Wesley French Bio
Wesley M. French (born November 30, 1996) is an American professional football center for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). A native of St. Joseph, Michigan, French spent seven years at Western Michigan University, playing both defensive tackle and offensive lineman before reaching the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He has since built his career as a reliable interior lineman, working his way from a quiet rookie season to starting appearances in the NFL.
Listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 307 pounds, French has lined up at center throughout most of his professional career. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts out of college, spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, and most recently joined the Cleveland Browns, continuing his development at one of football’s most demanding positions.
Early Life and Background
Wesley M. French was born on November 30, 1996, in St. Joseph, Michigan, a community on the western edge of the state near Lake Michigan. He grew up in a household that valued athletics, and from a young age he was drawn to competitive sports. During his youth, French participated in both wrestling and football, building the physical foundation that would later serve him well as an offensive and defensive lineman.
French attended St. Joseph High School, where he played offensive tackle for the Bears. By the end of his high school career, he had grown into a 6-foot-5, 300-pound frame, earning attention from several college programs, including the University of Illinois, Iowa State University, and San Diego State University, along with multiple schools from the Mid-American Conference. In December 2014, French committed to Western Michigan University in nearby Kalamazoo, enrolling as a freshman in the fall of 2015.
Path to American Football
French’s path to professional football was unconventional, stretching across seven seasons in college. He did not see game action as a freshman in 2015, preserving a year of eligibility, and cracked the lineup in 2016, appearing in four games for a Western Michigan team that finished the regular season undefeated at 12-0 before falling to Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl Classic. The following year, he played 35 snaps across three games, including a matchup against fourth-ranked Southern California.
Looking to expand his role, French moved to defensive tackle in 2018, starting four games and playing in all 13, finishing the season with 22 tackles. A foot injury ended his 2019 campaign before it began, but he graduated that year with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary health services and earned a redshirt for an additional year of eligibility. In 2020, after switching back to offense and starting all six games at center, French showed enough promise to return for a seventh collegiate season in 2021, when he started 13 games and was named to the Academic All-MAC team.
Wesley French Career
Early Career (2015–2021)
French’s early career unfolded entirely at Western Michigan, where he gradually transformed from a lightly used offensive tackle into a starting defensive lineman, and finally into a starting center. The 2018 season on defense was a turning point, as he logged 347 snaps and produced 22 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, demonstrating the kind of physicality that scouts look for in interior prospects.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in 2019 and beginning work on a Master of Business Administration, French moved back to offense in 2020 and never looked back. He started all six games that COVID-shortened season without allowing a sack or quarterback hit, and in 2021 he started all 13 games at center, helping Western Michigan to a Quick Lane Bowl victory over Nevada. By the time he declared for the 2022 NFL Draft, he had appeared in 38 games and started 23 across five seasons of game action.
Indianapolis Colts (2022–2024)
On April 30, 2022, French signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent, agreeing to a three-year, $2.57 million contract that included a $10,000 signing bonus. The signing came under general manager Chris Ballard, who had identified French as a developmental interior lineman worth grooming. French spent his rookie season on the roster but did not appear in any regular-season games, using the year to learn the Colts’ offensive system and refine his technique at center.
French made the Colts’ 53-man roster in 2023, appearing in the first two games of the season before an injury to starting center Ryan Kelly opened the door to his first career start. On September 24, 2023, French started on the road against the Baltimore Ravens, becoming a full-time starter for parts of that year. He appeared in 17 games with 3 starts through the 2023 season. On August 7, 2024, however, French was placed on injured reserve after undergoing season-ending ankle surgery, ending his third year before it truly began.
Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns Era (2025)
On March 12, 2025, French re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts on a one-year contract, but was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts. Less than a month later, on September 17, 2025, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, looking for a fresh opportunity to return to game action. He remained with Dallas until November 18, 2025, when he was waived.
French did not stay on the open market for long. On December 17, 2025, he was signed to the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad, where he continued to work on his development as a center. His movement between practice squads reflected the volatile nature of the bottom of NFL rosters, where journeymen linemen often move in search of the next opportunity to contribute on game day.
Notable Events and Milestones
French’s most significant career milestone came on September 24, 2023, when he made his first NFL start against the Baltimore Ravens, stepping in for the injured Ryan Kelly. He appeared in 17 games with 3 starts through the 2023 season, confirming his ability to compete at the professional level. His seventh year of college eligibility, granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, also stands out as a unique chapter in his football journey, allowing him to graduate with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree before turning professional.
Wesley French Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Wesley M. French was raised in St. Joseph, Michigan, in a family that supported his early involvement in athletics. Publicly available details about his parents and any siblings remain limited, and he has kept his personal life largely private. His long collegiate career at Western Michigan allowed him to stay close to home, where he built a strong network of support that helped carry him through injuries and position changes across seven seasons.
French earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary health services from Western Michigan in 2019 and continued toward a Master of Business Administration while still playing, underscoring the academic priorities that ran alongside his athletic development. Beyond his educational achievements, no verified information about a spouse or children is publicly available, and he has generally stayed out of the spotlight off the field.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of transition for Wesley French. After re-signing with the Indianapolis Colts in March, he was waived in late August during final roster cuts, ending his third stint with the organization. He quickly caught on with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad in mid-September, providing depth at the center position while continuing to sharpen his technique in practice.
French remained with Dallas until November 18, 2025, when he was waived, but he was back on a roster less than a month later, signing with the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad on December 17. The moves underscored his value as a dependable depth piece capable of contributing on special teams and as a backup center. Looking ahead, French will look to break into game action for the Browns and continue building the kind of résumé that keeps interior linemen employed in the NFL for years to come.