A former Kentucky captain and All-SEC center, Luke Fortner won the starting job as a rookie in Jacksonville and has anchored an offensive line ever since.
Luke Fortner made his name as an immediate starter, taking over at center for the Jaguars the moment he arrived as a rookie. A steady, high-floor presence in the middle of the line, he has carried that reliability through stops with multiple organizations. He now lines up at center for Carolina.
Path to the league
Fortner started 36 consecutive games at right guard and center during his final years at Kentucky, where he was named team captain and earned First Team All-SEC honors while also standing out as a semifinalist for multiple national scholar-athlete awards. The Jaguars drafted him in the third round, 65th overall, in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Fortner won the Jaguars' starting center job immediately as a rookie and never gave it up during his time in Jacksonville, appearing in all 51 possible games across three seasons with 34 starts. He started two playoff games at center in the 2022 season, including the Jaguars' come-from-behind wild-card win over the Chargers.
2025 season recap
Fortner spent the 2025 season with the New Orleans Saints after leaving Jacksonville, continuing his run as a dependable interior lineman before his move to Carolina. He remains one of the more experienced centers in the league at this point in his career.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Luke Fortner
- New Orleans Saints: Five Things to Know about Luke Fortner
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Center
- Group
- offense
- College
- Kentucky
- Hometown
- Sylvania, OH, USA
- Age
- 28
- Status
- active
Team
