Ben Bartch: NFL Bio & FAQs

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?

Ben Bartch plays for the Detroit Lions. The Lions list him as an offensive lineman wearing No. 78.

What position does Ben Bartch play?

Bartch is an offensive lineman. Detroit’s depth chart lists him as a reserve at right guard, while the team roster identifies him broadly as an OL.

How tall is Ben Bartch and when was he born?

Ben Bartch is listed at 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds. His birth date is July 22, 1998.

What college did Ben Bartch attend?

Bartch attended Saint John’s University in Minnesota. He began his college career at tight end before moving to offensive tackle.

Who drafted Ben Bartch?

The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Ben 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 developed from a tight end into an offensive tackle at Saint John’s before entering the NFL. His background gives him a developmental profile built around size, movement skills and positional versatility, and his professional experience has included work at guard.