Darren Fells

Darren Andre Fells (born April 22, 1986) is an American football tight end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He did not play college football, instead playing college basketball at the University of California, Irvine. Prior to his NFL career, he played professional basketball in several countries, and was then signed by the Seattle Seahawks. He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns, and is the brother of former NFL tight end Daniel Fells.

Early years
Fells attended Fullerton Union High School in Fullerton, California, where he played basketball. He was selected to the All-CIF Southern Section II-A second team as a junior while averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds as the team's center. He was named All-Freeway League second team also in his junior season.

Basketball career
Between 2008 and 2012, Fells played basketball professionally in Argentina, Mexico, Belgium, Finland, and France.

As a rookie on the Basketball League Belgium Division I team Leuven Bears in 2008–09, Fells wore jersey #14 and averaged 9.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 33 games. In his second season with the team in 2009–10, Fells averaged 8.1 points and 4.7 rebounds.

In the 2010–11 season, Fells played for Kataja Basket Club of the Finnish Korisliiga, wearing jersey #7. In 55 games, Fells averaged 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds. Kataja were runners-up of the 2011 Korisliiga Finals.

A Étendard de Brest of French LNB Pro B, Fells played 25 games for Soles de Mexicali of the Mexican Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional in the 2011–12 season and wore jersey #12. He averaged 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. After the LNBP season ended, Fells played nine games for Obras Sanitarias of the Argentine Liga Nacional de Basquet from March to April 2012 and averaged 6.9 points and 4.7 rebounds. Like at Soles de Mexicali, Fells wore jersey #12 for Obras.

In December 2012, Fells signed with Libertad de Sunchales but did not play any games.

2013
On March 6, 2013, Fells was signed by the Seattle Seahawks. On May 18, 2013, he was waived by the team. On May 20, 2013, he was re-signed with the team. On August 31, 2013, Fells was released by the team.

Arizona Cardinals
On October 9, 2013, Fells signed with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. On January 1, 2014, he was re-signed to a reserve/future contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

2014
Fells entered Arizona Cardinals' training camp competing with John Carlson, Troy Niklas, and Jake Ballard to be a backup tight end. He was named the fifth tight end on the Cardinals' depth chart to begin the regular season, behind Rob Housler, John Carlson, Troy Niklas, and Jake Ballard.

On September 21, 2014, he made his first career start as the Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 23–14. On December 11, 2014, Fells made his first career reception on a six-yard pass from Carson Palmer during a 12–6 victory over the St. Louis Rams. On Week 17, he caught a 24-yard pass for the longest catch of the season and finished the Cardinals' 17–20 loss to the 49ers with two receptions for 39 receiving yards. He completed his rookie season with a total of five receptions for 59 receiving yards while starting five games and appearing in ten.

On January 3, 2015, Fells appeared in his first career postseason game after the Cardinals finished the season with an 11–5 record. In the Cardinals' 16–27 NFC Wildcard loss to the Carolina Panthers, he caught one pass for one receiving yard.

2015
He started 2015 as the second tight end behind Jermaine Gresham. During the Arizona Cardinal's home opener against the New Orleans Saints, Fells caught his first career touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Carson Palmer. He finished the 31-19 victory with four receptions for 82 receiving yards and a touchdown. On October 18, 2015, he left a 25-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering a shoulder sprain that would keep him out the next two games.

He finished the 2015 season with the career-high 21 receptions, 311 receiving yards, and three touchdowns in 12 starts and 14 games.

2016
Fells remained the Cardinals' second option at tight end behind Gresham in 2016. In a Week 2 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught a career-high four passes for 31 receiving yards during a 40-7 victory. On January 1, 2017, he caught a 37-yard touchdown reception from Carson Palmer as the Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Rams 44-7.

He finished the season with 14 catches for 154 receiving yards and a touchdown in seven starts and 14 games.

Detroit Lions
On March 11, 2017, Fells signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Detroit Lions.

Fells entered training camp competing with Cole Wick, Khari Lee, and Michael Roberts to be the backup tight end. He was named the backup behind Eric Ebron to begin the regular season. Ebron struggled with drops in the first half of the season, and Fells saw increased snaps and eventually started in place of him.

Cleveland Browns
On March 15, 2018, Fells signed a three-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. He played in 16 games with 11 starts, recording 11 receptions for 117 yards and three touchdowns.

On March 11, 2019, Fells was released by the Browns.

Houston Texans
On March 18, 2019, Fells signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans.