A four-year Pittsburgh captain who once played quarterback in high school, Gavin Bartholomew brings a blue-collar blocking edge to Minnesota's tight end room.
Gavin Bartholomew is a tight end who spent four seasons at Pittsburgh, developing into a team captain and reliable underneath target before the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the sixth round in 2025. A Pennsylvania native who played quarterback, defensive end and tight end in high school, Bartholomew has built his game around toughness and dependable hands rather than elite athleticism.
Path to the league
Bartholomew starred at Blue Mountain High School in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, where he played tight end, defensive end and even quarterback before committing to Pittsburgh. Over four seasons with the Panthers from 2021 to 2024, he started 41 of 50 games, was named a captain as a senior, and finished his college career with 104 receptions for 1,248 yards and 11 touchdowns. He accepted an invitation to the 2025 Senior Bowl before Minnesota selected him with the 202nd overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
As a Pittsburgh freshman in 2021, Bartholomew earned honorable mention All-ACC and second-team Freshman All-American honors after catching 28 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns. He went on to log at least 18 receptions in each of his four college seasons, building a reputation as a tough, reliable target who also handled blocking duties in the Panthers' offense.
2025 season recap
Bartholomew's rookie season with the Vikings was cut short by a back injury, and he did not appear in any regular-season games in 2025. He entered the 2026 offseason looking to make his NFL debut after a college career built on durability and dependability.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Gavin Bartholomew
- ESPN: Gavin Bartholomew
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Tight End
- Group
- offense
- College
- Pittsburgh
- Hometown
- Schuylkill Haven, PA, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
