Brandon Dillon (American football)

Brandon Dillon (born April 30, 1997) is an American football tight end. He played college football for Marian University and has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Vegas Vipers, and Washington Commanders.

Brandon Dillon
refer to caption
Dillon with the Vegas Vipers in 2023
Personal information
Born: (1997-04-30) April 30, 1997
Bringhurst, Indiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:Carroll (Flora, Indiana)
College:Marian (2015–2018)
Position:Tight end
Undrafted:2019
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • NAIA national champion (2015)
  • First-team NAIA All-American (2018)
  • 2x first-team All-MSFA (2017, 2018)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:6
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Dillon grew up in Bringhurst, Indiana and attended Carroll High School in nearby Flora, Indiana, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. In football, Dillon was a four-year starter on both offense and defense and was named All-Area by the Kokomo Tribune twice and was a two-time Class A All-State selection, as well as all-area by the Lafayette Journal & Courier.[1] He was also a two-time All-Area selection in basketball.[2] Despite being recruited by Bowling Green, Toledo and Ohio University to join their programs as a preferred walk-on, Dillon opted to enroll at nearby Marian University, an NAIA school.[3]

College career

Dillon was a member Marian Knights for four seasons and was a freshman when the team won the 2015 NAIA National Championship. As a senior, Dillon caught 35 passes for 603 yards and five touchdowns and was named a first-team NAIA All-American. After the season he was the only NAIA player to be invited to participate in the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.[4] Dillon finished his collegiate career with 105 receptions for 1,661 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 42 games played.[5]

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

Dillon signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019.[6] Considered a long shot to make the team, Dillon made the Vikings' 53-man roster out of training camp.[7] He made his NFL debut in the Vikings season opener on September 8, 2019.[8] He was waived on September 10, 2019, and re-signed to the Vikings practice squad the next day.[9][10] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 12, 2020.[11]

Dillon was waived by the Vikings during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[12][13] He was elevated to the active roster on November 15, November 28, and December 5 for the team's weeks 10, 12, and 13 games against the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[14][15][16] He was placed on the practice squad/injured list on December 8.[17] He was placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 list by the team on December 29,[18] and signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 5, 2021.[19] He was released by the Vikings on September 18, 2021, and re-signed to their practice squad.[20] Dillon was waived on December 28.[21]

New York Jets

On December 29, 2021, Dillon was signed to the New York Jets practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2022.[22] He was waived on May 9, 2022.[23]

New Orleans Saints

On June 21, 2022, Dillon signed with the New Orleans Saints. He was released on August 3, 2022.[24]

Vegas Vipers

Dillon played for the Vegas Vipers of the XFL in 2023. He was released from his contract on May 25, 2023.[25]

Washington Commanders

Dillon signed with the Washington Commanders on May 30, 2023.[26] He was placed on injured reserve on August 29, 2023.[27]

References
  1. "Rensselaer duo named J&C Small School Players of the Year".
  2. "FOOTBALL: Marian's Dillon signs with Minnesota". Kokomo Tribune. April 27, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  3. Thomasson, Chris (July 25, 2019). "More than 5,000 will be a crowd for Vikings rookie tight end". The Dickinson Press. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  4. Chappell, Mike (April 13, 2019). "Colts' local Pro Day major audition for Marian's Brandon Dillon, Purdue's Jake Thieneman, others". Fox59.com. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  5. "Vikings 2019 undrafted free agent capsules". Fox Sports North. April 30, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  6. "Report: Vikings sign free agent TE Brandon Dillon". Vikings Wire. USA Today. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
  7. Thomasson, Chris (September 7, 2019). "Undrafted rookie Brandon Dillon, the 'Marian Flash,' defies odds by making Vikings roster". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  8. Ekstrom, Sam (September 9, 2019). "Second Look: Vikings First Half Abounded in Explosive Outside Runs". ZoneCoverage.com.
  9. "Vikings Re-Sign Brett Jones, Announce Additional Roster Moves". Vikings.com. September 10, 2019.
  10. Ratke, Kyle (September 11, 2019). "Vikings sign TE Brandon Dillon to practice squad". Vikings Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  11. "Vikings Announce Seven Reserve/Future Free Agent Signings". Vikings.com. January 12, 2020.
  12. Peters, Craig; Smith, Eric (September 5, 2020). "Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  13. "Vikings Claim LB Ryan Connelly, Add 13 Players To Practice Squad". Vikings.com. September 6, 2020.
  14. "Vikings Elevate TE Brandon Dillon and C Brett Jones To Active Roster, Provide Game Status Updates For Players and Position Coach". Vikings.com. November 15, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  15. @Vikings (November 28, 2020). "The #Vikings have elevated practice squad LS @andrewdepaola and TE @B_Dillon44 to the active roster for tomorrow's game. @swervinirvin_ has been downgraded to out" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
  16. White, Jack (December 5, 2020). "Vikings elevate DE Eddie Yarbrough, TE Brandon Dillon to active roster". USAToday.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  17. "Vikings Waive CB Holton Hill from Reserve/Injured; Announce Roster Moves". Vikings.com. December 8, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  18. "Brandon Dillon: Shifts to COVID-19 list". CBSSports.com. December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  19. "Vikings Sign 9 Players to Reserve/Future Deals". Vikings.com. January 5, 2021.
  20. White, Jack (September 20, 2021). "Vikings sign TE Brandon Dillon to the practice squad". Vikings Wire. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  21. Peters, Craig (December 28, 2021). "Vikings Sign T Rick Leonard to Practice Squad". Vikings.com. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  22. Greenberg, Ethan (January 10, 2022). "Jets Sign 10 Players to Reserve/Future Contracts". NewYorkJets.com.
  23. Greenberg, Ethan (May 9, 2022). "Jets Sign WR Calvin Jackson, OL Derrick Kelly". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  24. Gould, Andrew (August 3, 2022). "Saints Release Tight End Following Veteran Signing". SI.com. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  25. "XFL Transactions". XFL.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  26. Selby, Zach (May 30, 2023). "Commanders sign S Terrell Burgess and Brandon Dillon, place Andrew Norwell on PUP list". Commanders.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  27. Selby, Zach (August 29, 2023). "Commanders release 20 players, place four on IR". Commanders.com. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
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