Noah Fant Bio
Noah Fant is an American professional football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and weighing around 249 lb (113 kg), Fant has built a career as a pass-catching tight end known for his length and athleticism in the passing game.
Early Life and Background
Noah Fant was born on November 20, 1997, in Omaha, Nebraska, in the United States. He grew up in the Omaha area, attending Morton Magnet Middle School, where he first played organized football. That early experience on local gridirons helped him develop the athletic foundation that would later define his career as a tight end.
Fant later attended Omaha Burke High School before transferring to Omaha South High School. At Omaha South, he emerged as one of the most productive receivers in Nebraska high school football, setting a state record with 86 receptions and 1,700 receiving yards, while also adding 15 touchdowns. His size, hands, and ability to line up all over the field made him a clear college prospect.
Path to the NFL
Fant committed to the University of Iowa, joining a program with a strong tradition of producing NFL tight ends. During his sophomore season with the Iowa Hawkeyes, he tied the national record for touchdowns by a tight end with 11, and he also led the nation in yards per catch, averaging 16.5. His 11 touchdown receptions set a school record for touchdown catches by a tight end, and he was recognized with Third-team All-Big Ten honors for the 2017 season.
Before the 2018 season, Fant was named a preseason All-American, and he went on to earn First-team All-Big Ten honors that year. On November 30, 2018, he announced that he would declare for the 2019 NFL draft, capping three productive college seasons. His combination of size, route-running, and red-zone production made him a projected early-round pick.
Noah Fant Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Fant was selected 20th overall by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft, after Denver traded down from the 10th overall pick. He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Oakland Raiders, recording two catches for 29 yards. He later caught his first career touchdown in Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and produced a 75-yard score against the Cleveland Browns in Week 9. He finished his rookie year with 40 receptions for 562 yards and three touchdowns, earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
In 2020, Fant caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown in the opener against the Tennessee Titans, then added a touchdown and a two-point conversion against the Pittsburgh Steelers the following week. He closed that season with 62 receptions for 673 yards and three touchdowns, building on his rookie numbers. The following year, in 2021, he posted a career high with four receiving touchdowns, finishing with 68 catches for 670 yards, including a multi-score effort against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2022–2024)
On March 16, 2022, Fant was traded to the Seattle Seahawks as part of the blockbuster deal that sent quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver, with Seattle also sending picks, Drew Lock, and Shelby Harris to the Broncos. Seattle exercised his fifth-year option later that April, and he finished 2022 with 50 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns. The move gave him a fresh start in a pass-heavy offense and allowed him to serve as a primary tight end target.
During the 2023 NFL season, Fant started all 17 games for the first time in his career, finishing with 32 receptions for 414 yards. On March 13, 2024, he signed a two-year, $21 million contract extension with the Seahawks, then produced 48 receptions for 500 yards and a touchdown in 2024. On July 20, 2025, however, he was released by the Seahawks, ending a four-year run in Seattle.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2025)
After his release from Seattle, several teams expressed interest in signing Fant, with the Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, and Miami Dolphins all holding meetings and private workouts. On July 31, 2025, Fant signed a one-year deal with the Bengals, joining a passing game led by quarterback Joe Burrow. In the Bengals’ season opener against the Cleveland Browns, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Burrow, finishing the game with four receptions for 26 yards and a score.
Notable Events and Milestones
Across his time in Denver, Seattle, and Cincinnati, Fant has produced a long list of signature moments, including a 75-yard touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in 2019, a career-best 115-yard receiving day in that same game, and his first touchdown catch as a Bengal on a short pass from Joe Burrow. In 2025, however, he also gave up a record-breaking three fumbles returned for touchdowns on just 34 receptions, an unusual negative footnote in an otherwise productive campaign.
Noah Fant Career Statistics
As of the 2025 NFL season, Noah Fant has recorded 334 career receptions for 3,593 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns in the NFL. His most productive year statistically came during the 2020 and 2021 seasons in Denver, while his touchdown high of four came in 2021. He has also added value as a reliable third-down and red-zone target for three different franchises.
Noah Fant Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Fant is a Christian, a faith he has spoken about publicly during his NFL career. His cousin, Princeton Fant, also plays tight end in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, making football a family tradition at the tight end position. The two remain close as they both navigate the demands of professional football.
2025 Season Performance
Fant’s 2025 season was split between two teams, beginning with his July 31 signing by the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year deal. He opened the year with a one-yard touchdown from Joe Burrow in the Bengals’ Week 1 loss to the Cleveland Browns, an early sign that Cincinnati planned to feature him in the red zone. However, he also became known for a difficult statistical quirk, losing a record-breaking three fumbles returned for touchdowns on only 34 receptions.
On March 11, 2026, after the conclusion of the 2025 season, Fant signed a two-year, $8.75 million contract with the New Orleans Saints, his fourth NFL franchise. The move gives him a fresh offensive environment and an opportunity to reset his career trajectory after a turbulent 2025 campaign. With the Saints, he is expected to compete for a starting role and provide veteran pass-catching production at tight end.
