Jon Feliciano Bio
Jon Feliciano is an American former professional football player who spent ten seasons as an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL). Born on February 10, 1992, in East Meadow, New York, Feliciano built his career with four organizations: the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, he appeared in 113 regular-season games and started 61 of them across his decade in the league.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at 325 pounds during his playing days, Feliciano was known for his durability, positional flexibility, and steady presence along the interior offensive line. He played his college football at the University of Miami, where he developed into a multi-year starter before making the jump to the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Jon Feliciano was born in East Meadow, New York, to a family with deep cultural roots. His father, Rafael Feliciano, is of Puerto Rican descent and once worked as a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus driver, while his mother is of Sicilian descent. In the mid-1990s, Jon, his mother, and his younger brother relocated to South Florida, where the family settled into a new chapter of life.
As a child, Feliciano gravitated toward designing and playing video games, and he was also a passionate basketball player rather than a focused football prospect. In the early 2000s, the family moved to Davie, Florida, and Jon enrolled at Western High School, where he played both basketball and football.
His adolescence was marked by hardship. His mother’s long battle with cancer, periods of spotty household employment, his brother’s health challenges, and recurring financial and emotional strain shaped his perspective. In 2008, his mother returned to New York while Feliciano stayed in Davie to finish high school, and he openly spoke about experiencing periods of homelessness and hunger during those formative years.
Path to American Football
At Western High School, Feliciano blossomed into a legitimate college prospect. Scout.com rated him as a three-star recruit and the number 19 offensive guard in his class, while Rivals.com also listed him as a three-star prospect and the 55th-best offensive tackle nationally. He earned First-Team All-Broward honors from the Sun Sentinel, drawing interest from programs such as Akron, Florida International, and San Diego State.
Encouraged by his best friend Sean Cole and accompanied by his high school coach Rashad West, Feliciano attended the 2008 University of Miami spring scrimmage with his highlight tape. He caught the eye of Miami assistant Tommie Robinson and was offered a scholarship to play for the Hurricanes.
Considered a three-star offensive guard recruit, Feliciano joined the Miami program with the goal of becoming a Hurricane, beginning the road that would eventually lead him to the NFL.
Jon Feliciano Career
Early Career (2010–2014)
Feliciano arrived at the University of Miami as part of the 2010 recruiting class. He sat out his true freshman season while participating on the practice squad, using the year to adjust to the college level. Officially joining the active roster in 2011, he appeared in ten games and started eight, finishing with an 84 percent overall blocking grade while allowing zero sacks.
In 2012, he started all twelve games at left guard and helped anchor an offensive line that powered the third-best passing offense (295.4 yards per game) and fifth-best total offense (440.2 yards per game) in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He earned All-ACC honorable mention from the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, repeating that recognition in 2013 after starting all thirteen games.
Oakland Raiders (2015–2018)
Feliciano was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round, 128th overall, of the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent his first four professional seasons in Oakland, working primarily in a reserve role while learning the pro game. On December 22, 2017, he was placed on injured reserve.
In 2018, Feliciano played in thirteen games and started four at left guard in place of an injured Kelechi Osemele. His season ended on December 11, 2018, when he was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury, closing his Raiders chapter.
Buffalo Bills (2019–2021)
On March 13, 2019, Feliciano signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Buffalo Bills, where he would enjoy the most consistent stretch of his career. In 2019, he started all sixteen games at right guard and earned his first Pro Bowl ballot mention, signaling his emergence as a dependable NFL starter.
In 2020, after suffering a shoulder injury and a torn pectoral muscle, he was activated on October 27 and still managed nine starts. He earned his second Pro Bowl ballot mention and received the Bills’ 2020 Ed Block Courage Award. On March 14, 2021, he signed a three-year, $17 million contract extension. He opened 2021 as the starting left guard before a calf injury sent him to injured reserve on November 6. The Bills released him on March 9, 2022.
New York Giants (2022)
On March 16, 2022, Feliciano signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants, adding veteran interior line depth for a franchise in transition.
San Francisco 49ers (2023–2024)
On March 21, 2023, Feliciano signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, and the team announced on May 18 that he would line up at guard. He became a starter for the 49ers and appeared in Super Bowl LVIII, where San Francisco fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 25–22 in overtime. On March 18, 2024, he re-signed with the 49ers before landing on injured reserve on August 28.
Notable Events and Milestones
Feliciano’s career-defining moment came with his appearance in Super Bowl LVIII as a starting guard for the San Francisco 49ers, a culmination of ten years of perseverance in the NFL.
Jon Feliciano Career Wins
Across his ten NFL seasons with the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers, Feliciano appeared in 113 regular-season games and started 61. While individual game-by-game win totals are not consistently documented, his long career as a starter reflects steady contributions to multiple playoff-caliber offensive lines.
Other Wins and Performances
Feliciano earned two Pro Bowl ballot mentions during his time with the Buffalo Bills and was named the team’s 2020 Ed Block Courage Award recipient for his perseverance through injury. His Super Bowl LVIII start with the 49ers stands as the headline performance of his career.
Jon Feliciano Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jon Feliciano’s family background shaped much of his personal story. His father, Rafael Feliciano, is of Puerto Rican descent and worked as a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus driver, while his mother is of Sicilian descent. He also has a younger brother, and the family endured significant hardship, including his mother’s long battle with cancer and recurring financial strain, during his formative years in Florida.
Personal Life
Feliciano grew up between East Meadow, New York, and Davie, Florida, and his cultural roots run through both Puerto Rican and Sicilian heritage. Public details about his personal life, including marital status, remain limited.
2025 Season Performance
On February 20, 2025, Jon Feliciano announced his retirement from the NFL, closing the book on a ten-season professional career. With his retirement, there is no 2025 on-field performance to track, and his focus shifts from playing to life after football.
Across his final stint with the San Francisco 49ers, he provided veteran interior line play, started in Super Bowl LVIII, and offered leadership along the offensive line before injuries cut into his 2024 season. His exit from the game leaves a legacy of perseverance, durability, and steady professionalism.