The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Jack Endries selected in seventh round of NFL Draft by Cincinnati Bengals
04.25.2026 | Football
The tight end went 221 overall in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Cincinnati, Ohio – Texas tight end Jack Endries was taken 221st overall in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.
Endries' selection gives Texas a program-record three-straight years (in the Common Draft era, since 1967) with a tight end being drafted following Gunnar Helm in the fourth round by the Tennessee Titans last year, and Ja'Tavion Sanders in the fourth round by the Carolina Panthers in 2024. Prior to that, it had been 2015 since a tight end was drafted when Geoff Swaim was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round.
The Longhorns have now had at least six players drafted each of the last three years, the longest such streak in UT history (in the Common Draft era). Additionally, Texas has had at least six players picked in a draft seven times since the draft went to seven rounds in 1994 (1997, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2024, 2025, 2026).
Endries becomes the first Longhorn to be chosen by the Bengals since 2021 when the organization took LB Joseph Ossai in the third round. Prior to that, Cincinnati picked LB Malik Jefferson in the third round in 2018. Endries is the first UT tight end ever selected by Cincinnati, and the first offensive player taken by the Bengals since WR Jordan Shipley in 2010.
"I'm really excited to see what Jack does at the NFL level," head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "We obviously only had him for the one year, but he was such a reliable guy and made a lot of big plays for us and did all the dirty work that's required of a tight end, too. Jack has a real skill set as a pass receiving tight end. He's a very intelligent player, has a good feel for getting open, and he's got great ball skills. Cincinnati added a talented young player to their roster."
Endries spent last season at Texas after transferring from Cal during the summer of 2025. He started all 13 games, helping the Longhorns to a 10-3 record that was capped by a win over Michigan in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and a No. 12 final ranking. He caught 33 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns, including nine receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown in his last two games in wins over Texas A&M in the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown and Michigan in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
A native of Danville, Calif., he started 39 career games between Texas and Cal, including all 26 career games at Cal. In two seasons with the Golden Bears, he totaled 91 receptions for 1,030 receiving yards and four touchdowns, with his 1,030 yards over that span ranking as the most by any returning Power Four tight end. He earned honorable mention All-ACC honors in 2024 and was named to the 2024 John Mackey Award preseason watch list after collecting Freshman All-America recognition in 2023, including first-team honors from College Football Network, second-Team recognition from The Athletic and honorable mention accolades from College Football News.
On the moment:
I was pumped up. I'm just really glad that they took me. It was getting really late there, and I fell a couple rounds from what I was thinking, but I'm really glad they took me and took a chance on me.
On any experience with the city or organization:
I met Coach (James) Casey, the tight ends coach, a couple times. He was probably my favorite person I've met in the whole process, so I'm really happy about that.
On his family's reaction to the phone call:
They're happy. They were a little confused like me when it came to the process of falling some, and then by the time we got to the seventh, we thought I might not get drafted. But it was just a happy moment for all of us here, and we're all Bengals fans now.
On how prepared he feels coming out of Texas:
Yeah, I feel like I could do it all. I feel like Texas has prepared me to catch the ball and run block and do whatever's needed of me. So, I feel very prepared going into this, and I know my game's only going to keep elevating from an NFL standpoint. But I feel very prepared and the Cincinnati Bengals are getting a player who's going to be ready to come in and work.
On the connection he created with Texas fans despite just one year:
I just appreciate year I was there, and it was the most fun of my football career. So, I had a great time there, and I appreciate them for taking me in and having great home atmospheres. It was awesome, and I'll especially never forget the A&M game.
On the presence of Longhorns in the NFL and the instant bond of that:
It's exciting. It's a brotherhood, and I'm looking forward to that. It's also a chance to compete against the guys I've practiced with. Before it was competing in practice, but now it's time to go. So, I'm pumped up for that and just grateful to have brothers next to me and across the field.
On talking to Jeff Banks:
Coach Banks is fired up for me. He's super happy, and he's supportive of the whole draft, and he's been a great, great coach during the whole process.
