Ko Kieft
American football player (born 1998)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ko Kieft (born January 20, 1998)[1] is an American professional football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.[2][3]
Sioux Center, Iowa, U.S.
| No. 41 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Tight end | ||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | January 20, 1998 Sioux Center, Iowa, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Sioux Center (IA) | ||||||||
| College | Minnesota (2016–2021) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2022: 6th round, 218th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 4+3⁄8 in (1.94 m) | 259 lb (117 kg) | 33 in (0.84 m) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 6 ft 7+3⁄4 in (2.03 m) | 4.98 s | 1.80 s | 2.89 s | 4.53 s | 7.07 s | 32.0 in (0.81 m) | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) | 21 reps |
| All values from Pro Day[4] | ||||||||||||
Kieft was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round, 218th overall, in the 2022 NFL draft.[5] In Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Kieft recorded a 19–yard gain on a pass from Tom Brady for his first career reception.[6] As a rookie, he had seven receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown; he appeared in 17 games and started 12.[7] In the 2023 season, Kieft appeared in 16 games and started six. He had a receiving touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15.[8] In the 2024 season, Kieft appeared in all 17 games and started one. A majority of his production came on special teams.[9]
Kieft began the 2025 season as one of Tampa Bay's reserve tight ends. He suffered a leg injury in Week 3 against the New York Jets, and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on September 23, 2025.[10]
On March 13, 2026, Kieft re-signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year contract.[11]
Personal life
Kieft's first name is his legal name, not a nickname. “Ko” is a derivative of “Jakobus,” the name of a great-grandfather who immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands.[12]
