Jeff Teat Bio
Jeffrey Steven Teat (born April 30, 1997) is a Canadian professional lacrosse player who competes in two of North America’s top leagues. He plays for the New York Atlas of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and the Ottawa Black Bears of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Teat is one of only five players in lacrosse history to be selected first overall in both the NLL and PLL/MLL drafts, joining Kevin Crowley, Lyle Thompson, Brennan O’Neill, and CJ Kirst in that elite group. A multi-time All-American at Cornell University, he has earned rookie, scoring, and MVP honors since turning professional in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Jeff Teat was born on April 30, 1997, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. He is the son of Dan and Maria Teat. Dan Teat played fourteen seasons in the NLL, giving his son an early and deep connection to the professional box game. That family background helped shape Jeff’s understanding of the sport and his path through competitive lacrosse in Ontario.
Teat attended The Hill Academy, a private school known for its strong lacrosse program, where he played five seasons of the sport. He also played Junior A lacrosse for the Brampton Excelsiors in the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League (OJALL). In his final Junior A season, Teat recorded 145 points during the regular season, the most of any OJALL player since John Grant Jr. He finished that year with 211 points including playoffs, as Brampton reached the Ontario League semifinals. These results made him the top recruit in his graduating class according to Inside Lacrosse.
Path to Lacrosse
Coming out of The Hill Academy, Teat arrived at Cornell University in the fall of 2016 as the number one recruit in his class. With the Cornell Big Red, he became a three-time USILA All-American and a two-time Tewaaraton Award nominee. He was also named an Inside Lacrosse All-American and an All-Ivy League selection across multiple seasons, recognition that confirmed his place among the top college players in the country.
His senior season at Cornell was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting his final year of eligibility. Despite that, he graduated third all-time in assists and points in program history. Teat then made the decision to turn professional, entering both the NLL and PLL/MLL draft pipelines and quickly establishing himself as one of the most decorated young attackers in the sport.
Jeff Teat Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Teat began his professional career in 2021. He was selected first overall by the New York Riptide in the 2020 NLL Draft, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his debut until the 2022 NLL season. He had also been picked by Atlas Lacrosse Club first overall in the PLL draft the previous year, becoming the third player, after Lyle Thompson and Kevin Crowley, to be taken first overall in both the NLL and professional outdoor lacrosse drafts.
Across his first two professional seasons, Teat made an immediate impact. In his PLL rookie year with Atlas, he finished second in league scoring despite missing two games, won the Rookie of the Year Award, and was nominated for the Jim Brown MVP Award. In the NLL, his 2022 rookie campaign set league rookie records for assists and points, and he was named NLL Rookie of the Year and a second-team All-NLL selection.
NLL Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Heading into the 2023 NLL season, Inside Lacrosse ranked Teat the number two forward in the league, a sign of how quickly he had established himself. He responded with one of the best individual seasons in recent NLL history, finishing with 136 points, just one shy of Dhane Smith’s single-season record. He led the league with 56 goals and added 80 assists, placing third in the league in total assists.
Teat finished third in MVP voting and was named a first-team All-NLL performer. On July 18, 2023, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Riptide, locking in his place as a cornerstone of the franchise. The strong production also translated into team success, as the Riptide later relocated to Ottawa and were rebranded as the Ottawa Black Bears ahead of the 2024-25 season, with Teat named the first captain in club history.
PLL Breakthrough and Atlas Era (2021–Present)
In the PLL, Teat continued to ascend after his rookie honors. He broke the PLL single-season points record during the 2024 campaign and was named league MVP. On April 12, 2025, he signed a two-year extension with Atlas and was named a tri-captain alongside Trevor Baptiste and Danny Logan, reinforcing his leadership role within the organization.
In 2025, Teat helped Atlas capture their first PLL Championship. He was named MVP of the championship game after a six-point performance in a 14-13 victory over the Denver Outlaws. Following the NLL season, he underwent shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the entirety of the 2026 season while recovering from the injury.
Driving Style and Strengths
Teat is listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 170 pounds, and he plays attack in field lacrosse and forward in box lacrosse, shooting left-handed. His game is built on elite vision, accurate passing, and a high-volume shot, allowing him to produce points at a near-record pace in both the NLL and PLL. His ability to read defenses and create for teammates has made him a focal point of every offense he has joined, while his scoring touch in tight spaces has translated cleanly from the indoor box game to the outdoor field.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature accomplishments, Teat was a first-overall NLL draft pick in 2020, a first-overall PLL draft pick in 2021, the 2022 NLL Rookie of the Year, the 2024 PLL MVP, and a PLL champion in 2025. He also set the PLL single-season points record in 2024 and came within one point of the NLL single-season points record in 2023. He was named the first captain in Ottawa Black Bears history after the franchise relocated from New York.
Jeff Teat Career Wins
Jeff Teat has collected individual awards and team titles across the PLL, NLL, and international stages. His trophy case includes Rookie of the Year honors in both the PLL and NLL, MVP recognition in the PLL, and a PLL Championship with the New York Atlas in 2025. He has also represented Canada at multiple world championship events, winning medals in both field and sixes competition.
PLL Highlights
In the Premier Lacrosse League, Teat was named Rookie of the Year in his debut season with Atlas and was nominated for the Jim Brown MVP Award the same year. He later set the PLL single-season points record in 2024 en route to winning league MVP, and in 2025 he helped Atlas win their first PLL Championship while earning championship game MVP honors.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the PLL, Teat was named NLL Rookie of the Year in 2022 and a first-team All-NLL selection in 2023, when he led the league in goals. Internationally, he represented Canada at the 2016 Under-19 World Lacrosse Championship and the 2018 World Lacrosse Championship, earning silver medals at both events. He has also competed for Canada at the World Games and the World Lacrosse Box Championships, contributing to additional medal-winning performances on the international stage.
Jeff Teat Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jeff Teat comes from a strong lacrosse family. His father, Dan Teat, played fourteen seasons in the National Lacrosse League and has remained involved in the sport as an assistant coach with Panther City Lacrosse Club. His mother is Maria Teat. Growing up around the professional game gave Jeff an early understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest levels of lacrosse.
Personal Life
Teat was raised in Brampton, Ontario, the same city where he played his Junior A lacrosse with the Brampton Excelsiors. He attended The Hill Academy before going on to Cornell University, where he completed his collegiate career as one of the most productive players in program history. He continues to be recognized in lacrosse circles by his longtime connection to Brampton and the broader Ontario lacrosse community.
2025 Season Performance
Jeff Teat’s 2025 season has been defined by championship success in the PLL and a heavy workload split between two professional leagues. In the Premier Lacrosse League, he served as a tri-captain for the New York Atlas and was a central figure in their run to the franchise’s first PLL Championship, earning championship game MVP honors after a six-point performance in a 14-13 win over the Denver Outlaws. He also signed a two-year extension with Atlas on April 12, 2025, signaling his long-term commitment to the club.
In the NLL, Teat continued as captain of the Ottawa Black Bears, the relocated former New York Riptide, following his strong 2023 campaign in which he led the league in goals and was named first-team All-NLL. His production and leadership have made him one of the most visible two-sport professionals in lacrosse, balancing indoor and outdoor schedules at an elite level.
Looking ahead, Teat is expected to miss the entirety of the 2026 season after undergoing shoulder surgery related to an NLL injury, a significant setback for both Atlas and the Black Bears. The recovery period will test the depth of both rosters, but his contract extension and leadership roles suggest he remains a central part of each franchise’s long-term plans once he returns to full health.