Ko Kieft

Ko Kieft
Kieft with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2026
No. 41 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PositionTight end
Roster status
Active
Personal information
Born (1998-01-20) January 20, 1998 (age 28)
Sioux Center, Iowa, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight
265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High schoolSioux Center (IA)
CollegeMinnesota (2016–2021)
NFL draft2022: 6th round, 218th overall pick
Career history
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2026
Receptions8
Receiving yards82
Receiving touchdowns2
Total tackles26
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ko Jason Kieft (born January 20, 1998) 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.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench 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 s1.80 s2.89 s4.53 s7.07 s32.0 in
(0.81 m)		9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)		21 reps
All values from Pro Day

Kieft was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round, 218th overall, in the 2022 NFL draft. 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. As a rookie, he had seven receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown; he appeared in 17 games and started 12. 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. In the 2024 season, Kieft appeared in all 17 games and started one. A majority of his production came on special teams.

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.

On March 13, 2026, Kieft re-signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year, $1.65 million contract.

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.

References

  1. ↑ "Ko Kieft Bio Information – NCAA College Football". foxsports.com. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Knight, Joey (August 16, 2022). "Call him K-Train? Bucs rookie Ko Kieft restores fullback dimension to offense". TampaBay.com. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  3. ↑ Thornton, Brandon (June 24, 2022). "Ko Kieft can be Buccaneers answer for their blocking tight end need". The Pewter Plank. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Ko Kieft (TE): Bio, News, Stats & more". www.buccaneers.com. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  5. ↑ "2022 NFL Draft Scout Ko Kieft College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ Schwartz, Amy (April 30, 2022). "Buccaneers Select Ko Kieft with the 218th Pick of the 2022 NFL Draft". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Impressive gain on first pro catch". CBSSports.com. October 4, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Ko Kieft 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Ko Kieft 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Ko Kieft 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Bucs TE Ko Kieft lands on season-ending IR". nbcsports.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Back with Bucs". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 14, 2026.