Ben Niemann

Ben Niemann's Biography

Ben Niemann, born on July 27, 1995 in Des Moines, Iowa, is an accomplished American professional football linebacker. From his early life, Niemann was destined for a career in sports, given that his father was a well-regarded football coach. Today, Niemann is a significant part of the Detroit Lions team, plowing his way through the National Football League (NFL), and has demonstrated immense talent and dedication throughout his sports career.

Growing up, Niemann experienced a nomadic life, moving to various cities due to his father’s coaching career. Despite these shifts, his passion for sports remained unfazed. He attended Sycamore High School in Illinois, where he was an accomplished athlete, participating in both football and basketball matches. On the football field, Niemann made a name for himself as a competent wide receiver and safety, obtaining first-team all-state titles during his junior and senior years.

Niemann later enrolled at the University of Iowa, where he contributed notably to the Iowa Hawkeyes’ legacy. During his four-season stint with the team, he was featured in 53 games, proving to be an indispensable player in the last 40 appearances. Known for his profound agility and persistence, Niemann predominantly played on special teams and as a reserve linebacker. He gained considerable attention when he blocked a punt and successfully returned the ball for a winning touchdown against Northwestern. By the commencement of his sophomore year, he was Iowa’s mainstay at the position of outside linebacker and was acknowledged with honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference honors.

Throughout his university career, Niemann demonstrated his competence on the field, amassing 201 tackles, two forced fumbles, and 17 tackles for loss. As a talented and dedicated player, he was again acknowledged with honorable mention All-Big Ten during his senior year.

Upon graduation, Niemann entered the professional platform and began his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, making it to the 53-man roster directly from the training camp. He made his first NFL debut on September 9, 2018, against the Los Angeles Chargers.

It was in November of the same year when Niemann had his first career start in a memorable game that saw the Chiefs’ triumph over the Arizona Cardinals. He finished his rookie year with ten tackles in fourteen games, mostly appearing on special teams. Niemann also participated in the postseason games, where he successfully defended a pass and made two necessary tackles.

Niemann’s second season with the Chiefs saw him finishing with 56 tackles, a pass defended, and a fumble recovery in 16 games. His postseason game performance included a decisive tackle and a hit on San Francisco 49ers quarterback to force an errant throw that played a significant role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory.

In 2020, Niemann recorded his initial career sack against Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, and recovered a fumble lost by Jackson, which contributed to his team’s 34-20 win. The following year, in 2021, Niemann re-signed with the Chiefs, but moved to the Cardinals in June 2022. During his tenure with the Cardinals, Niemann reportedly played in all 17 games, managing nine starts and technological 70 tackles.

In April 2023, Niemann signed with the Tennessee Titans but was waived in August of the same year. Shortly afterward, in September, he was signed to the practice squad of the Denver Broncos and was promoted to the active roster in October. Niemann completed seven games for Denver, making a valuable contribution to the team on the special teams.

Niemann joined the Detroit Lions on June 10, 2024, promising his dedication to the smooth operation of the team. Throughout his professional journey, Niemann remained a spirited athlete and an integral part of each squad he belonged to.

Niemann was born to Jay and Lou Ann Niemann, maintaining strong familial ties. His father served as the Assistant Defensive Line Coach and Defensive Recruiting Coordinator for Iowa, and previously as the Defensive Coordinator at Rutgers and Northern Illinois, and as the head coach at Simpson College. Niemann has a younger brother, Nick Niemann, who has also followed in their father’s footsteps, currently playing as a linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers. This inherently illustrates the potent Niemann family lineage rooted deeply in the football world.