Jon Gaines II Bio
Jon Gaines II (born May 24, 1999) is an American professional football player who plays the center position for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at 315 pounds, he wears jersey number 71 and is recognized for his size, technique, and quick feet along the offensive line. After a standout college career at UCLA, where he appeared in more than 2,300 snaps, Gaines transitioned to the professional level in 2023.
Before joining the NFL, Gaines developed into a versatile lineman who started games at tackle, guard, and center during his time with the UCLA Bruins. He entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick and continues to build his résumé as a young interior blocker for the Cardinals.
Early Life and Background
Jon Gaines II was born on May 24, 1999, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a suburb in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. He grew up in the same community where he would later become known as a promising football prospect.
Gaines attended Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, where he played football and competed in track and field. In football, he lined up at tackle and served as a team captain. His high school production earned him a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State honorable mention in 2017, and he was ranked the tenth-best player in the state as a three-star recruit. Nationally, he was rated as the 128th-best tackle in his recruiting class.
Coming out of high school, Gaines received scholarship offers from several college programs, including Northern Illinois, California, Iowa, and Purdue. After weighing his options, he committed to the University of California, Los Angeles, choosing to develop his game on the West Coast rather than remain closer to home.
Path to American Football
Gaines’s journey to becoming a professional football player began with steady development at UCLA. He arrived on campus in 2018 and appeared in one game as a true freshman, finishing the season with a brief appearance in the finale against Stanford. The experience gave him an early look at the speed and physicality of college football.
As a redshirt freshman in 2019, Gaines became a regular contributor, playing in every game and earning his first start. He helped block for running back Joshua Kelley, who surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark that season, and he contributed to a UCLA rushing attack that produced five consecutive 200-yard games, the program’s first such streak in more than four decades.
During the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Gaines started four of seven games, continuing to refine his technique. By 2021, he had developed into a full-time starter capable of playing multiple positions along the offensive line, setting the stage for his final collegiate season and a decision to turn professional.
Jon Gaines II Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Gaines’s first two years at UCLA were a gradual introduction to the starting level. After a single appearance in 2018, he returned as a redshirt freshman in 2019 and immediately contributed on an offensive line that supported Joshua Kelley’s standout rushing season. The streak of five straight 200-yard rushing games showcased the line’s ability to control the line of scrimmage.
In 2020, the shortened schedule gave Gaines a chance to start four of seven games. Although the season was unusual because of the pandemic, his continued development at multiple line positions laid the foundation for his promotion to a full-time starting role the following year.
UCLA Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Gaines became a full-time starter in 2021, lining up at tackle, guard, and center. That versatility was a defining trait of his college career and made him an attractive prospect for NFL teams looking for positional flexibility. He played a key role in running back Zach Charbonnet’s first 1,000-yard season and helped UCLA lead the Pac-12 Conference in rushing yards per game.
As a senior in 2022, Gaines started every game and was a steady presence on the right side of the line, appearing on all 932 offensive snaps at right guard. The offensive line was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best unit in college football. He earned an honorable mention all-conference selection and finished his UCLA career having played 2,382 snaps while allowing only five sacks and 52 pressures. After the season, he chose to forgo his final year of eligibility and declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, also accepting an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2023–Present)
Gaines accepted an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, where he posted the best short shuttle time among all participants, demonstrating his agility for a player of his size. He was projected as a third-to-fifth-round selection and ultimately heard his name called in the fourth round, 122nd overall, by the Arizona Cardinals.
His rookie season proved to be brief. On August 29, 2023, the Cardinals placed Gaines on injured reserve, which ended his first year before it could fully begin. Despite the setback, his development as a young interior lineman with positional versatility has positioned him as a developmental piece for the Cardinals moving forward.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Gaines’s career so far is his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, where his short shuttle time led all participants and signaled his athletic upside to NFL evaluators. His selection in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals marked his official entry into professional football, and his role in UCLA’s Joe Moore Award semifinalist offensive line in 2022 highlighted his college credentials.
Jon Gaines II Career Wins
Other Wins & Performances
As an interior offensive lineman, individual win totals are not tracked in the same manner as skill position players. Gaines’s most celebrated performance came at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, where he produced the top short shuttle result of any participant. In college, his contributions to UCLA’s 1,000-yard rushing seasons for Joshua Kelley in 2019 and Zach Charbonnet in 2021 and 2022, as well as the Bruins’ 2022 Joe Moore Award semifinalist offensive line, represent his most recognized team achievements.
Jon Gaines II Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Jon Gaines II’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and attended Marquette University High School in nearby Milwaukee, where he developed as a multi-sport athlete. Further details about his parents or relatives have not been widely reported.
Personal Life
Details about Jon Gaines II’s personal life, including marital status and children, have not been publicly confirmed in available sources. He continues to focus on his professional football career with the Arizona Cardinals.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Jon Gaines II remains part of the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive line room as a developing interior blocker. After his rookie year was cut short by an injured reserve placement in 2023, his progress within the team’s system will be a key storyline to follow. The Cardinals have invested in young linemen, and Gaines’s positional flexibility at center, guard, and tackle gives the coaching staff options along the front.
Gaines’s reputation as a technician with quick feet, established at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, remains one of his strongest traits. His challenge will be translating his college résumé, which included more than 2,300 snaps and protection responsibilities for 1,000-yard rushers, into consistent playing time at the professional level.
As the 2025 season unfolds, the outlook for Gaines will depend on his health, his development within the Cardinals’ offensive scheme, and his ability to earn a steady role on game days. His combination of size, athleticism, and versatility positions him as a player to watch in the team’s interior line rotation.