Ryan Jensen

BIOGRAPHY

Ryan Jensen was born on May 27, 1991, in Rangely, Colorado. He is a center in the NFL. 

He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Attended Fort Morgan High School (Fort Morgan, Colorado), earning first-team all-state honors as a senior. During college, Jensen started 44-of-46 career games played at Colorado State-Pueblo (2009-12), earning second-team All-RMAC honors and was named second-team All-Colorado by the National Football Foundation as a sophomore in 2010. As a junior (2011), he earned second-team Division II All- American and first-team All-Super Region 3 honors from Don Hansen’s Football Gazette, while also being named first-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). He was also nominated for the Gene Upshaw Award (Best Division II lineman).

Jensen was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round, 203rd overall, in the 2013 NFL Draft. Playing with the Baltimore from 2013 to 2017 before joining Tampa Bay. On August 30, 2014, Jensen was released by the Ravens and was signed to the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on December 16, 2014.  He played in first career postseason game in Wild Card round at Pittsburgh (1/3/15). Started his first career game vs. St. Louis (11/22/15). Jensen became a full-time starter for the Ravens in 2017, starting in all 16 games at center.

In 2018, Ryan was part of an offensive line that helped block for an offense that led the NFL in passing yards per game (320.3), while ranking third in total yards per game (415.5) and fourth in yards per play (6.30). Tampa Bay’s offense set team records in net yards (6,648), passing yards (5,125), points scored (396) and first downs (388). The team’s 5,125 passing yards are the fourth-most in a season in NFL history. On March 19, 2018, Jensen signed a four-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, making him the highest-paid center in the NFL.

He helped the Buccaneers record a team-record 34 first downs (31 in regulation) and total 456 yards of offense, including 114 rushing yards, in an overtime win against Cleveland (10/21). Jensen has played in 51 career regular season games, with 41 starts. Also played in one postseason contest.

On March 14, 2022, Jensen signed a three-year, $39 million contract extension with the Buccaneers. On July 28, 2022, Jensen experienced a severe knee injury during Buccaneers training camp and had to be carted off the field. He was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2022. He was activated for the wild card round of the playoffs on January 16, 2023.