Michael Jacobson Bio
Michael Jacobson (born April 4, 1997) is an American professional football tight end. He played college basketball at the University of Nebraska and Iowa State University before transitioning to the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 7 in and competing at 244 lb, he has built a pro career as a developmental practice squad and reserve tight end.
Born in Waukee, Iowa, Jacobson first gained recognition as a high school basketball player before earning a Division I scholarship. Although he originally committed to Nebraska, he transferred to Iowa State, where he became a multi-year starter and a Big 12 Conference academic honoree. After a brief professional basketball stint overseas, he shifted his focus to football and joined the NFL in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Michael Jacobson grew up in Waukee, Iowa, where he attended Waukee High School. He comes from a close family that includes his mother, Katie Jacobson, and his father, Bill Jacobson. Bill Jacobson played basketball at Omaha in the 1980s and currently works as an orthopedic surgeon. A grandfather also played football and baseball at Iowa State, giving the family a deep connection to Midwestern athletics.
During his high school years, Jacobson emerged as a dominant two-sport athlete. As a junior, he averaged 17.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, earning second-team all-state recognition. On February 3, 2015, he posted 34 points and 9 rebounds in an 82-57 win against Mason City High School. As a senior, he averaged 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, earning First-team All-CIML honors.
Jacobson drew college interest from a wide range of programs. He committed to play basketball at Nebraska over offers from Harvard, Lehigh, UTEP, Indiana State, and Drake. He also received a scholarship offer to play football at Iowa State, but he turned it down at the time to focus on basketball.
Path to American Football
Jacobson’s transition to the NFL was unconventional. After his senior season at Iowa State, he signed his first professional contract on August 17, 2020, with Kyiv-Basket of the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague. That overseas experience was brief, and he returned to the United States with a renewed interest in football, the sport his family had long ties to through his grandfather.
He entered the NFL pathway as an undrafted free agent in 2020, despite standing 6 ft 7 in and weighing 244 lb, an athletic frame well-suited to the tight end position. He signed his first NFL deal with the Seattle Seahawks on August 6, 2021, beginning a multi-year run between practice squads and active rosters across the league.
Michael Jacobson Career
Early Career (2021)
Michael Jacobson began his NFL journey with the Seattle Seahawks in August 2021. He signed with the team on August 6 but was waived on August 10 during final roster cuts. Seattle re-signed him to its practice squad on September 15, giving him his first sustained opportunity inside an NFL program. He was released from the practice squad on September 25.
Shortly after his release from Seattle, Jacobson joined the Indianapolis Colts practice squad on October 5, 2021. His strong measurables and basketball background helped him fit the modern tight end mold of a pass-catching big man with movement skills.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2021-2023)
With the Indianapolis Colts, Jacobson settled into a reserve role. On January 10, 2022, he signed a reserve/future contract, securing a future spot on the Colts roster. He spent the 2022 offseason program and training camp with the team before being waived on August 30, 2022.
The Colts brought Jacobson back on August 5, 2023, as he continued to develop into a dependable practice squad tight end. He was waived again on August 27, 2023, as part of the team’s final roster cuts before the regular season began.
New Orleans Saints Era (2023-Present)
Michael Jacobson signed with the New Orleans Saints practice squad on September 13, 2023, marking a fresh start within a new organization. Following the end of the 2023 regular season, the Saints rewarded his development by signing him to a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.
On August 27, 2024, Jacobson was waived by the Saints and quickly re-signed to the practice squad. He continued to build his role with the team and signed another reserve/future contract with New Orleans on January 6, 2025. On August 25 of the 2025 league year, Jacobson was waived by the Saints.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a converted basketball player, Michael Jacobson brings unusual athleticism and body control to the tight end position. His background as a high-volume rebounder and post scorer translates into strong hands, spatial awareness, and the ability to box out defenders. Listed at 6 ft 7 in, he presents a sizable target in the passing game and offers flexibility on special teams coverage units.
Notable Events and Milestones
Michael Jacobson’s most notable milestone came on August 6, 2021, when he signed his first NFL contract with the Seattle Seahawks, completing his transition from professional basketball to professional football. Additional milestones include his first reserve/future contract with the Indianapolis Colts in January 2022 and his reserve/future deal with the New Orleans Saints in January 2024, both reflecting steady, incremental progress within the league.
Michael Jacobson Career Wins
Michael Jacobson has not recorded any verified regular-season statistical milestones or championship wins in the NFL as of the available records. His career has been built on practice squad and reserve/future contracts rather than headline game results. The verified portion of his résumé focuses on roster movement and developmental progress across multiple organizations.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his NFL work, Michael Jacobson earned First-team All-CIML honors as a high school senior at Waukee High School and later was named the 2019 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year at Iowa State. He also earned Big 12 Conference All-Tournament team honors during Iowa State’s NCAA Tournament run, averaging 9.7 points and 9.3 rebounds across the tournament.
Michael Jacobson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Michael Jacobson is the son of Katie Jacobson and Bill Jacobson. His grandfather played football and baseball at Iowa State, creating a multi-generational athletic tradition that influenced Jacobson’s eventual pivot to football. Bill Jacobson played basketball at Omaha in the 1980s and currently works as an orthopedic surgeon.
Personal Life
Public information about Michael Jacobson’s personal life centers on his Iowa upbringing and close family ties. He maintains ties to the Waukee community and to Iowa State University, the program he grew up supporting and later starred for on the basketball court. No verified information is available regarding a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Jacobson signed a reserve/future contract with the New Orleans Saints on January 6, 2025, securing his place with the franchise through the offseason. The deal reflected continued organizational faith in his size, athleticism, and trajectory as a developmental tight end. He participated in the Saints’ offseason program as he prepared for the 2025 league year.
On August 25, Jacobson was waived by the Saints, putting his 2025 roster status in flux heading into the regular season. Given his track record of quickly returning on practice squad or reserve deals, a return to New Orleans or another NFL organization remained plausible. The 2025 season represents another opportunity for Jacobson to earn a more permanent spot on an active 53-man roster.
Looking ahead, Jacobson’s combination of basketball pedigree and NFL experience positions him as a depth tight end candidate. His frame and movement skills fit the modern position, and continued development in route running and inline blocking will shape his outlook beyond 2025.