Tanner McLachlan Bio
Tanner McLachlan (born March 15, 1999) is a Canadian professional football tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing around 244 pounds, he plays one of the most physically demanding positions on the field, combining the size of a blocker with the receiving skills of a wide receiver. McLachlan played college football for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the Arizona Wildcats before launching his professional career. During his college career, he showcased significant talent, breaking records and making substantial contributions to his teams.
Born and raised in Lethbridge, Alberta, McLachlan followed a non-traditional path to the NFL, entering the league as a sixth-round draft pick after developing through the Football Championship Subdivision and the Pac-12 Conference. His journey from a walk-on transfer at Arizona to a professional tight end reflects steady improvement and resilience, and he has continued to pursue opportunities across multiple NFL organizations.
Early Life and Background
Tanner McLachlan was born on March 15, 1999, in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in the same city where he would later begin his organized football journey, attending Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, a well-known public high school in Lethbridge. His Canadian upbringing gave him early exposure to both gridiron football and the multi-sport athletic culture common across Alberta, and he developed his physical tools and athletic foundation during those formative years.
At Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, McLachlan emerged as a promising young athlete whose combination of size and skill made him a natural fit for the tight end position. The high school program provided him with an opportunity to refine the fundamentals that would later serve him well at the college level, including blocking technique, route running, and the discipline required to play a hybrid role on offense.
His development in Lethbridge laid the groundwork for a college recruitment that took him south of the Canadian border. The transition from Canadian high school football to U.S. college football is a significant step, and McLachlan’s preparedness allowed him to step in and contribute immediately at the collegiate level.
Path to American Football
McLachlan began his collegiate career at Southern Utah University, a Football Championship Subdivision program, where he played from 2018 to 2021. During his time with the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, he lined up at both wide receiver and tight end, totaling 15 receptions for 168 yards over four seasons. While those numbers were modest, the experience gave him a chance to develop his route running and gain a deeper understanding of offensive systems at the college level.
In 2022, McLachlan transferred to the University of Arizona as a walk-on, a step up to the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Pac-12 Conference. In his first season with the Arizona Wildcats, he started seven of 12 games and recorded 34 receptions for 456 yards and two touchdowns, an immediate jump in production that signaled his growing comfort at a higher level of competition. As a senior in 2023, he posted 45 catches for 528 yards and four touchdowns, cementing himself as one of the conference’s most productive tight ends.
When his college career ended, McLachlan had accumulated 79 receptions, 984 receiving yards, and six touchdowns at Arizona, breaking the school record for career receptions by a tight end previously held by future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski. That record-breaking performance, combined with his size and tested athleticism, helped position him for selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Tanner McLachlan Career
Early Career (2024)
McLachlan entered the 2024 NFL Draft as a developmental tight end prospect with starting experience and a strong senior season on his resume. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round with the 194th overall pick, joining an offense known for its use of multiple tight end sets. He was also picked 51st overall in the sixth round of the 2024 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders, making him one of the more highly rated Canadian prospects of that year’s class.
His rookie season with the Bengals provided him with an introduction to NFL-level practice and game preparation. Although he spent the year developing within the Bengals’ tight end room, the team ultimately moved on from him during the 2025 offseason as part of their final roster decisions, when he was waived with an injury designation on August 26, 2025.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2024)
McLachlan’s tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals began with his selection in the 2024 NFL Draft and lasted through the 2025 offseason. As a late-round tight end, his role with the Bengals centered on development within a position group that included established veterans, giving him an opportunity to learn professional habits and refine his blocking technique against NFL-caliber defensive linemen.
When the Bengals finalized their 2025 roster, McLachlan was among the players waived on August 26, 2025, as part of final cuts. Despite the setback, his path through one of the league’s most visible organizations gave him the foundation needed for his next opportunity.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2025–Present)
After being released by the Bengals, McLachlan was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad on December 11, 2025. Practice squad roles allow teams to develop young players while giving the players a chance to stay ready for an active roster opportunity. McLachlan spent time on and off the Chargers’ practice squad during the late stages of the 2025 season, showing the kind of persistence required to navigate a professional football career.
On January 13, 2026, McLachlan signed a reserve/future contract with Los Angeles, a deal that runs through the 2026 league year and represented a clear sign that the Chargers viewed him as part of their long-term plans at tight end. His tenure with the Chargers continued into the 2026 offseason, when on May 12 he was waived by the team. Through these moves, McLachlan has demonstrated the resilience that has defined his football journey from Southern Utah walk-on to NFL roster hopeful.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a tight end, McLachlan brings the prototypical frame for the position at 6 feet 5 inches and roughly 244 pounds, allowing him to hold his own as an in-line blocker while still moving fluidly enough to contribute as a pass catcher. His college production at Arizona showed a steady progression in receiving yards and touchdowns each season, and his experience as both a wide receiver and a tight end gives him a broader route tree than many players at the position.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining milestone of McLachlan’s career to date is breaking Rob Gronkowski’s Arizona record for career receptions by a tight end, finishing with 79 catches. Being drafted in the sixth round of both the NFL and CFL drafts, and signing a reserve/future contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, also stand as major benchmarks in his professional journey.
Tanner McLachlan Career Wins
As a tight end whose professional career is still in its early stages, McLachlan’s win totals are tied primarily to his team’s regular-season and postseason results rather than to individual statistics. His role with both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Chargers has been developmental, and his on-field production at the NFL level remains a work in progress.
Cincinnati Bengals Highlights
During his time with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, McLachlan contributed to one of the league’s most active tight end rooms and earned the chance to learn from experienced teammates at the position. Although his playing time was limited, the experience represented his first sustained exposure to a full NFL season.
Tanner McLachlan Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Tanner McLachlan’s family background is limited, and there is no widely documented record of a multi-generational football lineage within his family. He grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta, where his early athletic development took place.
Personal Life
McLachlan is a Canadian native who has relocated to the United States to pursue his professional football career. Beyond his football commitments, he maintains a presence on social media, where fans can follow his journey through both his training and his transitions between teams.
2025 Season Performance
McLachlan’s 2025 season was defined by movement between rosters rather than by a stable in-season role. He entered the year with the Cincinnati Bengals after his 2024 rookie campaign, but was waived with an injury designation on August 26, 2025, as part of the team’s final roster cuts. That release briefly left his professional future uncertain before he found a new home with the Los Angeles Chargers later in the year.
On December 11, 2025, McLachlan was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad, where he worked to earn an active roster opportunity during the closing stretch of the regular season. His time with the Chargers in 2025 showed flashes of the development that had marked his college career, even if his statistical output remained limited.
The most significant development of McLachlan’s 2025 calendar came on January 13, 2026, when he signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers, signaling that Los Angeles intended to keep him in the fold beyond the current campaign. Looking ahead, McLachlan will look to translate his steady progress at Arizona and his persistence through multiple NFL organizations into a more permanent role on an active roster.