Ben Utecht

Benjamin Jeffrey Utecht (born June 30, 1981 in Rochester, Minnesota) is an American football player and singer. Utecht was a tight end for the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Minnesota. Utecht has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Colts in Super Bowl XLI.

Early years
Utecht graduated from Hastings Senior High School in Hastings, Minnesota where he helped lead the Raiders to three State Semi-Final or Finals appearances.

College career
Utecht became a four-year starter at the University of Minnesota, starting 35 of 44 games and playing in the Music City Bowl.

Indianapolis Colts
He signed as a free agent with the Colts on April 30, 2004. Utecht did not see much action in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. His best season was the 2006 season, with 37 receptions for 377 yards. In the 2006 postseason, Utecht had 5 receptions for 41 yards. He would then go on to help the Colts win Super Bowl XLI. In 2007, he caught 31 receptions for 364 yards and a touchdown. Utecht became a restricted free agent in the 2008 offseason.

Cincinnati Bengals
On March 14, the Cincinnati Bengals signed him to an offer sheet believed to be worth $9 million over three seasons. The Colts had seven days to match the contract and retain Utecht, but the March 21 deadline passed and Utecht became a member of the Bengals. Prior to the start of the 2009 season, Utecht suffered a concussion during practice, which was aired on the HBO Television show "Hard Knocks". On August 31, 2009, Utecht was placed on the injured reserve list for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was released on November 17 with an injury settlement.

Personal
The son of a Methodist Minister, Utecht recorded an Inspirational music album, released on May 5, 2009, on Sandi Patty's Stylos label.

His wife, Karyn (Stordahl) of Owatonna, Minnesota, also attended the University of Minnesota and was Miss Minnesota, 2005. Ben and Karyn are parents to three daughters, Elleora Grace (b. March 1, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio) and twins Katriel Beverlee and Amy Joan (b. November 9, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee).