Jaylen Waddle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jaylen Waddle

Waddle with the Miami Dolphins in 2025
No. 17 – Denver Broncos
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1998-11-25) November 25, 1998 (age 27) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:	Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas)
College:	Alabama (2018–2020)
NFL Draft:	2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6
Career history
Miami Dolphins (2021–2025) Denver Broncos (2026–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
PFWA All-Rookie Team (2021) CFP national champion (2020) NCAA punt return yards leader (2019) NCAA average punt return yards leader (2019) SEC Special Teams Player of the Year (2019) SEC Freshman of the Year (2018) First-team All-SEC (2019) Second-team All-SEC (2020)
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Receptions: 373 Receiving yards: 5,039 Receiving touchdowns: 26
Player stats at PFR

Jaylen Waddle, born on November 25, 1998, is a talented American professional football player. He plays as a wide receiver for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, Jaylen played college football for the amazing Alabama Crimson Tide. He was chosen very early in the 2021 NFL draft, as the sixth player overall, by the Miami Dolphins.

Jaylen Waddle's Early Years and High School Football

Jaylen Waddle grew up in Houston, Texas. He went to Episcopal High School in Bellaire, Texas. While playing for his high school team, the Knights, Jaylen helped them reach three championship games. They even won one championship when he was a sophomore in 2014! In his final year, he was chosen to play in the special U.S. Army All-American Game. This game features the best high school players in the country. After high school, Jaylen decided to play college football for the University of Alabama. He picked Alabama over many other big schools in 2018.

Playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide

Waddle catching a pass during the Army All-American Bowl.

Jaylen Waddle quickly became a star player for the Alabama Crimson Tide. In 2018, as a freshman, he showed off his amazing skills. He caught many passes and even returned a punt for a touchdown against Louisiana. He also helped Alabama win the SEC Championship against Georgia. Because of his great performance, he was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. He had 45 catches for 848 yards and seven touchdowns that year.

In 2019, during his second year, Jaylen continued to shine. He caught 33 passes for 560 yards and six touchdowns. He was also incredible at returning kicks and punts. He returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown against LSU. He also returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against Auburn. His special teams play earned him the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year award. He led the entire NCAA in punt return yards!

The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jaylen started strong, getting over 120 receiving yards in his first four games. He had big games against Missouri, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Georgia. Sadly, he broke his right ankle during a game against Tennessee. But Jaylen was determined! He worked hard to recover and even returned to play in the National Championship game. After this season, Jaylen decided to enter the 2021 NFL draft early.

Jaylen Waddle's NFL Journey

Joining the Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle was a top pick in the 2021 NFL draft, chosen sixth overall by the Miami Dolphins. This was exciting because he reunited with his college quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa! He officially joined the Dolphins on May 14, 2021.

Rookie Season Success (2021)

Jaylen's first NFL game was on September 12, 2021. He scored his first NFL touchdown with a 3-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa. Later that season, he had a huge game against the Carolina Panthers, catching passes for 137 yards. Fans loved his "waddling" celebration after scoring, which was a fun nod to his last name! Jaylen set a new NFL rookie record with 104 catches in a single season. He finished his first year with 1,015 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He was even named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Jaylen Waddle playing for the Dolphins in 2024.

Leading the League in Yards Per Catch (2022)

In 2022, Jaylen continued to impress. In one amazing game against the Baltimore Ravens, he caught 11 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns. One of those was the game-winning catch! He also made history in a Christmas Day game against the Green Bay Packers. He scored an 84-yard touchdown, the longest play ever in an NFL Christmas game. Jaylen had a fantastic season, leading the entire league with an average of 18.1 yards per catch. He set new personal bests with 1,356 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

Overcoming Challenges (2023)

The 2023 season brought some challenges. Jaylen had to miss a couple of games due to an injury. But he still showed his talent, with big games against the Patriots and the Jets. He finished the season with 1,014 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 14 games.

Contract Extension and Continued Play (2024-2025)

In 2024, the Dolphins showed how much they valued Jaylen. They extended his contract with a big three-year deal. He continued to be a key player, with a strong performance against the Patriots in Week 12. In the 2025 season, Jaylen stepped up even more. After his teammate Tyreek Hill was injured, Jaylen became the team's main receiver. He had a great game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 5. He finished the 2025 season with 910 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Joining the Denver Broncos

On March 18, 2026, Jaylen Waddle moved to a new team! The Dolphins traded him to the Denver Broncos. This trade involved several draft picks for both teams. A few days later, on March 24, the Broncos adjusted Jaylen's contract.

Career Statistics

NFL

Regular season

Postseason

College

See also

In Spanish: Jaylen Waddle para niños