TJ Bass Bio
Travis “TJ” Bass (born March 31, 1999) is an American professional football offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 320 pounds, he wears jersey number 66 and plays a physical, scheme-disciplined brand of interior football that has earned him a steady role on one of the league’s most prominent offensive lines.
Bass began his career as a zero-star recruit out of a small Washington high school, worked his way through a California junior college, and finished as a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 performer at the University of Oregon. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2023, made the opening 53-man roster, and has since developed into a reliable swing guard capable of starting on either side of the line.
Early Life and Background
Bass was born on March 31, 1999, in Deming, Washington, a small community in Whatcom County near the Canadian border. He grew up in the Mount Baker area and attended Mount Baker High School, where he developed into a versatile two-way player.
As a junior, Bass lined up at both tight end and defensive end, recording 82 tackles with 16.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 6 pass breakups, and 13 receptions for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns. He earned first-team All-Northwest Conference and Washington Class 1A All-State honors. As a senior, he helped his team average 285.5 rushing yards per game and reach the Class 1A state quarterfinals, while posting 23.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. He was named the Northwest Conference 1A co-MVP, but because of his small-school pedigree, he was ranked as a zero-star recruit and received no Division I offers. He also competed in track and field, throwing the shot put and discus.
With no scholarship opportunities, Bass initially planned to enroll at the University of Idaho following high school, setting the stage for the unconventional path that defined his football journey.
Path to American Football
Bass grayshirted at the University of Idaho before transferring to Butte College, a community college in Oroville, California, joining the Roadrunners in January 2018. The move to Butte proved transformative, as the coaching staff converted him from a tight end and defensive end prospect into a full-time offensive guard.
As a freshman at Butte, Bass helped the offense rank 10th in the California Community College Athletic Association in rushing yards per game at 215.3, earning first-team All-California Region I and first-team CCCFCA All-America honors. In his sophomore season, he contributed to a Gridiron Classic Bowl championship while the team ranked ninth in the CCCAA in total offense and rushing yards per game, picking up first-team NorCal All-Conference and All-American recognition along the way.
By the end of his time at Butte, Bass had been ranked a four-star junior college recruit and named the best junior college offensive guard in the country by 247Sports. The strong performance attracted multiple high-level Division I offers, and he elected to continue his career at the University of Oregon, joining the Ducks ahead of the 2020 season.
TJ Bass Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Bass’s first two college seasons at Butte College provided the foundation for his professional future. Working with the Roadrunners’ offensive line coach, he refined his footwork, hand placement, and understanding of inside-zone concepts, growing into a Division I-caliber interior lineman.
His two All-American seasons at Butte, paired with the Gridiron Classic Bowl title as a sophomore, established him as one of the top junior college guards in the country and opened the door to a scholarship at Oregon.
Oregon Ducks Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Bass arrived at Oregon in 2020 and immediately stepped into the starting lineup at left guard, starting all seven games of a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. He did not allow a sack and surrendered just six quarterback pressures, earning Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week recognition after the Washington State game and finishing with honorable-mention all-conference honors.
In 2021, Bass started all 14 games, opening the first six at left guard and the final eight at left tackle after swapping roles with George Moore IV. He allowed only two sacks and 14 pressures, helping the offense rank among the top 25 nationally in rushing yards per game and tie for sixth in rushing touchdowns. His play earned him first-team All-Pac-12 recognition.
As a super senior in 2022, Bass started all 13 games at left tackle and was the anchor of an Oregon offensive line that led the nation by allowing just five sacks all season. The Ducks finished the year as the only team in the country ranked in the top 20 for both passing offense and rushing offense, with quarterback Bo Nix operating behind Bass. He repeated as first-team All-Pac-12, added second-team All-American honors from The Athletic, was named Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week in back-to-back games, and was invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Across three seasons in Eugene, he started all 34 games, 13 at left guard and 21 at left tackle.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2023–Present)
Bass signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2023, and impressed the staff during the preseason by becoming the only Cowboys lineman not to allow a quarterback pressure across three exhibition games. On August 29, 2023, the team announced he had made the initial 53-man roster, and he went on to appear in all 17 regular-season games with two starts, filling in at right guard for an injured Zack Martin against the Arizona Cardinals and at left guard for an injured Tyler Smith in the season finale against the Washington Commanders with the NFC East title on the line.
In 2024, Bass appeared in 15 games, starting twice at left guard and once at right guard, and again serving as a primary replacement for Tyler Smith at left guard, while also taking over at right guard when Brock Hoffman shifted to center after Cooper Beebe’s injury. He was declared inactive in Weeks 16 and 17.
In 2025, Bass appeared in 16 games, starting three at right guard and two at left guard, continuing to serve as a trusted interior reserve. On January 3, 2026, Bass was placed on season-ending injured reserve because of a knee injury, and during the 2026 offseason the Cowboys placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on him, which he signed on March 17.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bass is best known for his positional versatility, with proven starting experience at both left guard and left tackle, and the ability to play either guard spot in a pinch. He combines a sturdy 320-pound frame with light feet, effective hand placement, and a calm, technique-first approach that has helped him thrive in Oregon’s outside-zone and screen-heavy scheme. Coaches have praised his intelligence and communication, and he has produced a low pressure rate throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Bass’s career are his 2021 and 2022 first-team All-Pac-12 selections, his second-team All-American nod in 2022, his preseason performance in 2023 in which he allowed zero pressures as an undrafted rookie, and his clutch Week 18 start at left guard in the 2023 finale against the Washington Commanders with the NFC East title on the line.
TJ Bass Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, Bass does not record traditional win totals, but his résumé features championship-level production at every level. At Butte College he helped the Roadrunners win the Gridiron Classic Bowl, at Oregon he anchored an offensive line that led the nation in fewest sacks allowed in 2022, and with Dallas he has contributed to a stretch of playoff-caliber seasons and an NFC East title-contending roster.
Oregon Ducks Highlights
Across his three seasons in Eugene, Bass started all 34 games, was a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 honoree, and was recognized as a second-team All-American by The Athletic in 2022. He finished his Oregon career as one of the most decorated blockers in program history, having started games at both left guard and left tackle.
Other Wins and Performances
At Butte College, Bass was a two-time All-American and helped lead the program to a Gridiron Classic Bowl title in his sophomore season, performances that earned him a four-star ranking and the title of top junior college offensive guard in the country from 247Sports.
TJ Bass Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Bass’s parents and extended family is limited, and he has not shared extensive details about his family background in widely available sources.
Personal Life
Bass was raised in Deming, Washington, and continues to be identified with the small-town roots that shaped his early football career. He has kept most of his personal life private, and reliable details about a spouse or children have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Bass’s 2025 campaign was his most extensive as a pro, appearing in 16 games and making five starts, three at right guard and two at left guard. He continued to serve as the primary interior replacement, stepping in for injured starters at both guard positions and providing a steadying presence on a Cowboys offensive line that leaned heavily on its depth.
His role reflected the trust of the coaching staff, as he was repeatedly called upon in high-leverage spots, including games against divisional rivals and conference contenders, and he produced consistent play in pass protection and the run game.
The season ended on a difficult note on January 3, 2026, when Bass was placed on season-ending injured reserve because of a knee injury. Despite the injury, the Cowboys viewed him as a core part of their offensive line plans, placing a second-round restricted free agent tender on him in March 2026, which Bass signed on March 17, keeping him in Dallas for the foreseeable future.
