Jason Belser

Jason Belser is an American former professional football safety known for his 11-year career in the National Football League (NFL). ^[1] Born on May 28, 1970, in Kansas City, Missouri, he played college football at the University of Oklahoma, where he was selected in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. ^[1] Belser established himself as a reliable starter, appearing in 173 games with 134 starts across his tenure, primarily with the Colts from 1992 to 2000 and later with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2001 to 2002. ^[1] During his playing career, Belser was recognized for his playmaking ability in the secondary, including multiple seasons with notable interception totals and defensive contributions that helped anchor his teams' defenses. ^[1] He earned an AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor in 1996 and participated in postseason play with the Colts. ^[1] After retiring from the NFL following the 2002 season, Belser transitioned into coaching and youth development roles, including work with Nike Sports Camps. ^[2] In 2025, Belser was appointed head football coach at The Benjamin School, where his NFL experience and professional background were highlighted as key assets for the program's student-athletes. ^[3] He continues to draw on his extensive football career to mentor the next generation in high school athletics. ^[3]

Early life and education

Birth and background

Jason Daks Belser was born on May 28, 1970, in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.^[1][4] He is commonly known by the nickname J.D.^[4] Belser attended Raytown South High School in Raytown, Missouri, where he played high school football.^[1] Belser stands at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall.^[1][4]

College career at Oklahoma

Jason Belser played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners as a defensive back from 1989 to 1991, appearing in 33 games with 11 games played each season. ^[5] During this time, he established himself as a playmaker in the secondary, recording a career total of 13 interceptions for 216 return yards and two touchdowns. ^[5] Belser led the Big Eight Conference with four interceptions in 1989, adding 39 return yards. ^[5] He followed that with four interceptions for 105 yards and one touchdown in 1990, and then posted a team-high five interceptions for 72 yards and another touchdown in 1991. ^[5] His consistent production in the secondary earned him first-team All-Big Eight Conference recognition as a defensive back in both 1990 and 1991. ^[6] Following his standout career at Oklahoma, Belser was selected in the 1992 NFL Draft.^[1]

Professional NFL career

1992 NFL Draft and entry into the league

Jason Belser was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the eighth round as the 197th overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft.^[1][7] This marked his entry into the National Football League, where he joined the Colts as a defensive back and began his professional career.^[1][8] Following his selection, Belser signed with the Indianapolis Colts, beginning an affiliation with the team that would extend over multiple seasons.^[9][10]

Indianapolis Colts tenure

Jason Belser played for the Indianapolis Colts from 1992 to 2000, spending the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the franchise.^[11] He lined up primarily as a defensive back, including time at free safety and strong safety positions.^[12][11] Belser saw limited starting action as a rookie in 1992 before becoming a full-time starter in the secondary beginning in 1993.^[11] He established himself as a durable and reliable presence in the Colts' defensive backfield, appearing in 141 regular-season games and starting 126 of them during his tenure.^[11] Belser played every regular-season game in seven of his nine seasons with the team, missing only three contests in 1994.^[11] His consistency helped anchor the secondary during the Colts' playoff appearances in 1995, 1996, 1999, and 2000.^[11] In 1996, he earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in Week 15.^[11] Belser's time with the Colts concluded after the 2000 season.^[11]

Kansas City Chiefs tenure

Jason Belser signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent on June 11, 2001, agreeing to a two-year contract.^[13] A Kansas City native who attended Raytown South High School and the son of former Chiefs defensive back Ceasar Belser, the signing allowed him to return to his hometown.^[13] During his tenure with the Chiefs from 2001 to 2002, Belser appeared in 32 regular-season games, starting eight, while playing primarily as a defensive back and free safety.^[1] In 2001, he played in all 16 games without a start, recording nine solo tackles.^[1] His playing time increased in 2002, when he started eight games and contributed 62 combined tackles (48 solo), three tackles for loss, one interception for 45 yards, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries for 10 yards.^[1] Belser was released by the Chiefs on March 7, 2002, but re-signed the following day and finished the season with the team.^[1]

Career highlights and achievements

Jason Belser had an 11-year NFL career as a defensive back, primarily at safety, from 1992 to 2002 with the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs. ^[1] He appeared in 173 regular season games, establishing himself as a durable and consistent performer on defense across multiple seasons. ^[1] Throughout his tenure, Belser contributed to his teams' defensive efforts, including notable plays such as interceptions and fumble recoveries that helped in game situations. ^[1] His longevity and reliability as a starter for much of his career marked him as a dependable player in the secondary. ^[1] Belser did not receive Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections during his playing career, but his sustained presence in the league reflected his professional stability and contributions to NFL defenses in the 1990s and early 2000s. ^[1]

NFL career statistics

Defensive performance summary

Jason Belser played primarily as a safety and defensive back during his 11-season NFL career from 1992 to 2002. ^[1] He recorded 590 solo tackles across his tenure in the league. ^[1] Belser forced 12 fumbles, demonstrating his ability to create turnovers. ^[1] His career Approximate Value (AV), a metric assessing overall contribution, stands at 58. ^[1] In addition to these marks, Belser intercepted 14 passes for 338 return yards and accumulated 9.0 sacks. ^{[1] [14]} These statistics highlight his consistent presence on the defensive side of the ball throughout his professional playing days. ^[1]

Post-playing career

Role with the NFL Players Association

Jason Belser served as a regional director for the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) during the late 2000s following his retirement from professional football. ^[15] In this capacity, he supported active and former players through regional services and was regarded highly enough within the organization to be considered among the initial candidates for NFLPA executive director in 2008, though he did not advance in the selection process. ^[15] By 2009, Belser held the title of Senior Regional Director at the NFLPA, where he advocated for initiatives related to player welfare and youth football development. ^[16] He represented the union in a partnership announcement between the NFLPA, NFL, and USA Football, emphasizing a commitment to teaching the game properly and supporting young players and volunteers. ^[16] In 2010, continuing in his senior regional director role, Belser contributed to discussions on concussion awareness and athlete decision-making in the context of player health and safety. ^[17]

Transition to coaching and youth programs

Jason Belser has been actively involved in youth development programs as the site director and lead coach for NIKE Sports Camps, where he draws upon his NFL experience to deliver leadership and guidance to young athletes. ^[18] In February 2025, The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, Florida, announced Belser's appointment as head football coach for the Buccaneers varsity program, with his tenure beginning on March 1, 2025. ^[3] The school's athletic director expressed enthusiasm for Belser's arrival, emphasizing his extensive experience as a player, coach, and professional, as well as his broad connections in college and professional football that would create significant opportunities for the institution's student-athletes and athletic department. ^[3] Belser's role at The Benjamin School allows him to apply his professional background directly to high school football, focusing on program development and youth growth within the Buccaneers organization. ^[19] Jason Belser has credits as himself in NFL television broadcasts, primarily through game telecasts during his playing career with the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs. ^[4] These appearances reflect his on-field role as a safety and defensive back, with credits listing him in capacities such as Self - Indianapolis Colts Free Safety or Self - Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Back. ^[4] His credits include episodes of The NFL on CBS (during the period when CBS held AFC broadcast rights from 1998 to 2002), The NFL on NBC from 1992 to 1997, ESPN's Sunday Night Football from 1993 to 2001, NFL Monday Night Football from 1993 to 2000, NFL on FOX from 1999 to 2001, and TNT Sunday Night Football from 1993 to 1997. ^[4] Belser's earliest credited appearance was in the 1992 NFL Draft TV special as Self - 197th Overall Pick. ^[4] These broadcast credits align with his active participation in NFL games and events throughout his professional tenure. ^[4]