{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Josh Oliver | image = 2024 Titans vs Vikings Josh Oliver (cropped).png | image_size = | alt = | caption = Oliver with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 | current_team = Minnesota Vikings | number = 84 | position = Tight end | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|3|21}} | birth_place = Templeton, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 264 | high_school = Paso Robles <br>(Paso Robles, California) | college = San Jose State (2015–2018) | draftyear = 2019 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 69 | pastteams = * Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2019|2020}}) * Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2021|2022}}) * Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present) | status = Active | highlights = * First-team All-MWC (2018) | statseason = 2025 | statweek = | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = 85 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 861 | statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue3 = 11 }} '''Josh Oliver''' (born March 21, 1997) is an American professional football tight end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Jose State Spartans.
==Early life== Born in Templeton, California, Oliver attended Paso Robles High School in Paso Robles, California.<ref name="SJSU"/>
His uncle, Clancy Oliver, was an NFL defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1969 to 1970 and then-St. Louis Cardinals in 1973, and second cousin Darren Oliver was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1993 to 2013, while his father Rene Oliver earned All-Western Football Conference first-team accolades as a cornerback at Cal Poly in 1987 and 1988.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wallner |first=Peter J. |date=April 22, 1989 |title=Mustang football players looking forward to draft |pages=B2 |work=San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune}}</ref><ref name="SJSU" />
Josh Oliver played tight end, defensive end, and outside linebacker on the football team and forward on the basketball team in high school, earning first-team all-county accolades from the ''San Luis Obispo Tribune'' in both sports.<ref name="SJSU">{{cite web|url=https://sjsuspartans.com/sports/football/roster/josh-oliver/619|title=Josh Oliver|publisher=San Jose State University|work=SJSUSpartans.com|access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref>
During the 2014 season, Oliver compiled 453 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches in helping PRHS advance to the CIF Southern California Division III championship game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gibson |first=Travis |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Bearcats seek another title |pages=B6 |work=The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA)}}</ref>
He was a high school and college teammate of Bailey Gaither, future United States Football League wide receiver and return specialist.
Meanwhile, for his play at linebacker, Oliver was selected as the 2014 CIF Southern Section Northern Division Defensive Player of the Year in January 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jankowski |first=Alex |date=January 14, 2015 |title=Paso Robles sweeps Northern Division all-star honors |pages=S1 |work=The San Luis Obispo Tribune}}</ref> He accumulated 13 sacks and two interceptions (returned for 28 yards) as a senior.
==College career== Initially listed as an "athlete" in much of the recruiting process, Oliver was announced as a tight end upon signing a National Letter of Intent with San Jose State, as then-positional coach Dan Ferrigno commented he "[had] the tools to become an elite tight end."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jankowski |first=Alex |date=February 5, 2015 |title=Football stars excited for college: Gaither, Oliver, Baldwin all may have chance at immediate playing time as true freshmen |pages=S1 |work=The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA)}}</ref>
thumb|200px|left|Oliver in 2017 with San Jose State. Oliver played at SJSU from 2015 to 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/college/article55102340.html|title=Paso Robles High grad Josh Oliver finishes football season at San Jose State on high note|author=Gibson, Travis|date=January 15, 2016|access-date=April 13, 2019|website=sanluisobispo.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pasoroblespress.com/article/josh-oliver-shines-at-scouting-combine|title=Josh Oliver shines at Scouting Combine|author=Allen, Connor|date=March 7, 2019|access-date=April 13, 2019|work=Paso Robles Press|archive-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411062028/https://pasoroblespress.com/article/josh-oliver-shines-at-scouting-combine|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sjsunews.com/spartan_daily/sports/article_8d040b98-a716-11e8-bb87-ef9aee452cfa.html|title=Oliver named on Mackey award list|author=Vera, Vicente|date=August 23, 2018|access-date=April 13, 2019|website=sjsunews.com}}</ref> During his career, he had 98 receptions for 1,067 yards and seven touchdowns, and was a Mountain West Conference All-Academic honoree in all four of his years.<ref>{{Cite book |title=San Jose State Football Record Book |publisher=San Jose State University Athletics Department |year=2022 |pages=36 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pasoroblespress.com/article/former-bearcat-going-to-2019-nfl-combine|title=Former Bearcat going to 2019 NFL Combine|author=Allen, Connor|date=February 25, 2019|access-date=April 13, 2019|work=Paso Robles Press|archive-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411063543/https://pasoroblespress.com/article/former-bearcat-going-to-2019-nfl-combine|url-status=dead}}</ref>
As a freshman, his blocking was reportedly recognized to be a significant contributing factor toward Tyler Ervin breaking the program's single-season rushing yardage record.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gibson |first=Travis |date=January 17, 2016 |title=College football - Paso grad Oliver proves quite a catch at San Jose State |pages=1B |work=The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA)}}</ref> He also emerged as a receiving threat, with his first collegiate touchdown catch coming during the Spartans' Cure Bowl victory over Georgia State.
Midway through the 2018 season, Oliver won a John Mackey Award as the national tight end of the week after producing eight catches for 158 yards against Hawai'i on September 27 (setting a school single-game receiving yardage record by a tight end).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gonzalez |first=Ernie |date=February 7, 2019 |title=Josh Oliver accepts combine call |work=The Spear SJSU}}</ref>
He earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection and served as a team captain in 2018, during a season in which his 56 receptions ranked third among FBS-level tight ends.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Middlecamp |first=Scott |date=April 28, 2019 |title=NFL Draft - Former Paso Robles High star taken by Jacksonville Jaguars |pages=1C |work=The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ho |first=Matthew |date=March 16, 2023 |title=Former Paso Robles football star signs $21M deal with Vikings |pages=1B |work=The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA)}}</ref> Oliver was invited to the Senior Bowl after the season.
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 4 5/8 | weight = 249 | dash = 4.63 | ten split = 1.56 | twenty split = 2.76 | shuttle = 4.47 | cone drill = 7.21 | vertical = 34.0 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 9 | bench = 22 | arm span = 33 1/2 | hand span = 10 3/4 | wingspan ft = 6 | wingspan in = 6 7/8 | wonderlic = | note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/josh-oliver/32004f4c-4952-4360-2a59-44a3fa93d63f |title=Josh Oliver Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=September 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1027788&DraftYear=2019 |title=2019 Draft Scout Josh Oliver, San Jose State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=September 25, 2022}}</ref> }}
===Jacksonville Jaguars=== Oliver was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round, 69th overall, of the 2019 NFL draft.<ref>{{cite web|title=Round 3: Oliver is the selection|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/round-3-oliver-is-the-selection|author=Oehser, John|website=Jaguars.com|date=April 26, 2019}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve on November 18, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Day |first=Ryan |date=2019-11-18 |title=Jaguars place Oliver and McCray on season-ending IR |url=https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2019/11/18/20971226/jaguars-josh-oliver-lerentee-mccray-season-ending-injured-reserve |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=Big Cat Country |publisher=SB Nation |language=en}}</ref>
Oliver had surgery on a broken bone in his foot and was placed on injured reserve again on August 20, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |author=DiRocco, Michael |title=Jaguars' Josh Oliver has surgery for broken bone in foot, goes on IR |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29703017/jaguars-josh-oliver-surgery-broken-bone-foot-goes-ir |website=ESPN.com |date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=August 20, 2020}}</ref>
===Baltimore Ravens=== thumb|right|175px|Oliver with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. On March 18, 2021, Oliver was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a conditional 2022 seventh-round selection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-trade-for-tight-end-josh-oliver-a-former-third-round-pick|title=Ravens Trade for Tight End Josh Oliver, a Former Third-Round Pick|work=BaltimoreRavens.com|date=March 18, 2021|access-date=March 19, 2021|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318190111/https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-trade-for-tight-end-josh-oliver-a-former-third-round-pick|url-status=dead}}</ref> He had nine receptions for 66 yards in 14 games in the 2021 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Josh Oliver 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlivJo00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
In Week 3 of the 2022 season against the New England Patriots, he caught his first career touchdown pass from a yard out from quarterback Lamar Jackson. He finished the game with two receptions for eight yards and the aforementioned touchdown in the 37–26 win.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - September 25th, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202209250nwe.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=20 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In the 2022 season, he finished with 14 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Josh Oliver 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlivJo00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Per Pro Football Focus, Oliver graded as the top run-blocking tight end in the NFL amongst the 53 tight ends who played at least 200 blocking snaps for the year.
===Minnesota Vikings=== On March 15, 2023, Oliver signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=March 15, 2023 |title=Vikings Agree to Terms with Oliver, Davenport & Murphy |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/byron-murphy-josh-oliver-marcus-davenport-free-agency |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=Vikings.com}}</ref> He finished the 2023 season with 22 receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Josh Oliver 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlivJo00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Oliver finished the 2024 season with 22 receptions for 258 yards and three touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Josh Oliver 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlivJo00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
On June 10, 2025, Oliver signed a three-year, $23.25 million contract extension with the Vikings.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Lindsey |title=Vikings Sign Josh Oliver Contract Extension |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/josh-oliver-contraction-extension-agreed-to-terms-2025 |website=Vikings.com |access-date=11 June 2025}}</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="6"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Tgt !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fmb !! Lost |- ! 2019 !! JAX | 4 || 1 || 6 || 3 || 15 || 5.0 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2021 !! BAL | 14 || 1 || 15 || 9 || 66 || 7.3 || 19 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 |- ! 2022 !! BAL | 17 || 9 || 25 || 14 || 149 || 10.6 || '''40''' || 2 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2023 !! MIN | 17 || 14 || '''28''' || '''22''' || 213 || 9.7 || 33 || 2 || '''1''' || '''1''' |- ! 2024 !! MIN | 15 || 12 || '''28''' || '''22''' || '''258''' || '''11.7''' || 28 || 3 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2025 !! MIN | 15 || 7 || 19 || 15 || 160 || 10.7 || 32 || '''4''' || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlivJo00.htm Career] ! 82 !! 44 !! 121 !! 85 !! 861 !! 10.1 !! 40 !! 11 !! 2 !! 1 |}
===Postseason=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="6"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Tgt !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fmb !! Lost |- ! 2022 || BAL | 1 || 1 || '''2''' || '''2''' || '''26''' || '''13.0''' || '''19''' || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2024 || MIN | 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 5 || 5.0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlivJo00/gamelog/post/ Career] ! 2 !! 2 !! 3 !! 3 !! 31 !! 10.3 !! 19 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} {{footballstats|yahoo=31901|espn=3921690|nfl=josh-oliver}} *[https://www.vikings.com/team/players-roster/josh-oliver/ Minnesota Vikings bio] *[https://sjsuspartans.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=619 San Jose State Spartans bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514040533/https://sjsuspartans.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=619 |date=May 14, 2019 }} *{{twitter|josho_31}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver, Josh}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Paso Robles, California Category:Players of American football from San Luis Obispo County, California Category:American football tight ends Category:San Jose State Spartans football players Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players Category:Baltimore Ravens players Category:Minnesota Vikings players