Grant Calcaterra

Grant Calcaterra's Biography

Grant Calcaterra, born on December 4, 1998, is an acclaimed figure in American professional football who currently holds the position of tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles in the esteemed National Football League (NFL). His journey towards this notable career kicked off during his college years, where he excelled in football and garnered substantial attention at the University of Oklahoma. After some years at Oklahoma, Calcaterra made a significant decision to transfer to Southern Methodist University (SMU).

Calcaterra’s early life was spent in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, where he attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Showing signs of his inherent prowess for football, he managed an impressive feat in his junior year, marking 48 receptions for a remarkable 926 yards and nine touchdowns.

After his junior season, Calcaterra declared his commitment to further his talents in college football at the University of Oklahoma. His remarkable performance continued into his senior year. He displayed his extraordinary abilities by securing 57 receptions for 958 yards and eight touchdowns. These notable victories paved his way towards recognition in 2017. Calcaterra was named to the distinguished list of players in the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game.

Following high school, Calcaterra’s football career transitioned into the collegiate level at Oklahoma. His debut season in 2017 saw consistent appearances in games. Calcaterra participated in 14 games as a freshman and managed to secure ten receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns. His sophomore year in 2018 remained as eventful as his first year. He once again participated in 14 games and registered a significant improvement in his performance, with 26 receptions for 396 yards and six touchdowns.

However, his glaring progress was met with an unfortunate roadblock in 2019, when he suffered a concussion that kept him away from a majority of the season’s games.

Following a strenuous 2019 season, Calcaterra announced his retirement from football. This decision was attributed to the multiple concussions he sustained in his playing career, placing his health above his passion for the game.

Despite not participating in any games in 2020, November brought about a change in heart for Calcaterra. He declared his return to football and expressed his intentions of playing at Auburn University. However, this decision did not stick, as in January 2021, he announced that he would not be enrolling at Auburn. Instead, later that month, he revealed plans to enroll at Southern Methodist University.

His 2021 season at SMU saw appearances in eleven games. Calcaterra, undeterred by his previous health challenges, caught 38 passes for 465 yards and four touchdowns.

Calcaterra’s journey has brought him to the 2022 NFL draft, where he was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round as the 198th overall pick. Subsequently, he signed a lucrative contract with the Eagles, worth $3.8 million. This contract included a signing bonus of $174,142. His NFL debut was marked in Week 3 against the Washington Commanders, where Calcaterra caught a 40-yard pass thrown by Jalen Hurts, marking his first career reception in the NFL.

As his career unfolds, Grant Calcaterra’s resilience and determination continue to serve as an inspiration, proving that setbacks are merely stepping-stones toward greater success.