Ben Niemann

BIOGRAPHY

Ben Niemann was born on July 27th, 1995, in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a linebacker in the NFL. 

During his high school career, Niemann earned three letters as wide receiver and strong safety, and helped prep team reach second round of playoffs as a sophomore and junior. The team won the conference title and advanced to state semi-finals as a senior with a 12-1 record. Ben recorded 78 tackles as a senior, also had 45 receptions for 1,050 yards 15 touchdowns, along with two punt return touchdowns, 60 tackles and three interceptions as a junior, with 53 receptions for 884 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he recorded 51 receptions for 734 yards and seven touchdowns, and was team captain as a junior and senior. He was a two-year letterman in basketball, earning all-conference honors.

At first year of college in 2014, Ben played in all 13 games, recording five solo tackles and two assists, along with a blocked punt and return for a touchdown. He saw first action of career in 31-23 win over Northern Iowa, recording one solo tackle. He saw action in 38-31 loss at Maryland, recording one solo tackle, recorded one assisted tackle vs. Northwestern, while also recording a blocked punt and returning the ball for first career touchdown, saw action in 51-14 loss at Minnesota, recording one solo tackle for two-yard loss, saw action in TaxSlayer Bowl loss to Tennessee, recording a career-best three tackles, including two solo tackles and one assist, including a shared tackle for loss.

He started all 14 games at outside linebacker in 2015, recording 45 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, four QB sacks and two pass break-ups. He started at outside linebacker in 31-14 win over Illinois State as defense allowing 35 net rushing yards and 231 yards total offense, recording three total tackles, including two solo tackles and one assist, along with 2.5 tackles for loss and one QB sack. At Iowa State the defense allowed no points and just 66 yards total offense in the second half, he recorded four tackles, including two solo tackles and two assists at ISU, including two tackles for loss and a QB sack. Started at outside linebacker in 27-24 win over Pitt as defense allowed just 55 net rushing yards and 282 yards total offense. Recorded three tackles vs. Pitt, including one solo stop and two assists, started at outside linebacker in 62-16 win over North Texas, recording one solo tackle, one assist and one pass break-up.

For the following season at 2016, Ben started all 13 games, recording 69 tackles, including 37 solo stops and 32 assists, totaling three tackles for loss, one interception and four pass break-ups. Led team with career-high nine tackles vs. Miami, including four solo stops and five assists, also collected 1.5 tackles for loss. Recorded first career interception vs. ISU, which led to Iowa touchdown, along with one solo tackle and two assists, recorded career-best 11 tackles vs. NDSU, including five solo stops and six assists, along with one pass break-up, recorded seven tackles at Rutgers, matching career-best with five solo stops to go with two assists, recorded two solo tackles and one assist vs. Nebraska, including one tackle for loss and one pass break-up . . . started at outside linebacker in 30-3 Outback Bowl loss to #17 Florida, recording two solo tackles and one assist.

On 2017, Niemann started all 13 games, and collected 80 tackles, including 45 solo stops and 35 assists, with six tackles for loss and one sack. He recorded one interception and five break-ups, with two forced fumbles and one recovered fumble. Ben started at outside linebacker in 24-3 win over Wyoming as defense allowed just 233 yards total offense and had a career-best 13 tackles vs. Wyoming, including six solo stops and seven assist, he also recorded one shared tackle for loss, one caused fumble and one QB pressure, had five tackles at Iowa State, including two solo stops and three assists, recorded four tackles vs. North Texas, including three solo stops and one assist, with one tackle for loss and one pass break-up, recorded six tackles vs. Penn State, including four solo tackles and two assists, with one tackle for loss, recorded two solo tackles and one QB pressure .

Niemann signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent and made the final 53-man roster out of training camp. He made his NFL debut on September 9, 2018, in the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, playing on special teams.