Jack Conklin

Jack Conklin's Biography

Jonathan Jackson Conklin, an American professional football offensive tackle, was born on August 17, 1994. He has enjoyed a highly successful career, currently playing for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). As a young prospect, Conklin’s passion for the sport was fostered under the guidance of his father, head coach at his high school in Plainwell, Michigan, where he was born and raised by parents Darren Conklin and Jennifer Jackson.

His athletic prowess wasn’t confined to football alone, Conklin also displayed an impressive talent for basketball during his high school years at Plainwell High. Despite these apparent gifts, nothing came easy; he began his journey in college football as a walk-on player for the Michigan State Spartans. His hard work and determination eventually paid off, as after redshirting his first year, Conklin started most games in the course of his redshirt freshman year in 2013, either as a left or right offensive tackle.

He had an excellent college career, featuring in 38 of 39 games and receiving top honors such as the 2015 First-team All-American and the 2015 First-team All-Big Ten Conference. He chose to forgo his senior season, declaring instead for the 2016 NFL Draft, which would prove to be a significant turning point in his career.

Tempered by a successful junior year, Conklin was viewed by NFL Draft experts as a top 10 prospect, following private pre-draft workouts with numerous teams. Sports Illustrated ranked him as the fourth best offensive tackle, which along with the assessments of other scouts, projected him to be selected within the first 15 picks in the draft. His high-profile ranking was confirmed when the Tennessee Titans selected him as the 8th overall pick, following a trade with the Cleveland Browns.

Conklin’s debut season saw him being named the starting right tackle, a position he held down impressively throughout the season, earning him the alternate selection for the 2017 Pro Bowl. His superb rookie season ended with an 88.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), the highest among all rookie offensive linemen and the 5th highest among all offensive linemen.

Following a successful rookie season, Conklin continued to impress in 2017, starting all 16 games and earning an 81.8 overall grade from PFF, ranking him 12th among all offensive tackles. He also made his first playoff appearance amidst a series of unfortunate incidents including an ACL injury and a coaching change at the Titans.

Despite the setback of an ACL injury, Conklin remained steadfast and bounced back, although the recovery process led to him missing the first three games of the 2018 season. The rest of the season, unfortunately, saw him grappling with multiple injuries including a knee injury that led to him being placed on injured reserve.

Conklin began the 2019 season unsure about his future with the Titans after they declined the fifth-year option on his contract. Despite these uncertainties, he remained stellar in his role and was instrumental in Derrick Henry winning the NFL rushing yards title. His exceptional performance paved the way for his free agency in 2020, attracting interested from the Cleveland Browns who signed him on a three-year contract.

At the Browns, Conklin was named to the 2020 All-Pro Team despite a brief stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list. A year later, Conklin faced another setback, an elbow injury that placed him on injured reserve. He fought back and was activated only to suffer a knee injury soon after that ended his season prematurely. His resilience and commitment to the team was rewarded in December 2022 with a four-year contract extension.

Unfortunately, another severe injury – a torn ACL and MCL in Week 1 of the 2023 season – put a temporary halt to his successful run. Despite the many challenges, Conklin’s love for the game and his family continues to serve as a source of inspiration as he navigates through his professional career. The seasoned player, with his wife Caitlyn Riley and their daughter, eagerly awaits his return to the field, eager to build on the legacy he is creating.