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Jeffrey Ronald Janis (born June 24, 1991) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft. Janis was also a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Early life

A native of Tawas City, Michigan, Janis attended Tawas Area High School.[1] He was a member of both the football and basketball teams, and was an all-conference wide receiver who also played as a running back following an injury, and ended up leading his team in rushing.[2]

While most NFL fans in Tawas were Detroit Lions fans, Janis’ own father, Christopher, had been a passionate fan of the Green Bay Packers. However, Christopher never got to see his son drafted by the team, as he died of liver cancer in August 2010 at age 52. Janis’ loss of his father came during his sophomore year of college.[3]

College career

Janis attended Saginaw Valley State University from 2009 to 2013, where he played for the Cardinals,[4][5] an NCAA Division II program. Despite having performed well in a regional high school combine, Janis had received no interest from DI programs and almost no interest from DII programs. A large part of the reason he was overlooked was his lack of size. Graduating high school at seventeen years of age, Janis was among the younger players of his incoming class, and was relatively physically underdeveloped, weighing 180 pounds (82 kg) at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m). A training regiment during his college career ultimately allowed him to greatly grow his physique by his senior season. By the time he entered the NFL, Janis weighed 219 pounds (99 kg) at 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m).[6]

After redshirting in 2009, Janis caught nine passes for 130 yards. He caught a touchdown in 2010,[7] but hardly received any playing time as a sophomore.[6]

During his junior season in 2011, Janis had a breakout year,[6] appearing in all 11 games, starting eight and posted a team-high 968 receiving yards on 48 receptions (20.2 avg.) and 14 touchdowns. In 2012, Janis started all 11 games and was second in the nation with 106 receptions and led all DII players with 1,635 receiving yards, both of which set new SVSU single season marks. He caught 17 touchdown passes and was named a first-team All-GLIAC selection. In 2013, Janis caught 83 passes for 1,572 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning first-team All-GLIAC honors and was a first-team AFCA Div. II All-American.[7]

For his collegiate career, Janis finished second in the history of the GLIAC with 4,305 receiving yards.[8] Janis was invited to play in the 2014 Senior Bowl.[9]

Despite having strong junior and senior seasons, NFL scouts largely overlooked Janis.[6]

College statistics

Saginaw Valley State Cardinals
Year GP Receiving Rushing Kick Returns
Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD
2010 10 9 130 14.4 28 1 3 16 5.3 15 0 2 40 20.0 20 0
2011 11 48 968 20.2 76 14 2 17 8.5 14 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
2012 11 106 1,635 15.4 73 17 1 15 15.0 15 1 0 0 0.0 0 0
2013 12 83 1,572 18.9 95 14 4 49 12.3 25 2 5 71 14.2 27 0
Total Archived August 19, 2016, at the Wayback Machine 44 246 4,305 17.5 95 46 10 97 9.7 25 3 7 111 15.9 27 0

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press Wonderlic
6 ft 2+7⁄8 in
(1.90 m)		 219 lb
(99 kg)		 32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		 9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.42 s 1.55 s 2.60 s 3.98 s 6.64 s 37.5 in
(0.95 m)		 10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)		 20 reps 30[10]
All values are from NFL Combine[11][12]

Green Bay Packers

Janis at training camp in 2014

Janis went relatively overlooked in the 2014 NFL draft,[6] ultimately being selected in the seventh round (236th overall) by the Green Bay Packers.[13][14][15] He was the first Saginaw Valley State Cardinal drafted since offensive guard Todd Herremans in 2005, and the first wide receiver in school history to be drafted, though his early role on the team was more on the special teams rather than taking snaps at wide receiver.[16]

During training camp, Janis suffered a case of shingles.[17] Nevertheless, he was able to participate in much of the camp and made a number of impressive plays during scrimmages. Janis played in a pre-season exhibition game for the Packers against the St. Louis Rams in which he made a 34-yard catch and run to score a touchdown.[18]

Janis made his NFL debut on September 28, 2014, against the Chicago Bears, but he recorded no statistics.[19] He appeared in one more game as a rookie, which was against the Miami Dolphins.[20]

In 2015, Janis appeared in all 16 games in the regular season as a kick returner and backup receiver.[21] His two receptions for 79 yards against the San Diego Chargers were his only receiving statistics for the regular season.[22] Janis had a breakout game in the Divisional Round on January 16, 2016, against the Arizona Cardinals. He caught seven passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns, including a 41-yard Hail Mary pass from Aaron Rodgers on the final play of regulation to bring the game into overtime, but the Packers lost on the road 26–20.[1] 101 of these yards came on the game-tying drive to end regulation; Janis also caught a 60-yard pass on 4th and 20 from the Packers’ four-yard line to set up the tying score.[23]

On August 10, 2016, Janis fractured at least one of the bones in his right hand during a ball-security drill at Packers training camp.[24] He remained in a backup role during the season. Janis had a receiving touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the narrow 33–32 loss. Overall, in the 2016 season, he recorded 11 receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown to go along with a 19-yard rushing touchdown, which occurred against the Seattle Seahawks.[25][26]

In the 2017 season, Janis mainly had a special teams role. He recorded two receptions for 12 yards and three kick returns for 43 net yards.[27]

Cleveland Browns

Janis in 2018

On March 30, 2018, Janis signed with the Cleveland Browns.[28] He was released on August 31.[29]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year Team GP GS Receiving Kick returns Fumbles
Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD FUM Lost
2014 GB 3 0 2 16 8.0 9 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2015 GB 16 0 2 79 39.5 46 0 14 406 29.0 70 0 0 0
2016 GB 16 11 11 93 8.5 25 1 6 119 19.8 28 0 0 0
2017 GB 16 0 2 12 6.0 12 0 3 43 14.3 17 0 0 0
Total 51 11 17 200 11.8 46 1 23 568 24.7 70 0 0 0

Postseason

Year Team GP GS Receiving Kick returns Fumbles
Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD FUM Lost
2015 GB 2 0 7 145 20.7 60 2 4 99 24.8 35 0 0 0
2016 GB 3 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 77 25.7 33 0 0 0
Total 5 0 7 145 20.7 60 2 7 176 25.1 35 0 0 0

Post-football career

In April 2019, Janis bought Timmy Tire Center in East Tawas, Michigan, where he had been employed in high school and college, and renamed it Janis Tire and Auto.[30]

Personal life

Janis and his wife, Alyssa, have four children.[31]

Janis is an avid hunter,[32][33] having grown fond of both hunting and fishing during his upbringing in Michigan.[34] Janis has partaken in both gun hunting and bowhunting as hobbies, and has expressed being more partial towards bowhunting in his adulthood, describing it as “more challenging”.[35] Among the game he is noted to hunt are deer,[36] which he bowhunts.[33] Janis introduced his Packers teammate Brett Hundley both to archery and bowhunting,[36] including taking Hundley out for his first deer hunt on Janis’ own Wisconsin property.[37] During his playing career with the Packers, Janis filmed an episode of the Outdoor Channel series Driven with Pat & Nicole that first aired in January 2016.[38] Since retiring from football, Janis has appeared on several hunting-related podcasts.[39][40]

References

  1. ^ a b Thompson, Lee (January 16, 2016). “Green Bay Packers Hail Mary makes Tawas native Jeff Janis instant star”. MLive.com. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  2. ^ Thompson, Lee (January 21, 2016). “Green Bay Packers hero honored by his Michigan hometown with Jeff Janis Week”. MLive.com. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  3. ^ Wilde, Jason (June 19, 2016). “‘I Wouldn’t Be Where I Am today Without Him’: T.J. Lang, Jeff Janis Recall Their Late Fathers”. ESPN.com. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  4. ^ “National spotlight shines on SVSU alum Janis”. Saginaw Valley State University. January 19, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  5. ^ “Jeff Janis”. Saginaw Valley State Cardinals. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e Dunne, Tyler (May 16, 2014). “Packers’ pick Jeff Janis could be a surprise”. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  7. ^ a b Niziolek, Michael (December 17, 2013). “Honors keep coming for SVSU wide receiver Jeff Janis with selection to AFCA All-America Team”. mlive.com. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  8. ^ Thompson, Lee (January 29, 2016). “After Green Bay Packers Hail Mary, fans far beyond Tawas know Jeff Janis”. MLive.com. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  9. ^ Niziolek, Michael (December 13, 2013). “SVSU wide receiver Jeff Janis invited to play in 2014 Senior Bowl”. mlive.com. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Wilde, Jason (June 8, 2016). “Packers, Aaron Rodgers hopeful Jeff Janis can deliver on potential”. ESPN.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  11. ^ “Jeff Janis Draft and Combine Prospect Profile”. NFL.com. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  12. ^ “Jeff Janis – Saginaw Valley State, WR : 2014 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile”. DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  13. ^ “2014 NFL Draft Listing”. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  14. ^ “Jeff Janis Draft Profile – NFL.com”. NFL.com. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  15. ^ Niziolek, Michael (May 11, 2014). “SVSU wide receiver Jeff Janis selected in the seventh round, 236th overall pick, by the Green Bay Packers”. mlive.com. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  16. ^ “Saginaw Valley St. Drafted Players/Alumni”. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  17. ^ Hodkiewicz, Weston (August 1, 2014). “Janis eyes Monday return from shingles”. Packers News. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  18. ^ Dunne, Tyler (August 16, 2014). “Receiver Jeff Janis’ speed transfers to the NFL game”. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  19. ^ “Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – September 28th, 2014”. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  20. ^ “Jeff Janis 2014 Game Log”. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  21. ^ “Jeff Janis 2015 Game Log”. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  22. ^ “San Diego Chargers at Green Bay Packers – October 18th, 2015”. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  23. ^ “Divisional Round – Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals – January 16th, 2016”. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  24. ^ Demovsky, Rob (August 13, 2016). “Packers WR Jeff Janis has fracture in right hand”. ESPN.com. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  25. ^ “Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers – December 11th, 2016”. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  26. ^ “Jeff Janis 2016 Game Log”. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  27. ^ “Jeff Janis 2017 Game Log”. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  28. ^ “Browns sign WR Jeff Janis and QB Drew Stanton”. ClevelandBrowns.com. March 30, 2018. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018.
  29. ^ “Browns reduce roster to 72”. ClevelandBrowns.com. August 31, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  30. ^ Meinert, Kendra (July 1, 2019). “Jordy Nelson and Jeff Janis: Just a couple of former Packers wide receivers talking tires”. Green Bay Press-Gazette. Gannett. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  31. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DMjeUPnA7Dm/?hl=en
  32. ^ “Locker Room – Dec. 6th – Jeff Janis talks hunting”. WFRV. Retrieved March 25, 2026 – via WeAreGreenBay.com.
  33. ^ a b “On a Day Off: Hunting With Jeff Janis”. Packers.com. November 17, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  34. ^ Janis, Jeff (August 28, 2014). “Packers’ WR’s Favorite Hunt – Legendary Whitetails”. Legendary Whitetail’s Blog. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  35. ^ Durkin, Patrick (October 24, 2014). “Get To Know Packers Wide Receiver Jeff Janis”. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  36. ^ a b Durkin, Patrick (February 10, 2018). “Bowhunting Steers Packers’ Jeff Janis to ATA Trade Show”. BowHunting.com. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  37. ^ Kruse, Zach (November 2, 2017). “Packers QB Brett Hundley shot a deer during bye week”. Packers Wire. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  38. ^ “Driven With Pat & Nicole”. Roku. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  39. ^ “BowHunterPlanet Podcast #430 – Jeff Janis”. CarbonTV. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  40. ^ “Retired to Hunt”. Apple Podcasts. Retrieved March 25, 2026.