Photo: Wisconsin Athletics, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons²

Will Pauling

Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers · #84.

Player facts

Team: San Francisco 49ers
Position: Wide Receiver
Number: 84
Born: Mar 4, 2003 (age 23)
Birthplace: Chicago, IL, USA
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 183 lbs
College: Notre Dame
Experience: Rookie
Status: Practice Squad

Stats

2026 Offense

	REC	TGTS	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	FD	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	FUM	LST
Regular Season	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

About

William Pauling (born March 4, 2003) is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats, Wisconsin Badgers, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

From Wikipedia’s article on Will Pauling, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.¹

Background

Early life

Pauling was born in Chicago where he attended high school at Homewood-Flossmoor. Pauling had a breakout junior season where he hauled in 50 receptions for 951 yards and 11 touchdowns. Pauling decided to commit to play college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Cincinnati

In Pauling's first season in 2021 he hauled in just one reception for six yards versus SMU. In the 2022 season, Pauling brought in 12 receptions for 122 yards. After the conclusion of the 2022 season, Pauling entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Wisconsin

Pauling transferred to play for the Wisconsin Badgers, and his former head coach Luke Fickell. In week six of the 2023 season, Pauling hauled in eight receptions for 68 yards in a win over Rutgers. Two weeks later, he recorded his first career touchdown reception as he helped the Badgers comeback and defeat Illinois. In the Badgers bowl game, he had a career performance recording eight receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Pauling finished the 2023 season with 74 receptions for 837 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for 11 yards and completing one pass for 19 yards. In 2024, during a week three loss against Alabama, Pauling completed nine receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown. He finished the season with 42 receptions for 407 yards and three touchdowns, as well as one carry for four yards.

Notre Dame

On December 24, 2024, Pauling transferred to Notre Dame. On August 18, 2025, Pauling was named a team captain. In week 7, he caught four receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown in a win over North Carolina State. In a week 10 victory against Boston College, he caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from CJ Carr in the second quarter. After twelve appearances and six starts, Pauling finished the 2025 season with 26 receptions for 381 yards and six touchdowns.

From Wikipedia’s article on Will Pauling, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article.¹