Tanner Beason Bio
James Tanner Beason is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution. A product of Stanford University, Beason was part of a Stanford Cardinal program that won multiple NCAA National Championships during his time on campus. He later developed into a steady MLS center back with the San Jose Earthquakes before joining the Revolution ahead of the 2025 season.
Known throughout his career as a composed defender with a strong aerial presence, Beason has earned recognition at both the collegiate and professional levels. His honors include multiple All-American and All-Pac-12 selections, and he has logged more than 120 professional appearances in MLS.
Early Life and Background
James Tanner Beason was born on March 23, 1997, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in the United States. Growing up in the Piedmont Triad region, he was introduced to competitive soccer at a young age and progressed through the youth ranks in his home state. North Carolina has long been a hotbed for American soccer talent, and Beason benefited from a deep local development pipeline that emphasized technical play and tactical awareness.
Beason developed as part of the North Carolina Fusion academy, a prominent USSDA side that helped launch the careers of several collegiate and professional players. The youth program gave him a platform to compete against top national competition and prepared him for the next step in his development. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, Beason naturally gravitated toward a defensive role, where his size, reading of the game, and composure on the ball became defining traits.
Path to Soccer
After a strong youth career with the North Carolina Fusion, Beason committed to Stanford University, one of the most respected college soccer programs in the country. He joined the Cardinal in 2015 and redshirted his first year on campus, using the season to adjust to the rigors of Pac-12 and NCAA Division I soccer. The redshirt year allowed him to develop physically and tactically before stepping into a regular starting role.
From 2016 through 2019, Beason became a central figure for Stanford. Across four seasons, he made 81 appearances, scored 20 goals, and contributed 11 assists, an unusually productive statistical line for a defender. He was named First Team All-Pac-12 in 2017 and 2018, was selected as the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2018, and earned First Team All-American honors in 2018 and 2019. He was also a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in both 2018 and 2019, recognizing him among the top college players in the nation.
While still in college, Beason gained senior-level experience through stints in USL League Two. He appeared for North Carolina Fusion U23 in 2016 and for San Francisco City in 2018 and 2019, sharpening his professional habits against older competition and adding another layer to his development.
Tanner Beason Career
Early Career (2016-2019)
Beason’s first senior-level experience came in the summer of 2016, when he joined North Carolina Fusion U23 in USL League Two. The brief stint allowed him to test himself against professional prospects and experienced amateurs while remaining attached to the Stanford program. He returned to the USL League Two circuit during his time at Stanford, representing San Francisco City in 2018 and 2019, where he continued to build his reputation as a reliable, ball-playing defender.
On December 30, 2019, Beason signed a senior contract with Major League Soccer ahead of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. On January 9, 2020, he was selected 12th overall in the SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes, marking the official start of his professional career.
San Jose Earthquakes Era (2020-2024)
Beason made his professional debut on August 29, 2020, starting for the San Jose Earthquakes in a 3-2 loss to the LA Galaxy. The debut came during a challenging season affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it gave him valuable minutes at the MLS level. Over time, he established himself as a versatile defender, capable of playing both as a center back and as an outside back.
Across his five seasons in San Jose, Beason made 121 professional appearances, becoming a consistent presence in the Earthquakes back line. He earned the trust of multiple coaching staffs through his aerial ability, positional discipline, and willingness to step into tackles. On November 24, 2024, the Earthquakes elected not to exercise his contract option, making him a free agent heading into the 2025 MLS season.
New England Revolution Era (2025-Present)
On December 20, 2024, Beason signed with the New England Revolution on a two-year deal, with a club option for an additional year. The move gave him a fresh start in the Eastern Conference and an opportunity to compete for a starting role on a retooling Revolution squad.
Beason made his Revolution debut on March 29, 2025, coming on as a 37th-minute substitute for Wyatt Omsberg. Deployed primarily as a center back, he made his first full start for New England on April 12, 2025, playing the complete match in a 1-0 win over Atlanta United. His early performances suggested he was quickly becoming an important part of the team’s defensive structure.
Driving Style and Strengths
Beason is best known as a composed, tactically aware defender with strong aerial ability. His combination of size, positioning, and willingness to step into duels makes him effective in both penalty areas, while his comfort on the ball allows him to contribute to build-up play from the back. Coaches have frequently deployed him as a center back, though he has shown the versatility to operate at outside back when required.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Beason’s career include his 12th overall selection in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, his three NCAA National Championship titles with Stanford in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and his consecutive First Team All-American nods in 2018 and 2019. His first full 90-minute start for the Revolution, a clean-sheet win over Atlanta United on April 12, 2025, marked another memorable milestone in his professional journey.
Tanner Beason Career Wins
At the collegiate level, Tanner Beason was part of three NCAA National Championship-winning Stanford squads in 2015, 2016, and 2017, cementing his place in one of the most successful stretches in program history. His first full start for the New England Revolution resulted in a 1-0 victory over Atlanta United on April 12, 2025.
College and Senior Highlights
Beason’s three NCAA titles came during a dominant run for the Stanford Cardinal, with Beason redshirting in 2015 before contributing to back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017. His first start for the New England Revolution produced a shutout win over Atlanta United in April 2025, an early highlight of his time in the Eastern Conference.
Tanner Beason Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Tanner Beason’s immediate family is limited. He was raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and developed through the North Carolina Fusion academy system, which played a formative role in his soccer upbringing.
Personal Life
Beason has kept much of his personal life private. Confirmed public details focus on his career path, from his college years at Stanford to his professional stints in San Jose and New England.
2025 Season Performance
Beason entered the 2025 MLS season as a key defensive addition for the New England Revolution. Signed in late December 2024, he was eased into the squad, making his debut on March 29, 2025, before locking down a starting role with a full 90-minute performance in a 1-0 win over Atlanta United on April 12, 2025. Operating primarily as a center back, he has been tasked with helping stabilize a defense in transition under the club’s current leadership.
His contract with the Revolution runs through the 2026 MLS season, with a club option for 2027, providing him with multi-year stability to establish himself as a long-term fixture in New England. If he continues to produce clean-sheet performances and consistent minutes, Beason could quickly become one of the more dependable center backs in the Eastern Conference.