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Jaguars TE Brenton Strange enters 2026 with high expectations
Jaguars TE Brenton Strange enters 2026 with high expectations
Tim Walters, Jacksonville Florida Times-UnionMon, July 20, 2026 at 9:02 AM UTC·3 min readBrenton Strange heads into the 2026 season with more security than he’s known in his first three years in the NFL.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed the 26-year-old tight end to a 3-year, $48 million contract extension with $25 million guaranteed during the offseason.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDespite the Jaguars using their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft to pick tight end Nate Boerkircher, Strange is expected to be the lead tight end heading into the season.
Here are five things to know about Brenton Strange.
THE FUTURE: Why Jaguars see Brenton Strange as cornerstone of Liam Coen's offense
Brenton Strange of the Penn State Nittany Lions scores a touchdown against the Idaho Vandals at Beaver Stadium on Aug. 31, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania.
(Getty Images)Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Brenton Strange (86) runs with the ball as Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Jake Hansen (35) tackles at Beaver Stadium on Dec. 19, 2020.
(Matthew OHaren, Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports)Penn State tight end Brenton Strange (86) dives in for the touchdown as Ohio State linebacker Teradja Mitchell (3) and linebacker Cody Simon (30) tackle him at Ohio Stadium on Oct. 30, 2021.
(Joseph Maiorana, USA TODAY Sports)Tight end Brenton Strange of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Beaver Stadium on Sept. 24, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania.
(Getty Images)Penn State's Brenton Strange (86) celebrates a first down against Indiana at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.
(Browns Wire)Penn State tight end Brenton Strange speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2023.
(Nittany Lions Wire)Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange reacts after scoring his first NFL touchdown during the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium on Oct. 15, 2023 in Jacksonville.
(Mike Carlson, Getty Images)Brenton Strange of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium on Oct. 6, 2024 in Jacksonville.
(Mike Carlson, Getty Images)Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (4) looks at a leaping Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) as Houston Texans cornerback Myles Bryant (27) can’t make the stop and linebacker Henry To'oTo'o (39) looks on during the third quarter on Dec. 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. The Texans held off the Jaguars 23-20.
(Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium on Sept. 7, 2025.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) leaps over a defender against the Houston Texans on Sept. 21, 2025 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. The Jaguars defeated the Texans 17-10.
(Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union, Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) leaves the field following a game at EverBank Stadium on Dec. 7, 2025.
(Matt Pendleton, Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)Brenton Strange of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a touchdown pass in front of P.J. Locke of the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on Dec. 21, 2025 in Denver.
(Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) is brought down Indianapolis Colts safety Camryn Bynum (0) on Dec. 28, 2025, during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar, Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) does drills during the third day of minicamp at the Miller Electric Center, Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Jacksonville.
(Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union, Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)Tight end Brenton Strange, from West Virginia to Penn State to Jaguars
Tight end Brenton Strange, from West Virginia to Penn State to Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) does drills during the third day of minicamp at the Miller Electric Center, Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Jacksonville.
(Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union, Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)Brenton Strange, from North Carolina to West Virginia
Strange was born in Eden, North Carolina, on Dec. 27, 2000. He attended high school about 300 miles from his birthplace in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Strange was a four-year letterman and two-time captain for Parkersburg High and was named to USA TODAY’s All-USA West Virginia Football Team first-team in 2017 as a defensive back and again in 2018 as a tight end.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs a senior in 2018, Strange grabbed 65 passes for 1,083 yards and eight touchdowns. He added 65 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and six sacks, and three interceptions.
Strange was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Penn State over offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame and Purdue.
Brenton Strange, from West Virginia to Pennsylvania
Strange appeared in two games for Penn State during his true freshmen year of 2019 before redshirting.
His numbers improved each year thereafter, going for 164 yards receiving and two touchdowns in 2020, 222 yards and three touchdowns in 2021 and 362 yards and five scores in 2022.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFollowing his redshirt junior season, Strange declared for the NFL Draft.
Brenton Strange, from Pennsylvania to Jacksonville
Strange was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 61st overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Jaguars made a franchise-record 13 selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Jags took Anton Harrison with their first pick, No. 27 in the first round, followed by Strange in the second round.
Their other 11 selections were taken in the third round or later.
Strange's Penn State teammate, Parker Washington, was selected in the sixth round.
Brenton Strange, from backup to starter
Strange entered the league in 2023 at a time when Evan Engram was the Jaguars’ starting tight end.
Engram had a career year in 2023 with 114 receptions for 963 yards and four touchdowns.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, by Strange’s second year, Engram dealt with injuries and Strange saw more action. While he had just five receptions for 35 yards as a rookie, he had 40 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns in 2024.
Engram left for Denver in 2025, essentially promoting Strange to starter.
He made the most of it, finishing 2025 third on the team in receiving yards (540) and receptions (46), and tied for third in TD receptions (3).
Brenton Strange’s mentor: His mom
With a 3-year, $48 million contract extension with $25 million guaranteed, Strange can breathe a little easier, not just for himself, but for his mom.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter Strange was drafted into the NFL, he was asked if he had a coach or mentor who helped him make this dream come true.
While he praised his high school and college coaches, his answer, for him, was easy:
“My mom had me when she was 16 years old, and she made a lot of sacrifices for me to get in the position that I am in today. Whenever I feel tired, whenever I feel stressed or there is something that is holding me back mentally or physically, I just start to think about her and what she was willing to do for me. Anything I have to do as a football player I can do because my mom taught me that sacrifice is part of life and anything worth having is worth working for. You could say that she was mom and mentor and is a big reason why I have a chance to play in the NFL.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars TE Brenton Strange enters 2026 with high expectations
Story byThe Florida Times-Union