Kylen Granson Bio
Kylen Granson is an American professional football tight end currently playing in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rice Owls and SMU Mustangs before being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft. Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and weighing 242 lb (110 kg), he is listed at the tight end position and has continued to develop as a reliable pass catcher and blocker at the professional level.
Across his professional career, Granson has suited up for the Indianapolis Colts and the Philadelphia Eagles, building a resume as a dependable receiving tight end. As of the 2025 season, he has recorded 93 career receptions for 998 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown. He is married to Daisy Foko, and his full name, Kylen Granson, has become increasingly familiar to NFL fans tracking tight end depth charts around the league.
Early Life and Background
Kylen Granson was born on March 27, 1998, in DeMotte, Indiana, in the United States. Although he was born in Indiana, he grew up in Austin, Texas, where he attended Westlake High School. His upbringing in central Texas helped shape his early development as a multi-sport athlete, with football eventually becoming his primary focus. The combination of Midwestern roots and a Texas upbringing gave him a grounded, blue-collar approach that has carried into his professional career.
At Westlake High School, Granson was named second-team All-District 14-6A as a senior, a recognition that highlighted his production on the field. He was not heavily recruited out of high school, but his performance drew the attention of several college programs. Granson ultimately chose to commit to Rice over an offer from Harvard, prioritizing the opportunity to play early as a wide receiver in a college offense. That decision set the foundation for his eventual transition to tight end at the next level.
Path to American Football
Granson began his collegiate career as a wide receiver for the Rice Owls, where he made an immediate impact. As a freshman, he caught 33 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating the hands and route-running ability that would later define his game. He followed that up with 18 receptions for 241 yards in his sophomore season, showing consistent productivity even as the program experienced coaching changes around him.
After the firing of Rice head coach David Bailiff, Granson left the program and briefly enrolled at Austin Community College, hoping to walk on at the University of Texas. A chance encounter with Coach Bailiff on the Texas campus changed the direction of his career, as Bailiff began contacting coaches on Granson’s behalf. SMU head coach Sonny Dykes offered him a walk-on spot, giving Granson a fresh start. He sat out his first year in Dallas under NCAA transfer rules, was awarded a scholarship, and was converted to tight end.
As a redshirt junior at SMU, Granson caught 43 passes for 721 yards and nine touchdowns, earning second-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) honors. He followed that with a redshirt senior campaign of 35 receptions for 536 yards and five touchdowns, securing first-team All-AAC recognition. His 14 career touchdown receptions set a new school record for tight ends at SMU, cementing his status as one of the conference’s top pass-catching tight ends heading into the NFL draft.
Kylen Granson Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Granson was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round with the 127th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract with Indianapolis on May 19, 2021, and quickly began working to carve out a role within the Colts offense. As a rookie, he recorded 11 receptions for 106 yards, offering flashes of the receiving skill he had displayed at SMU while learning the nuances of the professional game.
In 2022, Granson made his first NFL start in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a milestone that signaled growing trust from the coaching staff. He finished the 2022 season with 31 receptions for 302 yards, more than doubling his rookie production. That year established him as a steady contributor in the Colts’ passing attack and laid the groundwork for a larger role in his third professional season.
Indianapolis Colts Breakthrough (2023)
The 2023 season marked a notable step forward for Granson within the Indianapolis offense. He scored his first NFL touchdown in September 2023 against the Houston Texans, a long-awaited milestone that reflected his continued development. Granson made seven starts and appeared in 15 games that year, finishing with 30 receptions for 368 yards and one touchdown.
Heading into 2024, Granson announced that he would wear a Guardian Cap during games to help protect himself from brain injuries, becoming one of only two Colts players to commit to wearing the device at the time. His willingness to prioritize long-term health over aesthetics was widely noted and reflected his thoughtful approach to a physically demanding sport. He continued to be a consistent presence in the Colts’ tight end room, providing both receiving production and blocking support.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2025)
On March 20, 2025, Granson signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. The move offered him an opportunity to compete in a different offensive system and contribute to a contending roster. He joined the Eagles as a veteran depth tight end with starting experience, giving Philadelphia additional flexibility at the position.
During the 2025 season, Granson continued to add to his career totals, which include 93 receptions, 998 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown. He worked to establish a role within the Eagles’ tight end rotation, drawing on his experience in Indianapolis. His 2025 campaign was part of a one-year deal running through the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Granson is known for his reliability as a pass-catching tight end, with strong hands and the ability to work the middle of the field. He is a smooth route runner for his size and shows the toughness required to block at the line of scrimmage, a skill set refined during his time at SMU. His combination of frame, athleticism, and football IQ allows him to contribute in both the passing and running game, making him a versatile piece of any offense he joins.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Granson’s signature milestones is his 14 career touchdown receptions at SMU, which set a new school record for tight ends. His first NFL touchdown came in September 2023 against the Houston Texans, a moment he had been working toward since his rookie season. He also earned first-team All-AAC honors in 2020 and second-team All-AAC recognition in 2019, and his 127th overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft remains a defining moment in his professional journey.
Kylen Granson Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Kylen Granson has built a steady résumé as a pass-catching tight end, with his production tracked primarily through receiving statistics rather than championship victories. His career totals through the 2025 season stand at 93 receptions for 998 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown, figures that reflect his role as a reliable complementary target. He has contributed to team efforts with the Indianapolis Colts and the Philadelphia Eagles, and his consistency has kept him on NFL rosters year after year.
Indianapolis Colts Highlights
During his time with the Indianapolis Colts from 2021 through 2024, Granson steadily increased his production each season. He posted 11 receptions for 106 yards as a rookie in 2021, then 31 receptions for 302 yards in 2022, and 30 receptions for 368 yards and his first NFL touchdown in 2023. His first career start came in Week 2 of the 2022 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a moment that helped establish his presence in the league.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Granson earned first-team All-AAC recognition in 2020 and second-team All-AAC honors in 2019 while at SMU, where his 14 touchdown receptions set a new school record for tight ends. His freshman year at Rice produced 33 catches for 381 yards and two touchdowns, and he followed that with 18 receptions for 241 yards in his sophomore season. These performances helped pave the way for his fourth-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft.
Kylen Granson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Kylen Granson’s parents and broader family background is limited, and he has not shared extensive details about his family in public forums. He was born in DeMotte, Indiana, and raised in Austin, Texas, where his high school years at Westlake shaped his football journey. His path from a lightly recruited high school prospect to an NFL tight end reflects a strong personal support system that helped him navigate multiple college stops.
Personal Life
Kylen Granson is married to Daisy Foko, with the couple’s wedding officiated by author John Green. He has been open about priorities beyond football, including his decision to wear a Guardian Cap during the 2024 season to help protect himself from brain injuries. That choice reflected his long-term perspective on health and well-being, both for himself and as an example for other players considering similar protective measures.
2025 Season Performance
Kylen Granson’s 2025 season was spent with the Philadelphia Eagles after signing a one-year contract on March 20, 2025. He joined the team as a veteran tight end with starting experience from his time in Indianapolis, providing depth and a reliable receiving option in the Eagles’ offensive scheme. Throughout the season, he contributed to the tight end room and added to his career receiving totals, which reached 93 receptions for 998 yards and 1 touchdown by the end of 2025.
His role in Philadelphia was shaped by his experience as a multi-year contributor with the Colts, where he had logged starts and developed into a dependable target. The Eagles’ system gave him the opportunity to work in different personnel groupings and showcase his blocking ability in addition to his receiving skills. That versatility allowed him to remain a valuable rotation piece during the 2025 campaign.
Looking beyond 2025, Granson’s next move came on March 16, 2026, when he signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. That agreement opened a new chapter in his career, giving him a fresh opportunity to contribute in another offense. His continued presence on NFL rosters reflects the value teams place on his experience, reliability, and well-rounded skill set as a tight end.
