Keelan Cole

Keelan Cole's Biography

Keelan Lawrence Cole Sr. is a talented and accomplished American professional football player. Born on April 20, 1993, Cole’s journey in the world of football started long before he secured his place as an esteemed wide receiver. Currently plying his trade as a free agent, Cole has become a formidable name amongst teams seeking to add substance to their lineup.

Before stadium lights and national attention, there was a young boy hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, who developed a passion for the game of football while attending Central High School. From 2012 to 2016, he followed this passion to a collegiate career at Kentucky Wesleyan where he solidified his place as a promising talent. During this period, Cole’s statistics ballooned to an impressive 4,441 receiving yards and 55 receiving touchdowns, establishing a foundation for his professional career.

When the 2017 NFL draft concluded, the Jacksonville Jaguars saw untapped potential in Cole, signing him as an undrafted free agent on May 1. His pre-season debut on August 10 saw him make a spectacular 97-yard touchdown pass against the New England Patriots, an impressive preview of what was to come in his professional career.

Cole’s regular season debut soon followed on September 10, 2017, contributing to a decisive 29-7 victory over the Houston Texans. From that point on, Cole proved himself to be a formidable talent on the field, concluding his rookie season with 42 receptions for a total of 748 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Over the next several years, Cole continued to build upon his résumé. In the 2018 season, he exhibited a noteworthy performance, finishing with 38 receptions for 491 receiving yards and one touchdown. The following year, when on the field, Cole didn’t fail to impress, securing 24 receptions for 361 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.

In 2020, with the Jaguars placing a second-round restricted free agent tender on him, Cole signed a one-year contract solidifying his return for another season. Throughout this season, he boasted several notable performances, including a tremendous 143-yard game against the Detroit Lions. Cole finished the 2020 season with 55 receptions for 642 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

2021 brought about a new chapter in Cole’s career as he signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the New York Jets. Despite the shift in scenery, Cole continued to demonstrate his worth on the field, finalizing the season with 28 receptions for 449 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.

In another twist of his eventful career, on May 12, 2022, Cole signed as a free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders; though released later in August that same year, he didn’t stay unemployed long and was re-signed to the practice squad right after in September. Over the course of the season, he played in 14 games as an active player and took over certain punt return duties as well. He finished the season with ten receptions for 141 receiving yards and one touchdown.

On March 23, 2023, Cole re-signed with the Raiders, again demonstrating the team’s confidence in his abilities. Despite being released in August, Cole was re-signed to the Raiders’ practice squad in September, his contract expiring when the team’s season came to a close in January 2024.

Looking back on Cole’s path through professional football, what stands out is his undeniable talent and consistent performance. Despite challenges and transitions, Keelan Lawrence Cole Sr. remains a significant name in the world of football.