Last Updated on October 15, 2026 by Valentim Tereshkova
Tanner Koziol’s family has played an important role in his journey from a promising high school football player in Illinois and Indiana to a professional tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL. Born Tanner John Koziol on January 28, he grew up in Bloomingdale, Illinois, where he developed an interest in football and other competitive sports.
The Jacksonville Jaguars tight end is the son of Sandee Klein-Koziol and has one brother named Trace Koziol. His extended family also includes two former college football players, Logan Justus and Nick D’Ambrose. Although Koziol has acknowledged the importance of his family and faith, he has maintained privacy regarding his romantic relationships and possible children. Here is everything to know about Tanner Koziol’s girlfriend, children, parents and siblings.
Tanner Koziol’s Girlfriend: Is He Dating Anyone?
Tanner Koziol has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend as of now. Despite attracting increasing attention following his selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL tight end has generally kept his romantic relationships outside the public spotlight.
There are no widely verified interviews, official announcements or established sports news reports identifying a current girlfriend.
During his college football career at Ball State University and the University of Houston, Koziol became known for his impressive receiving statistics and ability to create mismatches against opposing defenses.
However, media coverage primarily concentrated on his football development, transfers and NFL prospects rather than his personal relationships.
His public social media activity has also largely focused on football, training and professional accomplishments.
Although fans may be curious about the Jacksonville Jaguars rookie’s dating life, reliable public information does not establish whether he is currently in a relationship.
Is Tanner Koziol Married?
There is no verified public announcement confirming that Tanner Koziol is married.
The Jacksonville Jaguars tight end has not publicly identified a wife or announced an engagement or wedding.
His official Ball State, Houston and Jacksonville Jaguars biographies do not provide information about a spouse.
Consequently, his current marital status remains unconfirmed through reliable public reporting.
Tanner Koziol’s Children
Tanner Koziol has no publicly confirmed children. As of now, reliable public sources have not identified any sons or daughters belonging to the NFL tight end.
Koziol has not publicly announced the birth of a child, and his official football biographies contain no information establishing that he is a father.
Since entering the NFL in 2026, he has concentrated on adapting to the physical demands and tactical responsibilities of professional football.
His interviews have primarily addressed his college football experiences, receiving ability, blocking development and expectations with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Although Koziol has openly discussed the importance of family in his life, he has not publicly shared specific plans regarding fatherhood.
Tanner Koziol’s Parents
Tanner Koziol’s mother is Sandee Klein-Koziol. Her name is confirmed in his official Ball State University and University of Houston athletics biographies.
Although Tanner has spoken about the importance of his family, reliable public sources have not established his father’s identity.
The tight end has generally maintained privacy regarding the personal and professional activities of his parents.
Tanner Koziol’s Mother: Sandee Klein-Koziol
Sandee Klein-Koziol is Tanner Koziol’s mother and a central member of his family.
Her name appears in multiple official collegiate athletics records, including his biographies at Ball State University and the University of Houston.
Sandee raised Tanner in a family environment connected to competitive athletics, with several relatives later participating in college football.
Although her professional occupation and educational background have not been widely documented in reliable public reporting, Tanner has acknowledged the importance of family support throughout his athletic journey.
In his official University of Houston player questionnaire, Koziol identified his faith and family as his greatest motivations for working hard.
This commitment became especially important as he navigated several difficult decisions during his college football career.
Tanner Koziol’s Connection to His Family in Illinois
Koziol grew up in Bloomingdale, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.
During his childhood, he participated in football and eventually developed into a talented receiving prospect.
He attended several high schools, including Lake Park High School and Nazareth Academy in Illinois, before completing his final high school football season at Mount Vernon High School in Indiana.
After beginning his college career at Ball State, Koziol spent several years living away from his family’s home.
His connection to Illinois became particularly relevant when he considered transferring universities in December 2024.
Following an outstanding season at Ball State, he accepted an opportunity to join the University of Wisconsin.
According to a July 24, 2025, interview published by the Houston Chronicle, the university’s proximity to his family’s home was an important factor in that decision.
Wisconsin was approximately two hours from his family in the Chicago suburbs, making it an appealing destination.
However, after spending several months with the program, Koziol concluded that the football environment was not the best fit for his development.
He subsequently entered the transfer portal again and joined the University of Houston.
The decision demonstrated how he balanced his desire to remain connected to family with his professional football ambitions.
Who Is Tanner Koziol’s Father?
The identity of Tanner Koziol’s father has not been reliably established through official university biographies or major sports reporting.
His Ball State and Houston biographies identify Sandee Klein-Koziol as his mother but do not provide his father’s name.
Likewise, interviews published around the 2026 NFL Draft have concentrated primarily on his college football journey and professional development.
Because no reliable public source has identified his father, it would be inaccurate to speculate about his name, occupation or relationship with the player.
Tanner Koziol’s Siblings
Tanner Koziol has one brother named Trace Koziol. His name is confirmed in Tanner’s official Ball State University and University of Houston football biographies.
Although Tanner has become increasingly recognizable through professional football, his brother has maintained a relatively private personal life.
Trace Koziol – Tanner Koziol’s Brother
Trace Koziol is Tanner Koziol’s brother and one of the publicly identified members of his immediate family.
According to the official Houston Cougars athletics website, Tanner has one brother named Trace.
The same information appears in his Ball State player biography, confirming their family relationship.
However, reliable public sources provide limited details about Trace’s age, educational background, professional occupation or personal relationships.
Unlike Tanner, whose college football achievements attracted national media attention, Trace has generally remained outside major sports coverage.
It has not been reliably established whether Trace participated in competitive football or pursued another sport.
Although little is publicly known about his personal life, his inclusion in official athletics records confirms his place within the Koziol family.
Tanner Koziol’s Extended Family
Beyond his mother and brother, Tanner Koziol has an extended family with connections to college football.
Two of his cousins, Logan Justus and Nick D’Ambrose, are identified in his official university biographies as former collegiate football players.
Their experiences demonstrate that Tanner is not the only member of his family to compete in football at the university level.
Logan Justus – Tanner Koziol’s Cousin
Logan Justus is Tanner Koziol’s cousin and a former college football kicker at Indiana University.
Justus attended Mount Vernon High School in Fortville, Indiana, before joining the Indiana Hoosiers football program.
During his college career, he developed into one of the university’s most dependable kickers.
According to his official Indiana University athletics biography, Justus completed his career with 32 successful field goals from 39 attempts.
He also converted 77 of 80 extra-point attempts, finishing with an 82.1% field-goal success rate.
At the conclusion of his college career, he held Indiana University’s record for career field-goal percentage.
Justus graduated in December 2019 with a degree in exercise science.
His connection to Tanner is particularly interesting because both attended Mount Vernon High School, although at different times.
Justus is specifically identified as Tanner’s cousin in the latter’s official Ball State and Houston biographies.
Nick D’Ambrose – Tanner Koziol’s Cousin
Nick D’Ambrose is another of Tanner Koziol’s cousins and a former running back at the University of Chicago.
D’Ambrose established himself as an accomplished collegiate football player and earned All-America recognition during his career.
His achievements are specifically mentioned in Tanner’s official Ball State and Houston athletics biographies.
Although the two relatives competed at different universities and played different positions, both reached a high level of college football.
D’Ambrose’s success as a running back and Justus’s achievements as a kicker highlight the range of football experience within Koziol’s extended family.
How Tanner Koziol’s Family Influenced His Football Career
Family and personal values have remained important to Tanner Koziol as he developed from a high school receiver into an NFL tight end.
In his official University of Houston biography, he listed his faith and family as his greatest sources of motivation.
He also identified attending a Pop Warner football tournament at Disney as one of his favorite childhood memories.
Those early experiences helped establish his interest in the sport and contributed to his development as a young athlete.
Tanner Koziol’s High School Football Career
Koziol attended Lake Park High School and Nazareth Academy in Illinois before transferring to Mount Vernon High School in Indiana.
During his time at Nazareth Academy, he helped the football team reach the state championship game.
At Mount Vernon, he played under head coach Mike Kirschner and developed into a productive receiver.
According to his official university biography, Koziol completed his high school football career with 1,110 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.
During his senior season, he recorded 35 receptions for 389 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The 13 receiving touchdowns established a school single-season record.
Koziol also participated in baseball and basketball while maintaining academic honors.
After receiving recruiting interest from several programs, he eventually committed to Ball State University.
Tanner Koziol’s College Football Career at Ball State
Koziol began his college football career at Ball State, where he played from 2022 to 2024.
During his freshman season in 2022, he recorded 35 receptions for 373 yards and seven touchdowns.
His performance earned freshman All-America recognition and established him as one of the Mid-American Conference’s most promising tight ends.
In 2023, he caught 34 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns.
His most productive Ball State season came in 2024.
That year, Koziol recorded 94 receptions for 839 yards and eight touchdowns.
The performance established Ball State single-season records for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end.
He also became the first tight end in the program’s history to record at least 80 catches and 800 receiving yards in a season.
His accomplishments earned him second-team All-MAC recognition.
Tanner Koziol Transfers to Houston
Following his successful 2024 campaign, Koziol entered the NCAA transfer portal and initially committed to Wisconsin.
However, after determining that the program was not the best fit, he transferred to the University of Houston in April 2025.
At Houston, he became an important part of head coach Willie Fritz’s offense.
During the 2025 season, Koziol recorded 74 receptions for 727 yards and six touchdowns.
He led all Football Bowl Subdivision tight ends in receptions and earned first-team All-Big 12 recognition.
Houston finished the season with a victory over LSU in the Texas Bowl, providing Koziol with a memorable conclusion to his college football career.
After the game, he spoke positively about the relationships he had developed with teammates and coaches.
Koziol explained that the program had become like a family to him and expressed appreciation for the people who supported him during his final college season.
Tanner Koziol Joins the Jacksonville Jaguars
On April 25, 2026, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Tanner Koziol with the 164th overall pick in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
The selection fulfilled his ambition of reaching professional football after four productive college seasons.
Jacksonville selected two tight ends during the 2026 draft, choosing Nate Boerkircher in the second round and Koziol in the fifth round.
According to the Jaguars’ official website, the organization viewed Koziol as a receiving threat because of his height, wingspan and ability to create difficult matchups against defensive players.
His college career concluded with 237 receptions for 2,234 yards and 24 touchdowns.
During Jacksonville’s rookie minicamp and training camp, Koziol worked on improving his blocking and adjusting to the team’s offensive system.
As of October 2026, he is a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, wearing jersey number 88.
His progress from high school football to the NFL reflects the determination, family values and commitment to improvement that he has identified as important parts of his life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tanner Koziol’s Family
Who is Tanner Koziol’s girlfriend?
Tanner Koziol has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend. Reliable contemporary reports have not identified a current romantic partner as of now.
Is Tanner Koziol married?
There is no verified public announcement confirming that Tanner Koziol is married. His current marital status remains private.
Does Tanner Koziol have children?
Tanner Koziol has no publicly confirmed children. Reliable sources have not established that he has a son or daughter.
Who are Tanner Koziol’s parents?
Tanner Koziol’s mother is Sandee Klein-Koziol, according to his official Ball State and Houston university biographies. His father’s identity has not been reliably established through public sources.
Who is Tanner Koziol’s mother?
Tanner Koziol’s mother is Sandee Klein-Koziol. Her name is confirmed in official college football records.
Who is Tanner Koziol’s father?
Tanner Koziol’s father’s name has not been reliably confirmed in official university biographies or established sports reporting.
How many siblings does Tanner Koziol have?
Tanner Koziol has one publicly identified sibling, a brother named Trace Koziol.
Who is Tanner Koziol’s brother?
Tanner Koziol’s brother is Trace Koziol. His name appears in Tanner’s official Ball State University and University of Houston football biographies.
Is Tanner Koziol related to Logan Justus?
Yes. Former Indiana University kicker Logan Justus is Tanner Koziol’s cousin. Justus was one of the Hoosiers’ most successful field-goal kickers.
Who is Nick D’Ambrose?
Nick D’Ambrose is Tanner Koziol’s cousin and a former University of Chicago running back who earned All-America recognition during his college football career.
Where is Tanner Koziol from?
Tanner Koziol is from Bloomingdale, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He attended high schools in Illinois and Indiana before beginning his college football career at Ball State.
What is Tanner Koziol’s full name?
Tanner Koziol’s full name is Tanner John Koziol, according to Ball State University’s original football recruiting records.
What NFL team does Tanner Koziol play for?
Tanner Koziol plays as a tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The franchise selected him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Valentim Tereshkova is a sports journalist and NFL analyst specializing in team dynamics, scheme breakdowns, and league-wide trends. Covering everything from offseason roster construction and Draft developments to Sunday game plans and Super Bowl contenders, he delivers clear, sharp commentary on the gridiron. Valentim combines stat-driven analysis with a passion for football storytelling to give readers an expert look into the AFC and NFC.
