.jpg) Cole with the Michigan Wolverines in 2016 | |||||||
| Profile | |||||||
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| Position | Center | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1996-03-28)March 28, 1996 (age 29) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||
| Listed weight | 298 lb (135 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Florida) | ||||||
| College | Michigan (2014–2017) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2018: 3rd round, 97th overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||
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Mason Cole (born March 28, 1996) is an American professionalfootballcenter. He playedcollege football for theMichigan Wolverines, where he was twice named anAll-Big Ten selection. He was selected by theArizona Cardinals in the third round of the2018 NFL draft, playing there for three seasons. He has also played for theMinnesota Vikings andPittsburgh Steelers.
Cole grew up inTarpon Springs, Florida, and attendedEast Lake High School.[1][2] He was a four-year starter for the East Lake football team and was a participant in the 2014U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was also a first-team all-state player in Florida during the 2013 season.[1] Cole's high school coach, Bob Hudson, said of him: "He's that guy, as a coach, that you want a whole team of. He does what he's supposed to do. He stays out of trouble. He's not late to meetings. He's not lazy. He's always moving. He's coachable. He can take criticism. He doesn't need praise every play. He's what you dream of as a coach."[3]
Cole had scholarship offers from numerous universities, including Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Ohio State. In February 2013, he announced his verbal commitment to theUniversity of Michigan.[4][5]
Cole enrolled early at Michigan in January 2014 at age 17. He was impressive in spring practice and in fall practice, leading to speculation that he might start as atrue freshman.[6][7][8] Running back Justice Hayes said: "Mason is a phenomenal player, he is a freshman but he doesn't play like it at all. He plays like he's been there for a couple years."[9]
On August 30, 2014, at age 18, Cole became the first Michigan offensive lineman to start in the season opener of his true freshman season,[10] and the first to start at left tackle as a true freshman. Since true freshmen became eligible in 1972, only five have started any games on Michigan's offensive line:Bubba Paris (one game in 1978),Tom Dixon (one game in 1980),Dean Dingman (three games in 1987),Justin Boren (one game in 2006) andKyle Bosch (three games in 2013).[8] In the 2014 season opener, Michigan backs set a Michigan single-game record with 9.7 yards per carry (350 yards on 36 carries), and the offensive line was credited with the outburst.[11]
Following the 2016 season, Cole was named to the All-Big Ten offensive second-team, by both the coaches and media.[12] Following the 2017 season, Cole was again named to the All-Big Ten offensive second-team, by both the coaches and media.[13]
On December 18, 2017, it was announced that Cole accepted his invitation to theSenior Bowl.[14] On January 27, 2018, Cole played in the2018 Reese's Senior Bowl as part ofDenver Broncos' head coachVance Joseph's North team that lost 45–16 toHouston Texans' head coachBill O'Brien's South team. Cole attended theNFL Scouting Combine and performed all of the combine drills.
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Mason Cole's NFL Combine Workout | |
| Mason Cole's 40-yard dash |
On March 23, 2018, Cole participated at Michigan'spro day and performed the vertical jump (27.5"), short shuttle (4.72s), and positional drills. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Cole was projected to be a fourth round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the fifth best center prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com andScouts Inc.[15][16]
| 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+1⁄8 in (1.93 m) | 307 lb (139 kg) | 32+1⁄8 in (0.82 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 5.23 s | 1.75 s | 3.00 s | 4.72 s | 7.77 s | 27.5 in (0.70 m) | 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m) | 23 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine/Pro Day[17][18] | ||||||||||||
TheArizona Cardinals selected Cole in the third round (97th overall) of the2018 NFL draft.[19] Cole was the fourth center drafted in 2018.[20][21]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| Cardinals draft Mason Cole 97th overall |
On May 31, 2018, the Cardinals signed Cole to a four-year, $3.32 million contract that includes asigning bonus of $761,516.[22] He was named the Cardinals starting center in 2018, and started all 16 games.
Cole entered the 2019 season as a backup interior lineman. He started two games at left guard in place of injury.
On March 25, 2021, Cole was traded toMinnesota Vikings in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the2021 NFL draft.[23] He started at center for four weeks mid-season in place ofGarrett Bradbury, who was out due to COVID-19. He then took over the starting right guard spot for three games before suffering an elbow injury in Week 15. He was placed on injured reserve on December 24, 2021.[24]
Cole signed a three-year contract with thePittsburgh Steelers on March 17, 2022.[25] He was named the starting center, starting every game in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, he made his only postseason start of his career during the Steelers 31–17 loss to theBuffalo Bills.[26]
Cole was heavily criticized during his time with Pittsburgh.PFF had him ranked at 32 of 35 eligible centers in the league in 2023. He was also ranked the lowest in pass protection of any lineman.[27] That same season, he was credited with giving up a sack that allowed for quarterbackKenny Pickett to suffer an ankle injury, which ended his season.[28]
On February 23, 2024, Cole was released by the Steelers.[29]
Media related toMason Cole at Wikimedia Commons
