Marcedes Lewis Bio
Marcedes Alexis Lewis is an American professional football tight end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Born on May 19, 1984, in Los Alamitos, California, he played college football for the UCLA Bruins and earned consensus All-American honors. Selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft, Lewis has had a prolific career, showcasing his skills as both a receiver and a blocker. As of the 2025 season, he is recognized as one of the oldest tight ends in NFL history.
Nicknamed “Big Dog,” Lewis stands 6 feet 6 inches tall and has played in more than 270 regular-season games. Across his career, he has accumulated 437 receptions for 5,115 yards and 40 receiving touchdowns, and he was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2022 class.
Early Life and Background
Marcedes Alexis Lewis was born on May 19, 1984, in Los Alamitos, California. He grew up in the Long Beach area and attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, a program long known for producing top-tier football talent. At Long Beach Poly, Lewis played for the Jackrabbits and quickly established himself as one of the most promising tight ends in the country.
In 2001, Lewis competed in a nationally televised game against De La Salle High School of Concord, California, a matchup that gave him an early platform on a national stage. As a senior, he was named a Parade magazine high school All-American and was rated as a top prospect by every major recruiting service. His combination of size, athleticism, and receiving skills made him one of the most sought-after tight end recruits in the nation.
Path to American Football
Lewis took his talents to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played college football for the UCLA Bruins from 2002 to 2005. Over four seasons, he appeared in 49 games with 32 starts and steadily developed into one of the most productive tight ends in program history. He finished his college career ranked ninth on the school’s overall career receiving list and first among tight ends, with 126 receptions, 1,571 receiving yards, and 21 touchdowns, all UCLA tight end all-time records.
As a senior in 2005, Lewis was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection, a consensus All-American, and the winner of the John Mackey Award, given annually to the top tight end in college football. The following year, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the first round, 28th overall, of the 2006 NFL draft, and he signed a five-year, $7.5 million rookie contract with $4.9 million guaranteed. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the 2022 class.
Marcedes Lewis Career
Early Career (2006-2007)
Lewis made his NFL debut in Week 2 of the 2006 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 9-0 victory. He scored his first professional touchdown on a one-yard reception from David Garrard in Week 12 against the Buffalo Bills. He finished his rookie year with 13 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown across 15 games and three starts.
In 2007, Lewis’s role expanded significantly. He started all 16 games and recorded 37 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns, showing the kind of consistent two-way production that would define his career. By the end of his second season, he had cemented himself as a foundational piece of the Jaguars offense.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2006-2017)
Lewis spent his first 12 NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and grew into one of the franchise’s most reliable pass catchers. In 2008, he started all 16 games and recorded 41 receptions for 489 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in consecutive weeks. He matched that kind of durability in 2009 with another 16 starts, 32 receptions, 518 yards, and two touchdowns.
His breakout year came in 2010, when he matched the Jaguars’ single-season touchdown receptions record with 10 scores and was named to his first Pro Bowl, earning recognition as one of the league’s elite tight ends. He also had three games with multiple receiving touchdowns that season. The Jaguars placed the franchise tag on him in February 2011, and after a brief training camp holdout, he signed a five-year contract worth about $35 million, with $17 million guaranteed.
From 2011 through 2015, Lewis remained a steady presence, including a Week 17 performance in 2012 against the Tennessee Titans in which he had seven receptions for 103 yards, his first career 100-yard game. In March 2016, he re-signed a three-year, $12 million contract but was placed on injured reserve in November 2016 after suffering a calf injury. In 2017, he recorded a career-high three receiving touchdowns in a 44-7 victory over the Baltimore Ravens and finished the year with 24 receptions for 318 yards and five scores. He also caught his first postseason touchdown in the AFC Championship against the New England Patriots. The Jaguars released him on March 20, 2018, after 12 seasons.
Green Bay Packers Era (2018-2022)
Lewis signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract with the Green Bay Packers on May 24, 2018, and finished the year with three receptions for 39 yards. He re-signed on a similar deal in March 2019, and during a Week 13 victory over the New York Giants, he caught his first touchdown as a Packer, a one-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers.
Lewis re-signed again in 2020 and started 15 games, catching 10 passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns. The Packers again signed him in March 2021, this time to a two-year, $8 million contract, and he started all 17 games in 2021 while surpassing 5,000 career receiving yards during a Week 15 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. In 2022, his final season in Green Bay, he started all 17 games and had six receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
Chicago Bears Era (2023-2024)
Lewis signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears on August 4, 2023, and appeared in all 17 games with four starts, working primarily as a blocker. He re-signed on June 10, 2024, and during a Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, he broke a tie with Jason Witten for the most career games played by a tight end, reaching 272 appearances. He appeared in 17 games and started five in 2024.
Denver Broncos Era (2025-Present)
Lewis signed with the Denver Broncos practice squad on October 29, 2025, and was elevated to the active roster for Week 9 against the Houston Texans, becoming the oldest tight end ever to play in an NFL game as well as the oldest player in Broncos history. He was promoted to the active roster again on December 6 before being waived and re-signed to the practice squad five days later. He was promoted once more on December 25 and continued in a practice squad role into early January 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lewis has built a reputation as one of the most complete tight ends of his generation, valued equally as a pass catcher and as an in-line blocker. His 6-foot-6 frame, strong hands, and precise route running have allowed him to thrive as a chain-moving receiver, while his durability and toughness have made him a trusted run blocker. The longevity of his career reflects an exceptional ability to adapt his game to different quarterbacks and offensive systems, from David Garrard and Blake Bortles in Jacksonville to Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lewis’s signature moments include his 2010 Pro Bowl season, in which he tied the Jaguars’ single-season touchdown record with 10 scores, and his 2017 career-high three-touchdown performance against the Baltimore Ravens. He also reached the AFC Championship Game with the Jaguars and appeared in multiple NFC Championship Games with the Packers. In 2024, he surpassed Jason Witten for the most career games played by a tight end, and in 2025 he became the oldest tight end to play in an NFL game.
Marcedes Lewis Career Wins
Across his career, Marcedes Lewis has produced consistent results as both a receiver and a blocker, earning a Pro Bowl selection and major individual awards at the college level. While the tight end position rarely leads teams in traditional win statistics, his tenure has been marked by sustained production, longevity, and postseason appearances with multiple franchises.
Jacksonville Jaguars Highlights
Lewis played 12 seasons with the Jaguars and ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in tight end receptions and receiving touchdowns. His 2010 Pro Bowl campaign and 2017 career-high three-touchdown game against the Baltimore Ravens stand as defining moments. He also caught his first postseason touchdown in the 2017 AFC Championship against the New England Patriots.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond Jacksonville, Lewis made meaningful contributions as a blocker and situational receiver for the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos. He appeared in multiple NFC Championship Games with the Packers and set a league record for career games played by a tight end during his time with the Bears.
Marcedes Lewis Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Marcedes Lewis’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in the Long Beach, California area and built his early football career at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where he was widely regarded as a top national recruit at the tight end position.
Personal Life
Lewis has remained active in his hometown of Long Beach, California, where he hosts football camps that combine sports development with academics. He is also an avid fan of mixed martial arts and has trained with UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell. He is often seen attending UFC events, including UFC 303 in Las Vegas alongside former teammate Aaron Rodgers.
2025 Season Performance
Lewis’s 2025 campaign began when he signed with the Denver Broncos practice squad on October 29, providing veteran leadership and tight end depth midway through the season. He was elevated to the active roster for Week 9 against the Houston Texans, becoming the oldest tight end to ever appear in an NFL game and the oldest player in Broncos history.
He continued to move between the practice squad and the active roster in the weeks that followed, earning promotions on December 6 and December 25 while contributing as a blocker and mentor in the tight end room. Even in a limited on-field role, his presence provided a steady veteran voice in the locker room and on the sideline for a Broncos team pushing toward the postseason.
Looking ahead, Lewis’s primary value to the Broncos remains his experience, his blocking pedigree, and his ability to step into larger offensive roles when needed. Whether he returns in 2026 or transitions into coaching or broadcasting, his place among the most durable and respected tight ends in NFL history is already secure.
