Selected surprisingly early
Deutscher makes the jump to the NFL
April 25, 2026 – 9:38 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Marlin Klein was actually considered a candidate for later rounds in the NFL draft. But after round two, the German tight end’s new team was decided.
Marlin Klein made it to the NFL. The German tight end was selected by the Houston Texans at the NFL draft in Pittsburgh – and surprisingly in the second round at position 59. The 23-year-old had last played at college in Michigan and was considered a candidate for the later rounds in expert circles.
Klein didn’t have a dream team before the draft. He told the SID news agency: “My family has their favorites, but I prefer to see what happens.” In Texas he now has a guaranteed salary of millions. Houston has never been a champion, but has recently been regularly in the playoffs.
At Houston, Klein is fighting for a spot on the offensive line for the coming season. As a tight end, he brings a rare combination. Klein explained his strengths: “I’ve shown that I can run fast, I can catch balls. But a lot of people like that I can block well. There aren’t many tight ends in the NFL and in college who can do both.” He also emphasized his leadership role: “What defines me is how I treat others. I have a relationship with those who do my laundry or breakfast. A lot of boys saw me as a role model.” He was most recently team captain at Michigan.
Six other Germans are still waiting to be selected: Paul Rubelt from Frankfurt/Oder, Mark Petry from Hochheim, Florian Stahler from Cologne, Maurice Heims from Hamburg, Felix Leppen from Witzenhausen and Leo Blumentritt from Weichs.
