{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Jake Tonges | image = Jake Tonges 2024 49ers vs Bears.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Tonges with the San Francisco 49ers in 2024 | current_team = San Francisco 49ers | number = 88 | position = Tight end | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|7|8}} | birth_place = Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lbs = 240 | high_school = Los Gatos {{avoid wrap|(Los Gatos, California)}} | college = California (2017–2021) | undraftedyear = 2022 | pastteams = * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2022}}) * San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present) | status = Active | highlights = | statweek = | statseason = 2025 | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = 34 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 293 | statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue3 = 5 | pfr = TongJa00 }}
'''Jacob Tonges''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɔː|n|dʒ|ʌ|s}} {{respell|TAWN|jus}};<ref>[https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/jake-tonges/18134 Jake Tonges (profile) – University of California, Berkeley Athletics.] Retrieved 28 December 2025.</ref> born July 8, 1999) is an American professional football tight end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears and signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
== Early life == Tonges was born on July 8, 1999, in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to Los Gatos, California with his family when he was five years old.<ref>{{Cite news|title=49ers' new hero has down-to-earth reputation in Bay Area hometown|url=https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/bay-area-town-los-gatos-hometown-hero-49ers-tonges-21043066.php|work=SFGATE|access-date=2026-01-30|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113182427/https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/bay-area-town-los-gatos-hometown-hero-49ers-tonges-21043066.php|archive-date=2026-01-13|language=en|first=Alex|last=Simon}}</ref> He attended Los Gatos High School, originally starting out as a quarterback his freshman and sophomore year, before transitioning into a two-way player, becoming a tight end and defensive back.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jake Tonges (TE): Bio, News, Stats & more|url=https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jake-tonges/career|website=www.49ers.com|access-date=2026-01-30|language=en-US}}</ref> Tonges received offers from various schools such as Sacramento State, Columbia, and many others, but decided to walk-on at the University of California, Berkeley.<ref>{{Cite AV media|title=Jake Tonges on Growing Up in The Bay and His NFL Journey {{!}} You’ve Got Mail|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyH5PNT03p0|date=2025-09-19|access-date=2026-01-30|via=YouTube|last=San Francisco 49ers}}</ref>
==College career== At the University of California, Tonges was a member of the California Golden Bears for five seasons, redshirting his true freshman year. As a redshirt senior, he caught 22 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/jake-tonges-to-enter-draft|title=Cal TE Jake Tonges Declares for 2022 NFL Draft|first=Jake|last=Curtis|website=SI.com|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=August 31, 2022}}</ref> Tonges finished his collegiate career with 47 receptions for 620 yards and four touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/chicago-bears-2022-training-camp-preview-tight-ends-cole-kmet/ | title=Bears 2022 training camp preview: Tight ends|first=Alyssa|last=Barbieri|website=Bears Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=July 8, 2022|access-date=August 30, 2022}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 4 3/8 | weight = 240 | dash = 4.77 | ten split = 1.62 | twenty split = 2.72 | shuttle = 4.45 | cone drill = 7.09 | vertical = 35.5 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 0 | bench = 17 | arm span = 32 3/4 | hand span = 10 | wingspan ft = 6 | wingspan in = 7 1/8 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1022045&DraftYear=2022 |title=2022 NFL Draft Scout Jake Tonges College Football Profile |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref> }}
===Chicago Bears=== Tonges signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kane |first=Colleen |date=May 1, 2022 |title=Chicago Bears undrafted free-agent tracker: A complete list of UDFA signings and rookie minicamp tryouts |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-chicago-bears-undrafted-free-agent-tracker-20220501-jgkvfhcb4ncsvh64ctciqjtwva-story.html |access-date=August 30, 2022 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> He made the Bears' initial 53-man roster out of training camp.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/bears-53-man-roster-how-jake-tonges-versatility-helped-him-win-job|title=How Tonges' offensive versatility helped him land on roster|first=Alex|last=Shapiro|website=NBC Sports Chicago|date=August 30, 2022|access-date=August 31, 2022}}</ref> Tonges was waived on November 10, and re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with Chicago on January 9, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Roster Moves: Bears sign 7 to 2023 reserve/future contracts |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-sign-7-to-2023-reserve-future-contracts |access-date=March 12, 2023 |website=ChicagoBears.com}}</ref>
On August 8, 2023, Tonges was placed on injured reserve after clearing waivers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=August 8, 2023 |title=Bears sign TE Lachlan Pitts and LB Barrington Wade |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/bears-sign-te-lachlan-pitts-and-lb-barrington-wade |access-date=February 20, 2024 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bears' Jake Tonges: Moves to injured reserve |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/bears-jake-tonges-moves-to-injured-reserve/amp/ |access-date=August 13, 2023 |website=www.cbssports.com}}</ref> He was waived nine days later.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Curtis |first1=Jake |title=Chicago Bears Waive Ex-Cal TE Jake Tonges |url=https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/bears-cut-jake-tonges |website=FanNation |access-date=September 29, 2023}}</ref>
===San Francisco 49ers=== On September 27, 2023, Tonges signed with the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad.<ref>{{cite web |title=49ers Sign Three Players to the Team's Practice Squad |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-three-players-to-the-team-s-practice-squad |website=49ers.com |access-date=September 29, 2023}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract with the 49ers on February 13, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=San Francisco 49ers Sign Nine Free Agents|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/san-francisco-49ers-sign-nine-free-agents-gutierrez-robinson-hawkins|website=49ers.com|date=February 13, 2024|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref>
On April 17, 2025, Tonges re-signed with the 49ers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Charean |author-link=Charean Williams |date=17 April 2025 |title=OG Austen Pleasants, TE Jake Tonges re-sign with 49ers |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/og-austen-pleasants-te-jake-tonges-re-sign-with-49ers |access-date=18 April 2025 |website=NBC Sports}}</ref> On September 7, he recorded his first career reception and his first career touchdown, which turned out to be the game winner, in a 17–13 road victory over the Seattle Seahawks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 8, 2025 |title=Jake Tonges' first career TD leads 49ers past Seahawks |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/jake-tonges-first-career-td-leads-49ers-past-seahawks--flm-2025-09-07/ |access-date=September 8, 2025 |work=Reuters |agency=Field Level Media}}</ref>
On March 12, 2026, Tonges re-signed with San Francisco on a two-year, $8 million contract, with $3.5 million guaranteed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=49ers Announce Signing of OL Lowe, OL Toth; Re-Sign TE Tonges|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-ol-vederian-lowe-ol-brett-toth-re-sign-te-jake-tonges|website=49ers.com|date=March 12, 2026|access-date=March 12, 2026}}</ref>
==NFL career statistics== {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="2"| Legend |- | '''Bold''' | Career high |}
===Regular season=== {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="2"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! Lost |- ! 2022 !! CHI | 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2024 !! SF | 16 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2025 !! SF | '''17''' || '''2''' || '''34''' || '''293''' || '''8.6''' || '''23''' || '''5''' || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TongJa00.htm Career] ! 37 !! 2 !! 34 !! 293 !! 8.6 !! 23 !! 5 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 |}
===Postseason=== {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="2"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! Lost |- ! 2025 !! SF | 2 || 1 || 6 || 73 || 12.2 || 16 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 |- ! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TongJa00/gamelog/post/ Career] ! 2 !! 1 !! 6 !! 73 !! 12.2 !! 16 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jake-tonges/ San Francisco 49ers bio] *[https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/jake-tonges/18134 California Golden Bears bio]
{{San Francisco 49ers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tonges, Jake}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Santa Clara County, California Category:American football tight ends Category:California Golden Bears football players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:Sportspeople from Saratoga, California Category:San Francisco 49ers players