Last updated: August 2026
| Net Worth | $1 million – $2 million (estimated) |
| Born | October 9, 1998 |
| Profession | Professional Football Player (Tight End) |
| Nationality | 🇺🇸 American |
Jelani Woods is an American professional football tight end, most recently with the New York Jets of the NFL after being claimed off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts. His net worth is estimated at $1 million to $2 million, reflecting a career limited by injuries since he entered the league.
Early Life & Family
Jelani Woods was born on October 9, 1998, in Ellenwood, Georgia. He began his college career at Oklahoma State University, appearing in 34 games with 28 starts and earning two-time All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors in 2018 and 2019, before transferring to the University of Virginia for his senior season.
Rise to Fame
At Virginia in 2021, Woods emerged as a top tight end prospect, catching 44 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns and showcasing rare size for the position at 6 feet 7 inches. The Indianapolis Colts selected him in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Career History
Woods spent his first three NFL seasons with the Colts, showing flashes of his receiving potential but dealing with injuries that limited his availability. He was waived by Indianapolis and claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on August 27, 2025.
How They Built Their Wealth
Woods’s earnings have come from his four-year rookie contract with the Colts, worth roughly $5.37 million with a signing bonus of about $1.09 million, with base salaries rising from $705,000 in 2022 to $1,437,610 in 2025. As a mid-round rookie contract player whose snaps have been limited by injury, his career earnings to date are modest relative to more established tight ends.
Personal Life
Woods has faced a series of injury setbacks since entering the NFL, which have shaped a career defined more by physical potential than by consistent availability, and he has kept most personal details out of the public eye.
Jelani Woods’s net worth is estimated at $1 million to $2 million, built on his rookie contract with the Indianapolis Colts as he looks to establish a bigger role after joining the New York Jets.