Boone Niederhofer named Texas A&M Football's first Winter Olympian

Boone Niederhofer named Texas A&M Football's first Winter Olympian originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For the first time in school history, Texas A&M will have a former football player competing in the Winter Olympics.

Boone Niederhofer, a San Antonio native and former Aggies wide receiver, was named to Team USA’s four-man bobsled roster on Jan. 19, earning a spot in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games. The selection capped an eight-year climb in bobsled for Niederhofer, a three-time World Cup team member who transitioned from the football field to the ice after his college career.

Niederhofer knows what it means to hear his name called. As a walk-on at Texas A&M from 2013-16, he worked his way into the rotation and eventually earned a scholarship. After redshirting, he played 303 snaps as a sophomore, finishing with 29 catches for 293 yards and a touchdown. He concluded his career with 35 receptions for 330 yards and one score while earning four Academic All-SEC honors.

For the first time EVER, we'll have a Fightin' Texas Aggie in the Winter Olympics!

CSTAT and the nation are cheering you on @Boone_saw 👍 pic.twitter.com/yFL9ckLFTu

— Texas A&M Athletics (@12thMan) February 2, 2026

He played alongside future NFL players including No. 1 NFL Draft pick Kyler Murray, Kyle Allen, Christian Kirk, and NFL sack master Myles Garrett under coach Kevin Sumlin, and appeared in three bowl games.

Now, Niederhofer’s name was called again — this time by veteran pilot Chris Fogt in Innsbruck, Austria — to represent the United States on the sport’s biggest stage.

Niederhofer said the margin for error separates football from bobsledding. “In football, you get the next play,” he told KBTX TV. “In bobsled, it’s do or die.”

A father of two, Niederhofer said his Olympic push carries deeper meaning. “I’m not just training for myself,” he said.

The Winter Olympics run Feb. 6-22, with bobsled competition beginning Feb. 7.

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