Ted Karras Bio
Theodore John Karras III, known professionally as Ted Karras, is an American professional football center for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Born on March 15, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois, Karras has built a steady career as a dependable interior lineman and respected team leader. After playing college football at the University of Illinois, he was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2016 NFL Draft and went on to win two Super Bowl championships with the organization. Across multiple stops in the league, he has remained a durable starter and a trusted voice in the locker room.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at 310 pounds, Karras has appeared in 160 regular-season NFL games through the 2025 season, with 116 starts to his name. He is widely recognized for his intelligence, preparation, and steady play along the offensive line.
Early Life and Background
Ted Karras was born on March 15, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois, to Jennifer Karras and Ted Karras Jr. Although born in Chicago, he was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he attended Saint Matthew Catholic School for his elementary education. He later enrolled at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, where he played football as an offensive lineman for the Fighting Irish Leprechauns.
At Cathedral, Karras helped lead his team to Indiana state championships in the 2008 and 2010 seasons. He earned All-State honors in both 2009 and 2010 and was named to the Indiana Digest Top 15 list. Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and ESPN.com, he was also ranked among ESPN’s Top 25 offensive guard prospects in his class. Karras graduated from Cathedral in 2011 and received four college football offers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, and UCLA.
Path to Professional Football
Karras committed to the University of Illinois over fifteen other scholarship offers, choosing the Fighting Illini as the next step in his football journey. He redshirted the 2011 season before making his debut in 2012 as a starting right guard. He opened his college career with a win over Western Michigan and went on to start all 12 games of his first active season, quickly establishing himself as a foundation piece of the Illinois offensive line.
During his sophomore year in 2013, an ankle injury forced him to miss the season opener against Southern Illinois, but he returned to start 10 games at right guard. In 2014, a knee injury sustained against Ohio State cut short his junior campaign after nine starts. As a senior in 2015, Karras served as a team captain and started all 12 games at right guard, finishing his college career with 43 starts. He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2012, 2014, and 2015, and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2014.
Ted Karras Career
New England Patriots (2016–2019)
Ted Karras was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round, 221st overall, of the 2016 NFL Draft. He made the 53-man roster and opened the season as the starting right guard in place of injured linemen Shaq Mason and Jonathan Cooper. After splitting time early in the year, he returned to a reserve role as Mason reclaimed the starting job. Karras was part of a Patriots team that finished 14-2 and earned the AFC’s top playoff seed.
On February 5, 2017, Karras was a member of the Patriots roster that won Super Bowl LI, a 34-28 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He was briefly released in September 2017 and signed to the practice squad, but was promoted back to the active roster days later. Karras made his first start of that season at center in Week 11, filling in for an ill David Andrews, and the Patriots reached Super Bowl LII, where they fell 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2018, he appeared in spot starts at right guard before playing four special teams snaps in Super Bowl LIII, a 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams. In 2019, Karras became the Patriots’ starting center after Andrews was placed on injured reserve, starting 15 regular-season games.
Miami Dolphins (2020)
On March 20, 2020, Ted Karras signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. He stepped in as the starting center and started all 16 games during the 2020 season, providing veteran stability in the middle of a rebuilding offensive line.
New England Patriots (2021)
Karras returned to the New England Patriots on March 19, 2021, on another one-year deal. He opened the year as a backup guard but was promoted to starting left guard in Week 7, a role he held for the remainder of the season.
Cincinnati Bengals (2022–Present)
On March 18, 2022, Ted Karras signed a three-year, 18 million dollar contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. He immediately became the starting center and was named a team captain, starting every game for the Bengals in 2022 and reprising both roles in 2023, when he started all 17 games.
On June 13, 2024, Karras signed a one-year contract extension that kept him with Cincinnati through the 2025 season. He later signed another one-year extension on September 5, 2025, securing his place with the team through 2026. Across his career, he has appeared in 160 regular-season games with 116 starts as of the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Karras is widely respected for his preparation, football intelligence, and communication along the offensive line. His combination of size, technique, and experience allows him to excel in both pass protection and run blocking schemes, and he has become a steadying locker-room presence on every roster he has joined.
Notable Events and Milestones
Karras is a two-time Super Bowl champion, having won Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl LIII with the New England Patriots. He has also started every game in multiple full seasons, a testament to his durability, and he has served as a team captain in Cincinnati since joining the Bengals in 2022.
Ted Karras Career Achievements
Ted Karras has built a reputation as a reliable starting center, earning two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots and establishing himself as a long-term anchor for the Cincinnati Bengals. Across his stops in New England, Miami, and Cincinnati, he has combined steady play with leadership responsibilities, including captaincy in Cincinnati.
Super Bowl Championships
Karras was part of the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI victory over the Atlanta Falcons in February 2017 and the Super Bowl LIII win against the Los Angeles Rams in February 2019. He also appeared in Super Bowl LII, a 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ted Karras Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Ted Karras comes from one of the most storied football families in NFL history. His grandfather, Ted Karras Sr., and his granduncles, Lou Karras and Alex Karras, all played in the NFL from the 1950s until Alex retired in 1970. His father, Ted Karras Jr., played during the 1987 season, making Ted a third-generation NFL player. He is also the seventh member of his family over three generations to play football in the Big Ten Conference.
Personal Life
Karras attended Saint Matthew Catholic School in Indianapolis, where he was classmates with NFL linemen Nick Martin, Zack Martin, and Cap Boso. Off the field, he is a well-known fan of The Office television series and considers himself a trivia expert on the show.
2025 Season Performance
Ted Karras entered the 2025 season as a returning starter and team captain for the Cincinnati Bengals. After signing a contract extension on June 13, 2024, that ran through 2025, he continued to anchor the middle of the offensive line and provide veteran leadership in the locker room.
On September 5, 2025, Karras signed a one-year contract extension that secured his future with the Bengals through the 2026 season, underscoring his value to the franchise. His steady presence at center has been a key part of Cincinnati’s efforts to maintain continuity and protect the quarterback room.
With 160 career games played and 116 starts entering the year, Karras continues to add to one of the most durable résumés among active NFL centers, and his ongoing captaincy in Cincinnati points to a leadership role that extends well beyond individual statistics.
