Mo Alie-Cox Bio
Mohamed Alie-Cox (born September 19, 1993) is an American professional football tight end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing around 267 pounds, he has carved out a steady role as a blocking and receiving tight end since arriving in the league.
Mo Alie-Cox is unusual in professional football because he did not come through the usual high school and college football pipeline. He played college basketball at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2017 without recent organized football experience. He has since spent every season of his professional career in Indianapolis.
Early Life and Background
Mohamed Alie-Cox was born on September 19, 1993, in Alexandria, Virginia, in the United States. He grew up in northern Virginia and attended Middleburg Academy, a small private school in Middleburg, Virginia, where he was involved in athletics as a teenager.
During his time at Middleburg Academy, Mo Alie-Cox played football as a freshman, then turned his focus to basketball. That decision shaped his athletic future, as he went on to spend four years as a college basketball player rather than developing on the gridiron. His height and frame continued to grow throughout his teenage years, eventually reaching the 6-foot-5 build that would later suit the tight end position.
Path to Professional Football
After high school, Mo Alie-Cox joined the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rams men’s basketball program, where he played power forward for four seasons. He became a fan favorite for his shot blocking and defensive presence, with VCU supporters developing a chant in his honor. Over his college career, he started 103 games and totaled 1,092 points, 663 rebounds, 112 assists, 87 steals, and 255 blocks across 3,322 minutes played.
Alie-Cox earned Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team honors in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and was named Third-team All-Atlantic 10 in 2016. He also helped lead VCU to its first Atlantic 10 Conference championship and left the program as the school’s all-time leader in field goal percentage. With his basketball eligibility finished, he transitioned to football and signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on April 21, 2017.
Mo Alie-Cox Career
Early Career (2017-2018)
Mo Alie-Cox’s first year with the Indianapolis Colts was interrupted by injury. He was waived after suffering a lower leg injury during training camp, spent time on injured reserve, and was later released with an injury settlement. The Colts re-signed him to the practice squad in October 2017, and he signed a reserve/future contract in January 2018.
The 2018 season marked his real introduction to NFL game action. After a brief stretch on the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster and made his NFL debut in Week 4 against the Houston Texans, recording a 17-yard reception. Later that season, he hauled in a one-handed, 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andrew Luck in a victory over the Oakland Raiders, announcing himself as a red-zone threat.
NFL Breakthrough (2019-2021)
Mo Alie-Cox settled into a regular role in 2019, finishing the season with eight receptions for 93 yards across 16 games and two starts. The Colts rewarded him with a one-year extension through 2020, and his production rose sharply. In 2020, he caught 31 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games, including a five-reception, 111-yard performance against the Minnesota Vikings.
The 2021 season brought further growth. Alie-C Cox played in all 17 games with seven starts and posted 24 receptions for 316 yards and four touchdowns, becoming a dependable seam and red-zone target. The Colts placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on him in March 2021, signaling that he had become a key part of their offensive plans.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2022-Present)
On March 15, 2022, Mo Alie-Cox signed a three-year, $18 million contract extension with the Indianapolis Colts, locking in his role as a starting-caliber tight end. In 2022, he appeared in all 17 games with 11 starts and recorded 19 receptions for 189 yards and three touchdowns. The following season, he added 13 catches for 161 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games.
Alie-Cox re-signed with the Colts on a one-year contract in April 2025, and again on a one-year deal in March 2026, continuing his long tenure in Indianapolis. Through the 2025 season, his career NFL totals stood at 127 receptions for 1,550 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mo Alie-Cox is built like an oversized receiver but plays the tight end position with a power forward’s mentality. His basketball background shows up in his contested catches, body control, and ability to high-point the football, while his frame makes him a willing blocker against defensive ends. He is most effective as a red-zone target and on short-to-intermediate routes that leverage his size and reliable hands.
Notable Events and Milestones
His one-handed touchdown catch against the Oakland Raiders in October 2018 remains a signature play of his early career. He also reached the milestone of 100 career NFL receptions while continuing to anchor the Colts’ tight end room for multiple coaching staffs and quarterback changes.
Mo Alie-Cox Career Highlights
Across his professional football career, Mo Alie-Cox has built his resume as a steady tight end with double-digit touchdown production. His biggest statistical season came in 2020, when he posted 31 receptions for 394 yards, and his best touchdown total was four scores in 2021.
NFL Highlights
Mo Alie-Cox’s first NFL reception came against the Houston Texans in Week 4 of the 2018 season, and his first touchdown came later that year on a 26-yard grab from Andrew Luck. He has been a consistent presence on the Colts’ game-day roster, playing in at least 15 regular-season games in every season since 2019.
His most recent verified seasons include 19 receptions for 189 yards and three touchdowns in 2022, and 13 receptions for 161 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. He re-upped with Indianapolis in 2025 and again in 2026, keeping him in the Colts’ tight end rotation.
Other Performances
Before his NFL career, Mo Alie-Cox was a multi-year starter in college basketball at VCU, where he set program records and earned three consecutive Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team selections. He also helped the Rams win the Atlantic 10 Conference championship and was named to the all-tournament team.
Mo Alie-Cox Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mo Alie-Cox grew up in northern Virginia and attended Middleburg Academy. There is no publicly verified racing lineage in his background, as his athletic development came through basketball and football rather than motorsport.
Personal Life
Mohamed Alie-Cox is known primarily through his professional career with the Indianapolis Colts. Public information about his spouse and children is not available from verified sources at this time.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked another year of stability for Mo Alie-Cox with the Indianapolis Colts. Re-signed on a one-year contract in April 2025, he continued to operate as a veteran tight end within the team’s offensive scheme, contributing as both a blocker and a short-yardage receiving option.
His role in 2025 reflected the trust the Colts have placed in him over multiple seasons and coaching changes. As a respected presence in the locker room, he remained a steady contributor whose basketball-honed hands and frame kept him in the rotation at tight end.
Looking beyond 2025, Alie-Cox re-signed with the Colts again in March 2026 on a one-year deal, signaling that he intends to keep playing in Indianapolis. His long-term outlook will depend on the Colts’ developing tight end depth chart and offensive plans, but his track record suggests he will remain a factor whenever he is on the field.
