Jelani Woods Bio
Jelani Woods is an American professional football tight end who plays in the National Football League (NFL). He is currently a member of the New York Jets, wearing jersey number 86. Before entering the NFL, he played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and later the Virginia Cavaliers. The Indianapolis Colts selected him in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and listed at 253 pounds, Woods combines rare size with the athleticism of a former high school quarterback. He is widely regarded as one of the more physically imposing tight ends of his draft class.
Early Life and Background
Jelani Woods was born on October 9, 1998, in Ellenwood, Georgia, United States. He grew up in Ellenwood and attended Cedar Grove High School, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete. His physical tools were evident from an early age, and he played both football and basketball for the school.
As a junior, Woods started at quarterback for Cedar Grove and passed for 1,992 yards with 20 touchdown passes against only six interceptions. He was also recognized by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as an honorable mention All-State selection in basketball. In his senior season, he was again named honorable mention All-State while also earning first-team All-Region 5 3A honors after throwing for 2,316 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Rated a three-star recruit, Woods drew college interest from several major programs, including Michigan, Louisville, Kansas State, and South Carolina. He ultimately committed to play college football at Oklahoma State, joining the program as an early enrollee.
Path to Professional Football
Woods began his college career at Oklahoma State, where the coaching staff moved him from quarterback to tight end during preparations for the 2017 Camping World Bowl. He redshirted his freshman year and adjusted to his new position during practices. As a redshirt freshman, he finished with seven receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
During his redshirt sophomore and redshirt junior seasons at Oklahoma State, Woods continued to grow into his role. He recorded 16 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown in his second active season, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference recognition. He repeated that honor the following year after posting eight receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Following the end of his redshirt junior season, Woods announced his decision to transfer to the Virginia Cavaliers as a graduate student. In 2021, he broke out with 44 receptions for 598 yards and eight touchdowns, earning first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. That performance cemented his status as a legitimate NFL prospect.
Jelani Woods Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Jelani Woods entered the NFL when the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the third round with the 73rd overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft. He wasted no time making an impact at the professional level. In Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Woods scored his first two professional touchdowns on his first two career receptions, helping the Colts to a 20–17 victory.
He finished his rookie season with 25 receptions for 312 yards and three touchdowns. On August 30, 2023, however, Woods was placed on injured reserve, and on August 23, 2024, it was announced that he had undergone toe surgery and would miss roughly four months in recovery.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2022–2024)
Woods spent his first three NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts after being drafted in 2022. His rookie campaign was the highlight of his time in Indianapolis, as he became a red-zone threat almost immediately. His two-touchdown debut against Kansas City stood as the defining moment of his first year.
Injuries disrupted the rest of his tenure with the Colts. The 2023 season was cut short by an injured reserve designation, and a toe surgery in August 2024 forced him to miss significant time once again. On August 26, 2025, Woods was waived by Indianapolis as part of the team’s final roster cuts.
New York Jets Era (2025–Present)
On August 27, 2025, Jelani Woods was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets, giving him a fresh opportunity with a new organization. The move paired his size and pass-catching background with a Jets offense looking to add depth at the tight end position.
On March 11, 2026, Woods re-signed with the Jets, signaling the franchise’s commitment to keeping him in the fold. Wearing jersey number 86, Woods is currently listed as an active member of the Jets roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 7 inches and 253 pounds, Jelani Woods brings an exceptionally tall frame to the tight end position. His background as a high school and college-level quarterback gives him a strong understanding of route concepts and pass coverage. He is best utilized as a red-zone target, where his catch radius and physicality create matchup problems for smaller defensive backs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Woods’s most memorable professional moment came in Week 3 of the 2022 season, when he scored touchdowns on his first two career receptions against the Kansas City Chiefs. That performance made him one of the few tight ends in recent memory to begin his NFL career with multiple touchdown catches. His first-team All-ACC selection in 2021 also stands as a major collegiate milestone.
Jelani Woods Career Statistics
Through his first three NFL seasons, Jelani Woods has recorded 25 receptions for 312 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in the regular season, all of which came during his 2022 rookie year with the Indianapolis Colts. Injuries in 2023 and 2024 limited his opportunities to add to those totals. His career statistics reflect a player whose impact has so far been concentrated in his debut season.
Jelani Woods Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Jelani Woods’s family background is limited. He was raised in Ellenwood, Georgia, and has been recognized throughout his career as a product of that community. Detailed information about his parents and immediate family members is not widely available in verified sources.
Woods has kept his personal life largely private, and there is no publicly confirmed information regarding a spouse, partner, or children. His focus since entering the NFL has been on his professional development and recovery from injuries.
2025 Season Performance
Jelani Woods’s 2025 season was defined by a major career transition. After being waived by the Indianapolis Colts at the end of August, he was quickly claimed by the New York Jets and joined his new team just one day later. The change of scenery offered him a chance to reset after two injury-plagued seasons.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, Woods contributed as a depth tight end and red-zone option for the Jets, leaning on the size and athleticism that made him a third-round pick in 2022. His familiarity with NFL schemes, gained during his time in Indianapolis, helped him acclimate to New York’s offense.
Looking ahead, Woods’s re-signing with the Jets in March 2026 indicates that the organization views him as a long-term piece of the tight end room. With health on his side, he has the opportunity to expand his role and add to his career receiving totals in the seasons to come.
