Trey McBride
A record-setting college tight end who transformed into a reliable security blanket for the Arizona Cardinals' offense.
Born 1999 (age 27)·American football player·Birthday: November 22·Generation Z
Biography
Trey McBride's path to the NFL was built on relentless production and quiet confidence. At Colorado State, he evolved from a promising recruit into the most dominant tight end in the country. His senior season was a masterpiece of consistency and big plays, shattering school records and demanding national attention. His efforts were rewarded with the John Mackey Award, given to the nation's best tight end, and unanimous All-American honors. Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round, he entered a crowded position room but carved out his role through sheer dependability. When veteran Zach Ertz was injured, McBride seized the opportunity, showcasing soft hands, sharp route-running, and a knack for moving the chains. He quickly became a favorite target for his quarterbacks, proving that his college success was no fluke and establishing himself as a central piece of the Cardinals' offensive future.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Trey was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Trey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Trey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2021 John Mackey Award as the most outstanding tight end in college football.
- Named a Unanimous All-American in 2021 after a record-setting season at Colorado State.
- Set the NCAA single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end (1,121) in 2021.
- Broke the Colorado State school record for single-season receptions (90) during his award-winning senior year.
Did You Know?
He was a multi-sport star in high school in Colorado, also excelling in basketball and track and field.
His 90 receptions in 2021 were the most by any FBS tight end in over two decades.
He was the first Colorado State player to be a unanimous All-American since 1994.
He recorded his first NFL touchdown reception on a pass from quarterback Colt McCoy in 2022.
“You have to be the hardest worker in the room, and then you have to prove it on the field.”
