with the Browns through the 2026 season following his December 2022 extension. The Browns will look to his recovery and return as a key part of their offensive line plans, given his history of All-Pro play and his track record as a team leader in the trenches.
