Dallas Goedert

Dallas Goedert's Biography

Dallas Clayton Goedert was born on January 3, 1995. Named by his father after the Dallas Cowboys due to his immense love for the team, Goedert would grow up to establish his own relationship with football and in turn, leave an indelible mark on the sport. As a spirited and versatile athlete, Goedert hogged the sporting limelight at Britton-Hecla High School in Britton, South Dakota, where he played football, soccer, and basketball for the Braves athletic teams.

Goedert’s tale of victory began with his days at South Dakota State University where he joined as a walk-on and stayed with the Jackrabbits from 2013 to 2017. He was redshirted as a freshman in 2013, which marked the onset of his commendable journey in football. During his career at SDSU, Goedert garnered 198 receptions for 2,988 yards and 21 touchdowns including two back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. In his senior year, he started all 14 games and was honored as the team captain. His impressive tally of 72 catches for 1,111 yards receiving and seven touchdowns bolstered his standing.

Goedert’s college career was punctuated with a series of awards. He was a two-time first-team all-American in the Football Championship Subdivision and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award in 2016, a significant recognition for stellar performers in the FCS. He accepted an invitation to play in the 2018 Senior Bowl post his impressive performance in the 2017 season but was injured during practice, leading to his withdrawal from the game.

Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Goedert’s entry into the professional sphere was met with anticipation. The Eagles traded their second (52nd overall) and fifth-round picks (169th overall) to the Indianapolis Colts just to move up in the second round and beat the Cowboys to draft Goedert, conjuring speculations among draft analysts that the Cowboys might have been eyeing Goedert as their option for a tight end, considering the retirement of veterans Jason Witten and James Hanna.

Replacing Brent Celek, who was released by the Eagles, Goedert was signed onto a four-year contract with the Eagles that entailed a whopping sum of $5.62 million, inclusive of a guaranteed amount of $2.90 million and a signing bonus of $2.17 million. His first debut in the NFL was against the Atlanta Falcons and saw the Eagles win in an 18-12 victory. Two weeks later, the game against the Indianapolis Colts was an unforgettable one for Goedert as he scored his first career touchdown, a part of twenty-seven-reception, 73-yard performance.

Over his freshman season, Goedert recorded 33 receptions for 334 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games, with a commendable performance in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. The performance was topped by a 10-yard pass in the end zone from the Eagles’ quarterback, Nick Foles, that supplied the Eagles with a 10-6 lead, contributing to a 16-15 road victory upset.

A stellar performance in a game against the Cowboys saw him record career-high nine receptions, crowning him with a nomination for the PFF NFL Week 16 Team of the Week. Goedert stepped up the pace in his second professional season, finishing with 58 receptions for 607 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. However, an assault in a South Dakota bar in June 2020 led him to receive brief hospital treatment.

Emerging from the setback, Goedert delivered a strong performance in the opening match of the season against the Washington Football team, recording eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, only to be impeded by an ankle injury. After a thirty-day hiatus, he was back in action, and the 2020 season saw him with 46 receptions for 524 yards and three touchdowns.

Following the trade of Zach Ertz in October, Goedert was assigned as the Eagles TE1 and was granted a four-year extension, in mid-November 2021, with a $57 million contract that promised $35 million guaranteed. He tested positive for Covid-19 on January 3, 2022, and was added to the Covid list. Despite these setbacks, his performance remained undented, and he ended the 2021 season with 56 receptions for 830 yards and four touchdowns across 15 games.

Despite suffering a shoulder injury as a result of an uncalled face mask penalty in November 2022, Goedert held his stride high. He came back on track in December and concluded 2022 season on a high note with 55 receptions for 702 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games and starts. This was followed by an appearance at Super Bowl LVII where he had six catches for 60 yards. Though the Eagles lost 38–35 to the Kansas City Chiefs, this was a notable milestone in his career.

In the 2023 season, Goedert shone through games, especially against the Rams where he contributed to the 23–14 win with eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. He concluded the season with 59 receptions for 592 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the team’s loss to the Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round, Goedert’s spirit remained undaunted and his commitment to his sport unwavering, marking him as one of the most promising tight ends in professional football.