Luke Schoonmaker Bio
Luke Schoonmaker is an American professional football tight end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and listed at 250 lb (113 kg), he plays a hybrid role as both a blocker and a pass catcher. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft, taken 58th overall.
Schoonmaker entered the league after five seasons at Michigan, where he developed into one of the most reliable tight ends in the Big Ten. As of the 2025 NFL season, he remains an active member of the Cowboys roster.
Early Life and Background
Luke Schoonmaker was born on September 28, 1998, in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He grew up in Old Saybrook, a small coastal town in Connecticut. As a youth, he was involved in multiple sports, but football quickly became his primary focus.
He attended Xavier High School, where he was a teammate of future NFL quarterback Will Levis. After his sophomore season, he transferred to Hamden Hall Country Day School to broaden his athletic opportunities. As a junior, he missed significant time after being diagnosed with mononucleosis and suffering a ruptured spleen, an ordeal that forced him to repeat the year.
The following season, Schoonmaker became the starting quarterback and led the team to an 11-0 record, winning the NEPSAC Mike Atkins Bowl. He also played offensive snaps at tight end. In his fifth-year senior campaign, he completed 18 passes, caught 22 passes, and carried the ball 34 times for 851 combined yards. Rated as the top player in Connecticut, he committed to play college football at the University of Michigan.
Path to American Football
Schoonmaker’s journey to the NFL was shaped by his unusual high school path, which combined quarterback, tight end, and running back duties. That versatility gave him a strong football IQ and a rare blend of throwing, catching, and rushing experience before he arrived in Ann Arbor.
At Michigan, he signed as part of the 2018 recruiting class and immediately joined a deep tight end room. Working behind veterans such as Sean McKeon, Nick Eubanks, and Erick All forced him to develop as a blocker and special teams contributor while waiting for his offensive opportunity.
His perseverance through injuries and limited early touches helped him earn a reputation as a reliable, team-first player. By his fifth year, that patience translated into a starting role, NFL scouting recognition, and an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Luke Schoonmaker Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
As a freshman in 2018, Schoonmaker appeared in one game as a backup tight end, earning his first varsity letter at Michigan. As a sophomore in 2019, he appeared in 10 games and worked as the fourth tight end behind McKeon, Eubanks, and All. He finished with 2 catches for 54 yards and 1 touchdown.
His first collegiate touchdown came on October 12, 2019, on a 25-yard pass from quarterback Shea Patterson. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic limited the schedule to six games. He appeared in all six contests as the third-string tight end but did not register any offensive statistics.
Michigan Breakthrough (2021-2022)
As a senior in 2021, Schoonmaker started 10 games when Michigan opened in a two-tight end formation. Used primarily for his blocking, he appeared in 9 games and recorded 17 catches for 165 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was part of a Michigan offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s top offensive line and earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors.
In January 2022, with eligibility remaining, Schoonmaker announced he would return to Michigan as a fifth-year senior. He was later named to the watch list for the Mackey Award and was rated by NFL scouts as Michigan’s most draftable senior.
As a fifth-year senior in 2022, starter Erick All appeared in the first three games before requiring back surgery, opening the door for Schoonmaker to start the rest of the year. On September 24, he caught a career-high 7 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown against Maryland. On October 8 against Indiana, he set another career high with 9 receptions, 67 yards, and a touchdown. He finished the season with 12 appearances, 11 starts, 35 receptions, 418 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns, while helping the offensive line win the Joe Moore Award for the second straight year. He also earned Third-team All-Big Ten honors.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2023-Present)
Schoonmaker was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round, 58th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. In Week 2 against the New York Jets, he scored his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard reception.
As a rookie in 2023, he appeared in all 17 games and finished with 8 receptions for 65 yards and 2 touchdowns. Through the 2025 season, his career totals include 49 receptions for 438 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns, reflecting his continued growth as a dual-threat tight end.
Driving Style and Strengths
Schoonmaker is recognized for his blocking reliability and his willingness to do the unglamorous work at the line of scrimmage. His high school background as a quarterback sharpened his route-running awareness and his understanding of offensive concepts. He pairs physicality at the point of attack with steady hands as a receiver.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include his first NFL touchdown against the Jets in 2023, his career-high nine-reception game against Indiana in 2022, and his role on back-to-back Joe Moore Award-winning offensive lines at Michigan in 2021 and 2022. He was also selected to participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl following his senior season.
Luke Schoonmaker Career Wins
As a tight end, Schoonmaker’s statistical success is measured in receptions, yards, and touchdowns rather than race wins. Across his college and professional career, his most prominent achievements include a Third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2022, two Joe Moore Award contributions at Michigan, and a second-round draft selection in the 2023 NFL draft.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Schoonmaker has recorded 49 receptions for 438 yards and 3 touchdowns through the 2025 season. His first NFL touchdown came on a one-yard reception in Week 2 of the 2023 season against the New York Jets. As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 games and finished with 8 receptions for 65 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Other Wins and Performances
In high school, Schoonmaker quarterbacked Hamden Hall Country Day School to an 11-0 record and a NEPSAC Mike Atkins Bowl championship. At Michigan, he was part of offensive line units that won the Joe Moore Award in both 2021 and 2022, recognition of the nation’s top offensive line.
Luke Schoonmaker Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Luke Schoonmaker’s parents and broader family background is not widely documented. He grew up in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, and attended Xavier High School before transferring to Hamden Hall Country Day School, where he was a teammate of future NFL quarterback Will Levis.
Personal Life
Luke Schoonmaker maintains an active presence on social media and continues to reside in the United States. There is no widely confirmed public information regarding a spouse or children at this stage of his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season represents Schoonmaker’s third year with the Dallas Cowboys and his opportunity to build on his growing production as a tight end. Career totals through the 2025 season stand at 49 receptions, 438 receiving yards, and 3 receiving touchdowns, numbers that reflect steady involvement within the Cowboys’ offensive game plan.
Coming off a rookie campaign in which he appeared in all 17 games and scored twice, Schoonmaker entered 2025 with an expanded role in the passing game. His combination of blocking strength and reliable hands gives Dallas flexibility in two-tight end sets, allowing the offense to balance the run and the pass.
As the season unfolds, Schoonmaker’s outlook hinges on staying healthy, refining his chemistry with the Cowboys’ quarterback room, and continuing to deliver as a blocker in the run game. With several productive seasons still ahead of him, he remains a developmental piece for the franchise.
