Tyler Ott Bio
Tyler Ott is an American professional football long snapper for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Born on February 28, 1992, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ott has built a steady career as a specialist after entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Harvard University in 2014. Standing 6 feet 3 inches and listed at 252 pounds, he is known for consistent snapping form and the durability required to hold down a specialist role across multiple organizations.
Across more than a decade in professional football, Ott has spent time with the New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, and Baltimore Ravens. His longest tenure came with the Seahawks, where his steady play earned him a Pro Bowl selection in 2020.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Ott was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 28, 1992, to Dan and Laurie (now Applekamp) Ott. He grew up in the Jenks Public School system and attended Jenks High School, where athletics quickly became a central part of his upbringing. The Tulsa area’s strong football culture helped shape his early interest in the sport, and his parents supported his involvement in multiple activities from a young age.
At Jenks High School, Ott earned three varsity letters each in football, basketball, and track and field, and he served as a three-year captain in football along with senior captain duties in basketball and track. He threw the shot put and discus, finishing his prep track career with personal bests of 50 feet 2 inches in shot put and 148 feet 9 inches in discus. On the gridiron, he played tight end and long snapper, helping Jenks to three football state championship games and one state title in 2007, a 42-24 win over Tulsa Union.
Ott closed his high school career with 47 receptions for 771 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns as a tight end, numbers that hinted at his two-way usefulness. His background as both a skilled receiver and a reliable snapper would later prove valuable as colleges evaluated his positional flexibility.
Path to American Football
Ott’s path to a college football roster ran through the Ivy League. He joined Harvard University and played for the Harvard Crimson from 2010 through 2013, lining up at both tight end and long snapper in all four seasons. As a freshman, he served primarily as a blocking tight end before taking over as the team’s primary long snapper during his sophomore year.
By his junior season, Ott had begun to contribute as a pass catcher, recording his first reception as a tight end against Columbia. He finished his senior year as one of two starting tight ends in Harvard’s two-tight-end offense, ending the campaign with 15 receptions, 188 yards, and 4 touchdowns. On October 28, 2013, he was named National Tight End of the Week by College Performance Awards after catching three touchdowns in a triple-overtime loss to Princeton, tying the Harvard record for single-game touchdown receptions.
Following his senior season, Ott earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl. He graduated from Harvard in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a minor in Environmental Science and Public Policy, and lived in Dunster House during his time on campus. At Harvard, he also played alongside future San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, giving him a window into the standards expected at the next level.
Tyler Ott Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Ott signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent on May 16, 2014, beginning a stretch of frequent roster movement that would define his early years. He was released by New England in August 2014 but returned to the Patriots on March 4, 2015, before being let go again in May of that year. The short stints sharpened his understanding of what it took to survive in an NFL locker room.
He joined the St. Louis Rams on May 12, 2015, after a minicamp tryout, and was released during final cuts in September. On December 31, 2015, the New York Giants signed him to the active roster after injuries to long snappers Zak DeOssie and Danny Aiken, making him the first Harvard Crimson football player to suit up for the Giants. Ott later spent time on the Giants’ practice squad before brief stops with the Cincinnati Bengals late in the 2016 season.
Seattle Seahawks Breakthrough (2017–2022)
On January 3, 2017, Ott signed with the Seattle Seahawks to replace the injured Nolan Frese, beginning the longest and most productive chapter of his career. He stabilized the long snapper role in Seattle and quickly became a trusted special teams contributor, helping the Seahawks’ kicking game operate with consistency through multiple coaching cycles.
On August 1, 2019, Ott signed a new four-year contract with Seattle, a clear sign of confidence from the organization. The biggest recognition of his Seahawks tenure came on December 21, 2020, when he was named as the long snapper for the NFC in the 2021 Pro Bowl, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable specialists. He was placed on injured reserve on September 14, 2022, ending his Seahawks run on a difficult note.
Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders Era (2023–Present)
On July 25, 2023, Ott signed with the Baltimore Ravens to replace Nick Moore, who had torn his Achilles tendon during the offseason. He spent the 2023 season in Baltimore as the team’s long snapper, continuing his streak of steady special teams play across changing uniforms.
On March 14, 2024, Ott signed a three-year contract with the Washington Commanders, where he currently wears No. 69. The deal runs through the 2026 season, underlining the franchise’s long-term belief in his snapping reliability. His move to Washington gave him a fresh start and another chance to contribute on a contender in the NFC.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a long snapper, Ott’s value is built on repetition, accuracy, and toughness in the trenches. His college background as a tight end gives him a more physical, athletic profile than many specialists, and he has shown the footwork and core strength to deliver clean snaps on punts, field goals, and extra points. He has also been trusted on coverage teams, demonstrating the kind of competitive toughness that special teams coordinators prize.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ott’s signature milestone is his 2020 selection to the Pro Bowl as the NFC’s long snapper, a rare honor for the position. He has also become one of the few Ivy League products to log more than a decade in the NFL, having appeared in 135 regular-season games through the 2025 season. His ability to move from team to team and produce consistently speaks to a career defined by durability and professionalism.
Tyler Ott Career Wins
Tyler Ott’s professional resume is measured less in traditional win totals and more in consistency, longevity, and individual recognition. As a long snapper, his primary statistical contribution is games played rather than tackles or scoring plays, and he had logged 135 games with 8 career tackles as of the 2025 NFL season.
Seattle Seahawks Highlights
Ott spent six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks from 2017 through 2022, the longest tenure of his career. He was named to the 2021 Pro Bowl after the 2020 season and signed a four-year extension in 2019, two major markers of trust from the franchise.
Other Performances
Beyond Seattle, Ott has appeared in the NFL with the New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, and Washington Commanders. He also played in three high school football state championship games at Jenks, winning one title in 2007, and earned a Senior Bowl invitation following his senior season at Harvard.
Tyler Ott Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tyler Ott was raised by his father, Dan Ott, and his mother, Laurie Ott (now Applekamp). His parents supported his early athletic development in the Jenks Public School system and helped guide his path from high school sports to an Ivy League football program at Harvard.
Personal Life
Ott grew up in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area and graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Information about his current marital status and family life is not publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Tyler Ott remains the Washington Commanders’ primary long snapper after signing a three-year contract in March 2024. His role is to provide a clean, consistent snap on every punt, field goal, and extra point attempt, allowing the kicking operation to function without disruption. Continuity at the specialist position is a quiet but important piece of any team’s special teams success.
With 135 career games already logged, Ott continues to add to a personal longevity story that began as an undrafted rookie out of Harvard. The Commanders’ investment in a multi-year deal suggests he will remain a fixture on their special teams units for the foreseeable future, anchoring the snapping duties as the team builds around its younger core.
Looking ahead, Ott’s main objective is simply to stay healthy, deliver dependable snaps, and help Washington’s special teams unit finish near the top of the league. For a position that rarely makes headlines, his steady presence continues to be the foundation of his professional value.