Mitchell Wilcox Bio
Mitchell Wilcox (born November 7, 1996) is an American professional football tight end who has spent his National Football League career as a dependable depth pass catcher and a willing contributor on special teams. After a record-setting tenure as a tight end with the South Florida Bulls, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and developed into a trusted reserve in Cincinnati. Standing 6 feet 4 inches and listed at 250 pounds, Wilcox combines a long frame with the flexibility to line up attached to the offensive line, in the slot, or detached as a move tight end. He currently plays for the New England Patriots after signing with the organization in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Mitchell Wilcox was born in Largo, Florida, and raised in a family with a proud tradition of military service. He is the youngest child of Chuck and Carole Wilcox. His father served in the United States Coast Guard and reached the rank of Commander, while his grandfather also served in the Coast Guard and rose to the rank of Captain. That heritage of duty and discipline shaped Wilcox’s approach to the game and to his preparation off the field.
Wilcox attended Tarpon Springs High School, where he developed into a standout two-sport athlete in football and basketball. As a senior, he helped his varsity basketball team reach its first FHSAA Final Four appearance in school history, averaging 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. On the gridiron, he emerged as a reliable target and a strong blocker, traits that would later define his college and professional profile. He played alongside Scottie James during his high school years, a teammate who later played professionally in Puerto Rico with Gigantes de Carolina.
Path to American Football
Wilcox committed to the University of South Florida, where he joined the South Florida Bulls football program and spent five seasons in college. He redshirted his true freshman year, using the extra development time to add size and refine his route running, before becoming a regular contributor for the Bulls.
By the end of his collegiate career, Wilcox had set school records for tight ends with 100 receptions, 1,326 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns, totals that placed him at the top of the program’s history at his position. He earned Second-team All-AAC recognition in 2016 and was later named First-team All-AAC in 2018, honors that underscored his growth into one of the conference’s most complete tight ends.
Mitchell Wilcox Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Wilcox’s college career at South Florida spanned the 2015 through 2019 seasons. After redshirting in 2015, he steadily earned more snaps and targets, developing into a reliable seam threat and a physical in-line blocker. His production peaked during his junior and senior campaigns, when he established himself as a featured piece of the Bulls’ passing attack and a respected leader in the tight end room.
When his senior season concluded, Wilcox entered the 2020 NFL draft process as a prospect with a clear professional ceiling. He went undrafted but did not have to wait long to find an opportunity, signing with a franchise that valued his size, special teams upside, and pass catching polish.
Cincinnati Bengals Breakthrough (2020–2023)
Wilcox signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020, beginning his professional career in the same state where he had grown up. He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the next day, using the 2020 season to learn the weekly game plan and adjust to the professional level. On January 1, 2021, the Bengals promoted him to the active roster, signaling that the organization saw him as part of its long-term plans.
Wilcox made Cincinnati’s 53-man roster out of training camp to open the 2021 season and became a regular contributor on special teams while also serving as a reserve tight end. On April 8, 2022, he re-signed with the Bengals on a one-year contract, earning a role that included emergency long snapping duties. In Week 1 of the 2022 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, long snapper Clark Harris suffered a biceps injury and backup long snapper Cal Adomitis was inactive, leading the Bengals to use Wilcox as an emergency option. The game against the Steelers ended in a 23–20 overtime loss for Cincinnati after snap issues led to a blocked extra point and a missed field goal.
In Week 15 of that same 2022 season, Wilcox recorded his first career touchdown, hauling in a 12-yard pass from quarterback Joe Burrow in the red zone against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He re-signed with the Bengals on July 24, 2023, continuing in his role as a trusted blocking tight end and special teams player. Across his time in Cincinnati, Wilcox appeared in regular rotation, logging 29 receptions for 211 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown through the 2024 season, totals that reflected his work as a chain mover and situational pass catcher.
New England Patriots Era (2024–Present)
On April 22, 2024, Wilcox signed with the New England Patriots, beginning a new chapter after four seasons in Cincinnati. The move gave him an opportunity to compete for a depth role in a different offensive system and to contribute on special teams under a new coaching staff. He was released on August 27 as the team trimmed its roster, and he was re-signed to the practice squad the same day, preserving his standing within the organization.
Wilcox entered the 2024 season as a practice squad option who could be elevated as needed, valued for his positional flexibility and his willingness to take on special teams responsibilities. His experience in Cincinnati, particularly his emergency long snapping work, made him an attractive piece for a Patriots team that prizes versatility.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wilcox plays a physical, assignment-sound style that fits the modern mold of an in-line tight end. He is effective as a blocker in the run game on the edge and in the screen game, and he shows reliable hands as a short and intermediate pass catcher. His value extends beyond offense through his work on special teams, including his demonstrated ability to step in as an emergency long snapper when called upon.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Wilcox’s professional career came in the 2022 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he was thrust into emergency long snapping duties. He later recorded his first career touchdown in Week 15 of 2022 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a 12-yard reception from Joe Burrow, a milestone that capped his development from undrafted signee to trusted contributor.
Mitchell Wilcox Career Wins
Mitchell Wilcox’s professional resume is built less on win totals and more on reliability, versatility, and steady production in complementary roles. As a depth tight end, he has contributed to team success through dependable blocking, sure-handed receptions, and valuable special teams play across multiple seasons in the league.
Cincinnati Bengals Highlights
During his four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2020 through 2023, Wilcox developed into a trusted reserve tight end and a core special teams player. He recorded his first career touchdown in 2022 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was part of a Cincinnati locker room that reached the Super Bowl following the 2021 season. His tenure ended after the 2023 campaign when he signed a new opportunity in the AFC East.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Wilcox set South Florida records for tight ends in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, while earning Second-team All-AAC honors in 2016 and First-team All-AAC recognition in 2018. Those awards stand as his most decorated accomplishments outside the NFL and reflect a college career that laid a strong foundation for his professional path.
Mitchell Wilcox Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wilcox was raised in a close family with deep roots in military service. He is the son of Chuck Wilcox, a United States Coast Guard veteran who reached the rank of Commander, and Carole Wilcox. His grandfather also served in the Coast Guard and reached the rank of Captain, giving the family a multi-generational history of service to the country.
Personal Life
Wilcox grew up in Largo, Florida, and remains connected to the Tampa Bay area where he attended Tarpon Springs High School and built his early athletic foundation. He is the youngest child in his family and has continued to lean on the discipline and structure that defined his upbringing as he has moved between NFL cities.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Mitchell Wilcox is positioned as a veteran depth tight end for the New England Patriots with a clear path to a roster spot through his special teams value. His experience in Cincinnati, including his emergency long snapping work in 2022 and his dependability on coverage units, gives the Patriots a flexible piece they can deploy in a variety of roles. The early portion of the offseason will be focused on building chemistry with the New England coaching staff and competing for a place on the 53-man roster.
Wilcox’s role in 2025 is likely to mirror the one he carved out in Cincinnati, with regular snaps on special teams and targeted opportunities as a blocker and short-yardage receiver on offense. As the Patriots continue to shape their offensive identity, his willingness to take on situational duties and his history of stepping into emergency roles make him a low-risk, high-versatility option for the coaching staff.