DeShon Elliott

DeShon Elliott's Biography

DeShon Elliott, an American professional football player born on April 21, 1997, has created a name for himself in the tumultuous world of the National Football League (NFL). Over the course of his career, he has left an indelible mark on the field, notably as a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His professional stint extends to his early days of college football at Texas and starting with the Baltimore Ravens, fortifying a path that reverberates with passion, resilience, and sheer hard work.

Born and raised in Texas, Elliott discovered his knack for football early in life. He attended Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, and began playing high school football, a decision that gradually carved out a future for him in the professional realm. On graduating from high school, Elliott chose to further his football endeavors at the University of Texas, marking the commencement of his college football journey.

Elliott’s freshman year at Texas in 2015 was a lesson in fortitude and character building. He played in seven games and notched up 13 tackles and two interceptions, setting the stage for a promising sophomore year. In the subsequent season, Elliott featured in 12 games and made a crucial start, tallying 30 tackles, one sack, and an interception. His exponential growth was reflected in the awards and recognition he received during his junior year in 2017. Elliott was a finalist for the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award, signaling his rise as a standout player. He decided to forego his senior year, making an early exit in November 2017 to participate in the 2018 NFL Draft and skipping the Longhorns’ bowl game.

During the 2018 NFL draft, Elliott’s name was called by the Baltimore Ravens as the sixth-round, 190th overall pick. However, his rookie season was plagued by injuries, with a fractured forearm landing him on the injured reserve on August 31, 2018. The following year brought more physical setbacks as a knee injury once again placed him on the injured reserve on October 15, 2019.

Elliott was originally set to be the backup safety for the 2020 season. Still, following the release of Earl Thomas in August, he found himself occupying the starting role. His significant career moment came in Week 2 when he made his first career sack against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, helping the Ravens triumph over the Texans 33-16. However, his successful streak was interrupted when he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on November 3, 2020, but he bounced back four days later.

The 2021 season unfolded with Elliott holding his fort as the starter in the injury-hit Ravens secondary. In a twist of events, he suffered a season-ending biceps and pectoral injury towards the end of the fourth quarter of a Week 8 34-31 overtime win against the Minnesota Vikings on November 8, 2021, and consequently found himself on the injured reserve list.

Elliott’s journey experienced a new twist when he signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions on April 14, 2022. He took charge as the Lions’ starting free safety that season, playing in 14 games with 13 starts, recording commendable stats that included 96 tackles, three passes defensed, one interception, and a forced fumble.

The wanderlust in Elliott’s career continued as he later signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins on March 17, 2023. His professional journey continued when, on March 15, 2024, Elliott signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, in what promises to be another exciting chapter in his journey through professional football.