# Jody Fortson

Joseph Demarius "Jody" Fortson Jr. (born December 7, 1995) is an American professional football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Valdosta State after transferring from Erie Community College, and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Fortson has won three Super Bowls; Super Bowl LIV as a member of the Chiefs practice squad, and Super Bowl LVII while on the active roster.

## College career

Fortson began his college football career at Erie Community College before transferring to Valdosta State. A wide receiver in college, Fortson tallied 37 receptions for 477 yards and 7 touchdowns in 19 games played for the Valdosta State Blazers.
Despite an abbreviated senior season due to injury in which the Blazers won the NCAA Division II National Championship, Fortson was chosen to play in both the Tropical Bowl as well as the College Gridiron Showcase all-star events.

## Professional career

Pre-draft measurables :
| 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 ft 4+1⁄4 in (1.94 m) | 226 lb (103 kg) | 33+1⁄4 in (0.84 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 4.84 s | 1.55 s | 2.82 s | 4.59 s | 7.52 s | 34.0 in (0.86 m) | 10 ft 7 in (3.23 m) | 13 reps |
| All values from Pro Day ||||||||||||

### Kansas City Chiefs

Going into the NFL, Fortson converted to tight end and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2019. He was waived on August 31, 2019, and signed to the practice squad the next day. Fortson remained on practice squad for the rest of the season and as the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers. He re-signed with the Chiefs on February 5, 2020. He was waived on September 5, 2020. He signed to the practice squad the following day.
On February 9, 2021, Fortson re-signed with the Chiefs. He made the Chiefs' active roster on August 31, 2021.
He recorded his first career NFL reception against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 of the 2021 season. He recorded his first career NFL touchdown reception the following week against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was placed on injured reserve on October 23. He was placed on Reserve/COVID-19 on December 10, 2021. On the season, he appeared in six games and had five receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
Fortson appeared in 13 games and had nine receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the 2022 season. After suffering an elbow injury in Week 15 against the Houston Texans, Fortson was placed on season–ending injured reserve on December 23, 2022. Fortson won his second Super Bowl when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Fortson, who was an exclusive rights free agent, was tendered by the Chiefs on March 14, 2023. His contract for the 2023 season will be a one-year league minimum contract. He was placed on injured reserve on August 15, 2023 after suffering a dislocated shoulder. Without Fortson, the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers giving Fortson his third Super Bowl championship.

### Miami Dolphins

On March 15, 2024, Fortson signed with the Miami Dolphins. He was released on August 25, 2024.

### Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)

On September 26, 2024, Fortson signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, and promoted to the active roster a week later. On October 28, 2024, the Chiefs placed Fortson on injured reserve due to a knee injury.

## Career statistics

Regular season statistics :
| Year | Team | Games | Games | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2021 | KC | 6 | 0 | 5 | 47 | 9.4 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | KC | 13 | 1 | 9 | 108 | 12.0 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | KC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | Career | 22 | 1 | 15 | 160 | 10.7 | 40 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |