.jpg) Fortson in 2021 | |||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | (1995-12-07)December 7, 1995 (age 29) Buffalo, New York, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | South Park (Buffalo, New York) | ||||||||
| College: | Erie CC (2015) Valdosta State (2016–2018) | ||||||||
| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2019 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Joseph Demarius "Jody"Fortson Jr. (born December 7, 1995) is an American professionalfootballtight end.[1] He playedcollege football atValdosta State after transferring fromErie Community College,[2] and was signed by theKansas City Chiefs as anundrafted free agent in 2019.[3] Fortson has won three Super Bowls;Super Bowl LIV as a member of the Chiefs practice squad, andSuper Bowl LVII while on the active roster.
Fortson began hiscollege football career atErie Community College before transferring toValdosta State.[4] Awide receiver in college, Fortson tallied 37receptions for 477 yards and 7touchdowns in 19 games played for the Valdosta State Blazers.[5]
Despite an abbreviated senior season due to injury in which the Blazers won theNCAA Division II National Championship, Fortson was chosen to play in both the Tropical Bowl[6] as well as theCollege Gridiron Showcase[7] all-star events.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+1⁄4 in (1.94 m) | 226 lb (103 kg) | 33+1⁄4 in (0.84 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 4.84 s | 1.55 s | 2.82 s | 4.59 s | 7.52 s | 34.0 in (0.86 m) | 10 ft 7 in (3.23 m) | 13 reps | |
| All values fromPro Day[8] | ||||||||||||
Going into the NFL, Fortson converted to tight end and signed with theKansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2019. He was waived on August 31, 2019, and signed to thepractice squad the next day. Fortson remained on practice squad for the rest of the season and as the Chiefs wonSuper Bowl LIV against theSan Francisco 49ers. He re-signed with the Chiefs on February 5, 2020.[9] He was waived on September 5, 2020.[10] He signed to the practice squad the following day.[11]
On February 9, 2021, Fortson re-signed with the Chiefs. He made the Chiefs' active roster on August 31, 2021.[12]
He recorded his first career NFL reception against theBaltimore Ravens in Week 2 of the 2021 season.[13] He recorded his first career NFL touchdown reception the following week against theLos Angeles Chargers.[14] He was placed oninjured reserve on October 23. He was placed on Reserve/COVID-19 on December 10, 2021.[15] On the season, he appeared in six games and had five receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns.[13]
Fortson appeared in 13 games and had nine receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the 2022 season.[16] After suffering an elbow injury in Week 15 against theHouston Texans, Fortson was placed on season–ending injured reserve on December 23, 2022.[17] Fortson won his secondSuper Bowl when the Chiefs wonSuper Bowl LVII against thePhiladelphia Eagles.[18]
Fortson, who was an exclusive rights free agent, was tendered by the Chiefs on March 14, 2023. His contract for the 2023 season will be a one-year league minimum contract.[19] He was placed on injured reserve on August 15, 2023 after suffering a dislocated shoulder.[20] Without Fortson, the Chiefs wonSuper Bowl LVIII against theSan Francisco 49ers giving Fortson his third Super Bowl championship.[21]
On March 15, 2024, Fortson signed with theMiami Dolphins.[22] He was released on August 25, 2024.[23]
On September 26, 2024, Fortson signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, and promoted to the active roster a week later.[24] On October 28, 2024, the Chiefs placed Fortson on injured reserve due to a knee injury.[25]
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2021 | KC | 6 | 0 | 5 | 47 | 9.4 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | KC | 13 | 1 | 9 | 108 | 12.0 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | KC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 22 | 1 | 15 | 160 | 10.7 | 40 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |