Jody Fortson
refer to caption
Fortson in 2021
No. 88 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1995-12-07) December 7, 1995
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:226 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school:South Park
(Buffalo, New York)
College:Valdosta State
Undrafted:2019
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2022
Receptions:14
Receiving yards:155
Receiving touchdowns:4
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Joseph Demarius "Jody" Fortson Jr. (born December 7, 1995) is an American football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL).[1] He played college football at Valdosta State after transferring from Erie Community College,[2] and was signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2019.[3] Fortson has won two Super Bowls, Super Bowl LIV as a member of the Chiefs practice squad, and Super Bowl LVII while on the active roster.

College career

Fortson began his college football career at Erie Community College before transferring to Valdosta State.[4] A wide receiver in college, Fortson tallied 37 receptions for 477 yards and 7 touchdowns in 19 games played for the Valdosta State Blazers.[5]

Despite an abbreviated senior season due to injury in which the Blazers won the Division II National Championship, Fortson was chosen to play in both the Tropical Bowl[6] as well as the College Gridiron Showcase[7] all-star events.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 4+1⁄4 in
(1.94 m)		 226 lb
(103 kg)		 33+1⁄4 in
(0.84 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		4.84 s1.55 s2.82 s4.59 s7.52 s34.0 in
(0.86 m)		10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)		13 reps
All values from Pro Day[8]

Going into the NFL, Fortson converted to tight end and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2019. He was waived on August 31, 2019, and signed to the practice squad the next day. Fortson remained on practice squad for the rest of the season and as the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers. He re-signed with the Chiefs on February 5, 2020.[9] He was waived on September 5, 2020.[10] He signed to the practice squad the following day.[11]

On February 9, 2021, Fortson re-signed with the Chiefs. He made the Chiefs' active roster on August 31, 2021.[12]

He recorded his first career NFL reception against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 of the 2021 season.[13] He recorded his first career NFL touchdown reception the following week against the Los Angeles Chargers.[14] He was placed on injured reserve on October 23. He was placed on Reserve/COVID-19 on December 10, 2021.[15] On the season, he appeared in six games and had five receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns.[16]

Fortson appeared in 13 games and had nine receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the 2022 season.[17] After suffering an elbow injury in Week 15 against the Houston Texans, Fortson was placed on season–ending injured reserve on December 23, 2022.[18] Fortson won his second Super Bowl when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles.[19]

Fortson, who was an exclusive rights free agent, was tendered by the Chiefs on March 14, 2023. His contract for the 2023 season will be a one-year league minimum contract.[20] He was placed on injured reserve on August 15, 2023 after suffering a dislocated shoulder.[21]

Career statistics

Regular season statistics
Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2021 KC 605479.4272000.00000
2022 KC 9067612.7402000.00010
Career1501112311.2404000.00010

References

  1. ↑ "Jody Fortson". NFL.com. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  2. ↑ Bronstein, Jonah (November 23, 2019). "Kansas City Chiefs rookie Jody Fortson Jr. returns to Buffalo with inspiring message". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on November 26, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  3. ↑ Skurski, Jay (January 29, 2020). "Chiefs' Demone Harris, Jody Fortson proud to represent Buffalo on NFL's biggest stage". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  4. ↑ Owen, Chris (September 11, 2022). "Buffalo Native and ECC Alum Scores NFL Touchdown on Sunday". WYRK. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Joe Fortson - 2018 - Football". Valdosta State University Athletics. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Roster – SPIRAL Tropical Bowl". www.tropicalbowl.com. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  7. ↑ "2019 CGS College Gridiron Showcase Rosters". College Gridiron Showcase. January 2, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Jody Fortson, Valdosta State, TE, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  9. ↑ Goldman, Charles (February 5, 2020). "Chiefs add 9 practice squad players on reserve/future contracts". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Chiefs Roster Down to NFL-Mandated 53". Chiefs.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  11. ↑ Fedotin, Jeff (September 6, 2020). "The Kansas City Chiefs Make Good Use Of New Practice Squad Rules". Forbes.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  12. ↑ Thompson, Jaylon (February 9, 2021). "Kansas City Chiefs sign 10 players to reserve/future contracts". 247Sports. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens 2021 REG 2 - Game Center". NFL.com. September 19, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  14. ↑ Goldman, Charles (September 26, 2021). "Chiefs TE Jody Fortson catches first career touchdown". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  15. ↑ Williams, Charean (December 11, 2021). "Chiefs place Jody Fortson on COVID-19 reserve list". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Jody Fortson 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Jody Fortson 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Musical chairs for Chiefs' tight ends: Jody Fortson placed on IR, Blake Bell activated". amp.kansascity.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  20. ↑ Foote, Jordan (March 14, 2023). "Chiefs Tender Jody Fortson as ERFA, Retain Him for 2023". SI.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  21. ↑ Dixon, John (August 15, 2023). "Chiefs put Jody Fortson on IR, make 3 other roster moves on Tuesday". Arrowhead Pride. SB Nation.
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