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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 22: AJ Barner #88 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on December 22, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

“So that was the goal,” Seattle Seahawks TE AJ Barner said on being an elite tight end in this league. On Wednesday, during a post-practice press conference, a reporter asked him to follow up on some comments he’d made previously. The second-year tight end out of Michigan previously said he wants to be one of the NFL’s elite tight ends, and this reporter asked him when that dream started.

“Honestly, probably like in college at Michigan, and Indiana as well,” Barner responded. “Once I got to Indiana, people felt like I had a good chance to go to the NFL. And once I got to Michigan — and what my role was at Michigan — was kinda developing me for the NFL. And when I got here, I felt like I had the good combination of the blocking, the pass pro, the catching.”

“So that was the goal. And I think in my draft call I mentioned that. Anything that I do, I obviously want to be very talented at it. And again, I just feel like I have the talents to do that.”

The second-year pro was a fourth-round pick in 2024. Barner had 30 receptions for 245 yards and four touchdowns, and he’s taken a noticeable step forward this season. In five games, he has 14 receptions for 134 and four touchdowns.

Seattle Seahawks TE AJ Barner on how He Became a Tight End

Olivia Vanni/GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 05: AJ Barner #88 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after a first down during the second quarter of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lumen Field on October 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images)

“So I played linebacker for almost all my life, and I really wanted to play linebacker in college,” Barner said on how he came to play tight end. “And I tell people, ‘I think I can play linebacker in the league too,’” he said with a chuckle.

“But when I was getting recruited for college, it was just my size was — like I’m not going to be covering anyone man-to-man. So they switched me to tight end and it was just a great fit for me. But I still have those characteristics of a linebacker, and I think the defensive coaches know that here. So it serves me well. [Playing tight end] definitely wasn’t a tough sell, but I definitely did want to play linebacker for a long time.”

Barner started his college career at Indiana and spent two years there before transferring to Michigan for the 2023 season. At Michigan, he was primarily used as a blocker next to future first-round pick TE Colston Loveland. In his final collegiate season with the Wolverines, he had 22 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown.

Seattle Seahawks TE AJ Barner on What Being an Elite Tight End Means to Him

“I feel like when you watch the film and you see guys that do it play in and play out — and the techniques, like they’re moving guys off the ball, they’re not just position-blocking people,” Barner said. “And well-rounded in those phases as well, like you have tight ends that really don’t mix it up in the trenches, you have guys that are more just blockers, and you also have a lot of tight ends that do both.”

“I feel like the state of the NFL that it’s in, there’s some very talented players in this league, and especially in our division, too. The Rams got great tight ends, [49ers TE] George [Kittle], [Trey] McBride of the Cardinals. We watch all this tape right, and you see these guys on tape because we’re playing a lot of the same teams in the division. So there’s a lot of great tight ends in the league, but I think the guys that can do it all are those unicorns, I guess.”

“Right now I think I have a lot of work to do,” Barner said on where he ranks in that group. “But I think my ceiling is right up there with them. So I think I had a great game this week, and people are starting to take notice, but I think there’s a lot more for me to do.”