Joel Wilson Bio
Joel Wilson (born June 21, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 4 in and listed at 245 lb, he plays the tight end position and wears number 83. He attended Petoskey High School in his hometown before playing college football for the Central Michigan Chippewas from 2018 through 2022. After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, Wilson has moved through several organizations while building his professional resume.
Wilson joined the Tennessee Titans in September 2025 and signed a reserve and future contract with the club in early January 2026. His route to a stable NFL roster has included practice squad stints and short stints with active rosters across multiple franchises.
Early Life and Background
Joel Wilson was born on June 21, 2000, in Petoskey, Michigan, a small city in the northern Lower Peninsula. He grew up in the Petoskey area and attended Petoskey High School, where he first developed as a football player. Petoskey is a community with a strong local sports tradition, and Wilson played quarterback for the high school team during his formative years.
His experience as a high school quarterback helped shape his early understanding of offensive schemes and passing concepts, skills that later translated to his role as a receiving tight end. Coming out of Petoskey, Wilson attracted college attention and chose to continue his football career at Central Michigan University, located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Central Michigan offered Wilson the chance to compete in the Mid-American Conference, one of the longest-running conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The decision kept him close to home while providing a clear pathway to develop his game at the collegiate level.
Path to American Football
Wilson committed to Central Michigan out of high school and enrolled with the Chippewas for the 2018 season. The program had a history of producing tight ends who went on to professional opportunities, which made it a logical landing spot for a young player still learning the position. Coaches at Central Michigan moved Wilson into a tight end role, where his size and catching skills fit naturally.
Through his first three college seasons, Wilson appeared in a limited number of games while adjusting to the speed and physical demands of major college football. A broken foot cut into his 2019 playing time, and the shortened 2020 schedule limited his opportunities as well. Those early seasons became a foundation for his later breakout years at Central Michigan.
By the 2021 season, Wilson had settled into a more prominent role in the Chippewas offense. His growing comfort with the position and increased trust from the coaching staff set the stage for the productive stretch that defined the end of his college career.
Joel Wilson Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
As a freshman in 2018, Joel Wilson caught one pass for five yards in his first taste of collegiate action. The following season, he added one reception for seven yards while also making a tackle, though a broken foot limited his overall playing time. The 2020 season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Wilson finished that year with five receptions for 50 yards.
Those three seasons were developmental rather than statistical. Wilson used the limited snaps to adjust to the speed of college football and to learn the details of playing tight end at the FBS level. His role would expand significantly once the Chippewas leaned on him as a featured receiver.
Central Michigan Breakthrough (2021–2022)
The 2021 season marked a clear step forward for Joel Wilson at Central Michigan. In week three against LSU, he hauled in four passes for 31 yards and scored his first career touchdown. Later that year, he caught three passes for 41 yards and a touchdown in the 2021 Sun Bowl, helping the Chippewas beat Washington State 24–21. Wilson finished 2021 with 31 receptions for 367 yards and six touchdowns, establishing himself as a reliable red-zone target.
In 2022, Wilson opened the year with five receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown against Penn State, and later recorded eight receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown versus Bowling Green. A touchdown catch against Northern Illinois was followed by a season-ending injury that cut his final campaign short. He still finished 2022 with 44 receptions for 445 yards and six touchdowns, earning third-team All-MAC recognition for his play.
Across his career at Central Michigan, Joel Wilson totaled 82 receptions for 874 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those numbers made him one of the more productive tight ends in program history and positioned him for a shot at the professional level.
Tennessee Titans Era (2025–Present)
On September 15, 2025, Joel Wilson signed with the Tennessee Titans practice squad, giving him another opportunity in the NFL. The Titans, based in Nashville, added him as a developmental tight end with a background in both high school quarterback play and college receiving. Wilson then signed a reserve and future contract with Tennessee on January 5, 2026, locking in his place with the organization beyond the current campaign.
Wearing number 83 for the Titans, Wilson works in a tight end room that values size and pass-catching ability, both of which fit his profile. His progression on the practice squad in 2025 set the foundation for what the Titans hope will be a longer-term role with the active roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 ft 4 in and 245 lb, Wilson combines the frame of a traditional in-line tight end with the receiving background of a former high school quarterback. His experience taking snaps under center has helped him read coverage and find soft spots in zones. He is also comfortable working as a red-zone target, where his catch radius and body control allow him to compete for contested throws.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wilson’s first college touchdown came in 2021 against LSU, and his first bowl touchdown came in the Sun Bowl win over Washington State later that same season. His third-team All-MAC selection in 2022 stands as the highest individual honor of his career so far. His signing of a reserve and future contract with the Tennessee Titans in January 2026 is his longest-term commitment from an NFL franchise.
Joel Wilson Career Wins
Joel Wilson has notched team and individual milestones across his college and professional career, though verified individual game-by-game win totals at the NFL level are limited. His clearest team win on the national stage came in the 2021 Sun Bowl, when Central Michigan beat Washington State 24–21 with Wilson catching a touchdown.
NCAA Highlights
During his time with the Central Michigan Chippewas, Joel Wilson appeared in multiple bowl and conference games, including the Sun Bowl victory over Washington State. His 12 career college touchdowns, spread across the 2021 and 2022 seasons, gave the Chippewas a reliable target in the red zone. The third-team All-MAC nod in 2022 served as the formal recognition of those contributions.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his college resume, Wilson has yet to record a verified NFL regular-season win as a featured contributor. His movement through multiple practice squads with the New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Tennessee Titans reflects steady perseverance rather than headline victories.
Joel Wilson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joel Wilson was raised in Petoskey, Michigan, where his family has ties to the local community. Beyond his hometown roots, detailed public information about his parents and extended family is not widely available.
Personal Life
Wilson keeps much of his personal life private, and no verified public details about a spouse or children are available. He continues to be identified publicly as an American professional football tight end representing the Tennessee Titans.
2025 Season Performance
Joel Wilson joined the Tennessee Titans practice squad in mid-September 2025, positioning himself for potential elevation during the season. The Titans tight end group featured a mix of veterans and developmental players, and Wilson provided additional depth on the practice field throughout the fall. His familiarity with multiple offensive systems, picked up during stints with other NFL organizations, helped him adjust quickly to Tennessee’s scheme.
Wearing number 83, Wilson focused on refining his route running and blocking responsibilities at the professional level. While game-day statistics from the 2025 season are limited given his practice squad role, his continued presence on the roster indicated steady growth in the eyes of the Titans coaching staff.
The January 5, 2026, reserve and future contract gave Wilson job security beyond the 2025 campaign and a clearer path toward competing for a spot on the active roster. Heading into 2026, his goal will be to translate his practice work into regular-season production for the Tennessee Titans.