NFL CAREER – Nick Vannett joined the Saints via free agency looking to bring veteran experience and a powerful blocking presence to the Black and Gold tight end room. The Westerville, Ohio native was originally selected by Seattle in the third round (94th overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. The seventh-year pro appeared in seven games with two starts in 2021, totaling nine receptions for 133 yards (14.8 avg.) with one touchdown. In six seasons for Seattle, Pittsburgh, Denver and New Orleans, Vannett has played in 77 regular season games with 35 starts, catching 84 passes for 819 yards (9.8 avg.) with six touchdowns and two special teams tackles.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS –Activated by Saints, 11/11/21; Placed on Injured Reserve by Saints, 9/6/21; Signed to a three-year contract by the New Orleans Saints, 3/29/21; Released by Denver, 3/25/21; Signed to a two-year contract by the Denver Broncos (UFA-Pit.), 3/21/20; Acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers from Seattle in exchange for a 2020 fifth round draft selection, 9/25/19; Signed to a four-year contract by Seattle, 5/6/16; Selected in the third round (94th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
2021 – Appeared in seven games with two starts, catching nine passes for 133 yards (14.8 avg.) and one touchdown…Spent the first nine games of the season on Injured Reserve (right knee)…At Philadelphia, Nov. 21, made his Saints debut and had one 20-yard catch…vs. Buffalo, Nov. 25, finished with one 11-yard touchdown catch…Vs. Dallas, Dec. 2, recorded a season-high three catches for 48 yards, including a season long second quarter 30-yard reception…At N.Y. Jets, Dec. 12, made first start as a Saint and recorded three receptions for team-high 44 yards…At Atlanta, 1/9/22, caught ten-yard reception. 2020 – Appeared in 15 games with 11 starts and recorded 14 receptions for 95 yards (6.8 avg.) with one touchdown in Denver...Caught two passes for season-high 25 yards vs. Kansas City, Oct. 25…Collected first touchdown of season and a season-high four receptions for 20 yards at Carolina, Dec. 13. 2019 – Played in all 16 games with seven starts for Seattle and Pittsburgh and recorded 17 receptions for 166 yards (9.8 avg.)...Tallied four receptions for 38 yards in three games with Seattle before being traded to Pittsburgh, Sept. 25...Recorded 28 yards on two receptions vs. Cincinnati, Sept. 30...Collected five receptions for 40 yards vs. Buffalo, Dec. 15. 2018 – Played in 15 games with nine starts for Seattle and totaled 29 receptions for 269 yards and three touchdowns...Collected 43 yards on three receptions vs. L.A. Rams, Oct. 7...Totaled career-high six receptions for career-best 52 yards and one touchdown vs. L.A. Chargers, Nov. 4...Caught an eight-yard touchdown reception at L.A. Rams, Nov. 11...Notched two receptions for 11 yards and one touchdown vs. Kansas City, Dec. 23...Posted one reception for five yards in NFC Wild Card playoff at Dallas, 1/5/19. 2017 – Appeared in 15 games with 4 starts for Seattle, logging 12 receptions for 124 yards (10.3 avg.) and one touchdown...Made one reception for 10 yards at Green Bay, Sept. 10... Caught a pass for 12 yards at N.Y. Giants, Oct. 22...Totaled two receptions for 22 yards at Arizona, Nov. 9...Tallied two receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown at San Francisco, Nov. 26...Recorded three receptions for 40 yards vs. Philadelphia, Dec. 3. 2016 –Appeared in nine games with two starts for Seattle, collecting three receptions for 32 yards (10.7 avg.)...Posted one reception for seven yards at New Orleans, Oct. 30...Caught two passes for 25 yards vs. Carolina, Dec. 4.
COLLEGE – Played in 53 games with 15 starts for the Buckeyes, including 12 starts as a senior in 2015…Totaled 55 receptions for 585 yards (10.6 yards per catch) and six touchdowns over the course of his career…Finished his career ranking ninth all-time among Ohio State tight ends in receptions and tied for 10th in touchdown receptions…Was invited to the Reese's Senior Bowl following his senior season after recording 19 catches for 162 yards…Played in all 15 games his junior season and had 19 receptions for 220 yards and five TDs…Scored a touchdown against Oregon in the National Championship game…Played in 13 games as a sophomore and had eight catches for 80 yards…Caught his first collegiate touchdown pass against Purdue…After redshirting the 2011 season as a true freshman, played in all 12 games with two starts, ranking fifth on the team with nine receptions and 123 receiving yards…Graduated in 2015 with his degree in sport industry.
PERSONAL – Earned All-Ohio, All-metro, All-OCC and All-district recognition as a senior for coach John Magistro at Westerville Central HS…Made 47 catches for 606 yards and eight TDs as a senior…Named to Offense-Defense Bowl, Ohio North-South Classic and Big 33 games…Also basketball letterman…Played a role in the development of a product called "Screen Skinz", a tempered glass screen protector that shows logos of professional and major college sports teams while a phone is off…In January appeared at Algiers Charter School for a UnitedHealth fitzone appearance to encourage students to exercise…Born on March 6, 1993.
