Ben Bartch Bio
Ben Bartch is a Detroit Lions offensive lineman who wears No. 78. Detroit signed him as an unrestricted free agent on March 25, 2026, after his previous NFL stops with the San Francisco 49ers from 2023 through 2025 and the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2020 through 2023. As of September 17, 2026, he is listed on the Lions’ active roster and on the team’s depth chart at right guard. Bartch is listed at 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds; his birth date is July 22, 1998.
A Saint John’s University (Minn.) product, Bartch began his college career as a tight end before switching to left tackle ahead of the 2018 season. That conversion remains central to his profile: he entered the NFL as a developing, athletic former skill-position player with tackle experience, then has been used on the interior as a guard. Bartch earned second-team All-MIAC recognition in 2018 and first-team All-MIAC honors in 2019. Jacksonville selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, No. 116 overall, and he later continued his career with San Francisco before joining Detroit.
- Jersey number
- 78
- Position
- OT
- Birth date
- Jul 22, 1998 (age 28)
- Height
- 6'6"
- Weight
- 315 lbs
- College
- St. John's (MN)
- Country
- USA
Ben Bartch Questions & Answers
What team does Ben Bartch play for?
As of September 17, 2026, Ben Bartch is an active offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions. Detroit’s depth chart lists him at right guard.When did the Lions sign Ben Bartch?
The Lions signed Bartch on March 25, 2026. The club announced the move as the signing of an unrestricted free agent; contract terms were not disclosed in that announcement.What position does Ben Bartch play?
Bartch is an offensive lineman. He is listed by the Lions as an OL, and the Lions’ current depth chart places him at right guard; he also has a college background at offensive tackle.How tall is Ben Bartch and when was he born?
Bartch is listed at 6-foot-6. His birth date is July 22, 1998.What college did Ben Bartch attend?
Bartch attended Saint John’s University in Minnesota, a Division III program. He began there as a tight end and moved to left tackle before the 2018 season.Who drafted Ben Bartch?
The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Bartch in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 116th overall selection.What is Ben Bartch’s playing style and development path?
Bartch’s path is defined by his conversion from tight end to offensive tackle at Saint John’s. NFL draft analysis described him as retaining movement skills from that background while continuing to develop physically and technically; his NFL role has included interior offensive-line work at guard.
