Jeff Wilson Bio
Jeffery Wilson Jr., born on November 16, 1995, in Palestine, Texas, is an American professional football running back who has built a steady career in the National Football League (NFL) since 2018. After going unselected in the 2018 NFL Draft, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent and went on to carve out a role as a reliable depth back and special teams contributor. Listed at 6 feet 0 inches tall and 213 pounds, Wilson has suited up for the 49ers and the Miami Dolphins across multiple stints with each organization, earning a reputation for hard running and dependable pass protection.
Wilson played his college football at the University of North Texas, where he finished among the program’s all-time leaders in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Across his NFL career, he has accumulated 2,370 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 74 receptions, 585 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns. He is currently a member of the Miami Dolphins after returning to the franchise in late August 2025.
Early Life and Background
Jeffery Wilson Jr. was raised in East Texas and attended Elkhart High School in the small community of Elkhart, Texas. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a two-star recruit at the running back position. Despite that modest ranking, Wilson developed into one of the most productive runners in Elkhart’s recent history, finishing his high school career with the kind of production that drew attention from several college programs.
As a senior, Wilson earned Associated Press Class 2A first-team all-state honors after rushing for 2,749 yards and 36 touchdowns. His high school performance attracted scholarship offers from Louisiana-Monroe, New Mexico State, and Texas State, but he ultimately chose to stay in his home region by committing to the University of North Texas.
Path to American Football
Wilson arrived at North Texas in 2014 and quickly earned a role in the Mean Green backfield. Over four collegiate seasons, he appeared in 41 games and made 29 starts, balancing a heavy rushing workload with regular contributions as a receiver out of the backfield. He finished his college career with 562 carries for 3,205 yards and 32 rushing touchdowns, along with 70 receptions for 527 yards and two receiving scores. Those totals placed him third in school history in rushing touchdowns and fourth in rushing yards at the time of his departure.
His senior season in 2017 marked his clearest breakthrough. Wilson started 11 games, rushed for 1,215 yards while averaging 6.5 yards per carry, and scored 16 touchdowns, adding 24 receptions for 168 yards. That production earned him Second-Team All-Conference USA recognition and helped him declare for the 2018 NFL Draft, where he went undrafted before quickly agreeing to terms with the San Francisco 49ers.
Jeff Wilson Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Wilson signed with the 49ers on May 1, 2018, but was waived at final cuts in early September. He was signed to the practice squad a day later and promoted to the active roster on November 24, making his NFL debut the following day against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished his rookie campaign appearing in six games with two starts, totaling 66 carries for 266 yards on the ground and 12 receptions for 98 yards through the air.
In 2019, Wilson again bounced between the practice squad and the active roster before settling into a complementary role. He finished that second season with 27 carries for 105 yards and four rushing touchdowns, plus three receptions for 34 yards and a receiving score. He was part of the 49ers roster that reached Super Bowl LIV, where the team fell 31-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
San Francisco 49ers Breakthrough (2020–2021)
The 2020 season was Wilson’s most productive as a professional to that point. He set a career high with 22 carries for 183 yards against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16 and finished the year with 126 carries for 600 yards and seven rushing touchdowns, adding 13 receptions for 133 yards and three receiving scores across 12 games and three starts. He signed a one-year extension in April 2020 and then an additional contract extension on January 26, 2021, locking him in as a core special teams player and change-of-pace back.
Injuries punctuated his 2021 campaign. Wilson tore his meniscus in May 2021 and opened the year on the reserve/PUP list, returning in November. He still managed 79 carries for 294 yards and two touchdowns plus seven receptions for 31 yards in nine games and four starts, highlighted by a 21-carry, 110-yard performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15.
San Francisco 49ers Second Stint and Miami Dolphins Era (2022–2025)
Wilson re-signed with the 49ers in March 2022 and opened the season with the team before being traded to the Miami Dolphins on November 1, 2022, in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick. He made his Dolphins debut in Week 9 against the Chicago Bears and went on to appear in 16 combined games with seven starts between the two teams that year, finishing 2022 with 176 carries for 860 yards and five rushing touchdowns to go along with 22 receptions for 185 yards and a receiving score. He added 10 carries for 23 yards and a touchdown in the Dolphins’ Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Wilson signed a two-year contract extension with the Dolphins in March 2023, but injuries and a crowded backfield limited him to 41 carries for 188 yards and 14 receptions for 85 yards in 10 games during the 2023 season. In 2024, his role shrank further, producing 16 carries for 57 yards and three receptions for 19 yards across nine games.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wilson has consistently been described as a between-the-tackles runner with above-average vision and dependable hands as a receiver. His track record of scoring through the air, including a game-winning 25-yard reception against the Cardinals in 2019, points to a comfort level in the passing game that goes beyond what is typical for a complementary back. He has also been trusted on special teams and in pass protection, two areas that have helped him remain on NFL rosters even when touches at running back have been limited.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Wilson’s signature moments are his three-touchdown game against the New England Patriots in 2020, his career-high 183-yard rushing performance against the Cardinals that same season, and his game-winning receiving touchdown in 2019 against Arizona. He is also a Super Bowl participant, having been part of the 49ers’ roster that reached Super Bowl LIV following the 2019 season.
Jeff Wilson Career Wins
Wilson has notched multiple individual milestones in the NFL, including surpassing 2,000 career rushing yards and reaching double-digit career rushing touchdowns. While he has not been a featured workhorse back, his production as a change-of-pace and short-yardage runner has been a steady asset for his teams.
NFL Highlights
Wilson’s most productive single season came in 2020, when he totaled 600 rushing yards and 10 combined touchdowns. He has reached as many as 176 carries in a season and has recorded at least one rushing touchdown in five different NFL seasons. He has also been a regular contributor in the postseason, appearing in playoff games for both the 49ers and the Dolphins.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Wilson earned Second-Team All-Conference USA honors in 2017 after a senior season that included 16 rushing touchdowns. He also finished his North Texas career ranked third in program history in rushing touchdowns and fourth in rushing yards, and he was a first-team all-state selection as a high school senior in Texas.
Jeff Wilson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wilson comes from a small East Texas community and grew up in Palestine, Texas, before attending high school in nearby Elkhart. He is known publicly as Jeffery Wilson Jr., reflecting a family naming tradition, though specific details about his parents and siblings are not widely documented in public sources.
Personal Life
Wilson has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye. He is not publicly known to be married and has not made verifiable public statements about a spouse or children. His social media presence focuses primarily on his football career and training.
2025 Season Performance
Wilson’s 2025 campaign began with a return to the 49ers, where he re-signed on August 10, 2025. He was released as part of final roster cuts on August 26, however, and signed with the Dolphins’ practice squad two days later. He was elevated for the season opener in early September, providing Miami with backfield depth early in the year.
With the Dolphins’ running back room in flux, Wilson is positioned to compete for snaps as a situational runner and special teams contributor. His track record of producing on limited touches and contributing on coverage units makes him a natural fit for a depth role as the season unfolds.
Looking ahead, Wilson’s path to expanded playing time likely depends on health and opportunity within the Dolphins’ offensive game plan. Even in a limited role, he has historically delivered dependable production and remains a valued presence in the locker room as the 2025 season continues.
