Barry Wesley took the long way to the NFL, cycling through indoor football and the XFL before finally sticking as a tackle in New Orleans.
Barry Wesley is an offensive tackle whose path to the Saints ran through the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League and the XFL's Seattle Sea Dragons before he ever played an NFL snap. A four-year starter at Colorado State, his size and perseverance eventually earned him a foothold in the league.
Path to the league
Wesley was a four-year starter at Colorado State, appearing in 40 games with 38 starts at both tackle and guard, and he received the Albert C. Yates Student Leadership Award for his mentorship of teammates during his senior season. He went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
After going undrafted, Wesley signed with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League in December 2022, then joined the XFL's Seattle Sea Dragons the following month. He got his first NFL opportunity with the Atlanta Falcons in May 2023 and later spent time with the UFL's Birmingham Stallions before signing with New Orleans, showing the kind of durability that comes from grinding through multiple leagues to reach the NFL.
2025 season recap
Wesley signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2025, working as a depth tackle option on the offensive line as he continued to fight for a consistent NFL role.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Barry Wesley
- Pro Football Reference: Barry Wesley
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- Colorado State
- Hometown
- Morrison, CO, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
