Elijah Chatman

Elijah Chatman's Biography

Elijah Chatman, born on December 5, 2000, is a dedicated athlete and esteemed player in the American Football world. Today, he is known as an influential defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants. His unique talent for the sport has been evident since his early years, leading him through a trailblazing career in college and now in the professional scene.

Chatman’s beginnings root back to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he was born and raised the youngest of four siblings. While his foray into the world of football started at as early as six years old, his strength, even as a youngster, bordered on the extraordinary. The Dallas Morning News quoted an instance when a seventh-grader Chatman effortlessly lifted 225 pounds, indicating a promising future in the field.

The young athlete attended Evangel Christian Academy based in his hometown. His hard work and natural talent did not go unnoticed as he emerged as a standout lineman. His senior year added several laurels to his name, including the LSWA Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-state, and the district’s most valuable player.

Apart from his prowess on the field, his academic record was equally admirable. With a grade-point average of 3.9, he epitomized the term “student-athlete,” a testament to his dedication and discipline. Furthermore, the youth set the school bench press records at 455 pounds and later 475 pounds, solidifying his standing in the academy.

Chatman’s reputation spread beyond the school’s football field and classrooms; he joined The Shreveport Times Top 10 list as a three-star recruit. This interesting offer from the SMU Mustangs was the next ladder in his growing career; he committed to them, thereby opening his collegiate journey.

His role was primarily as a defensive lineman at SMU, but he also skirmished as a fullback. He appeared in 11 games in his freshman year in 2019, with credence to his name garnered as the American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Academic. He had 11 tackles and a half-sack under his belt in this season.

In 2020, he participated in 10 games, making 25 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss (TFLs), three sacks, and recovering two fumbles. Next year, he played 11 out of 12 games, with 40 tackles, 10 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and winning second-team All-AAC honors.

By 2022, the athlete had crossed remarkable physical feats, bench pressing 495 pounds, completing 42 consecutive reps at 225 pounds, and doing back-squats and power cleans at an impressive 615 and 315 pounds, respectively. Recognition for his extraordinary athletic capacity in college football came in the form of a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “freaks” list.

Chatman’s 2022 season saw him attend 11 of the 13 games, recording 39 tackles, four TFLs, and three sacks and securing a second-team All-AAC and a place on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football All-Texas second team. His sturdy journey continued, and in 2023 he played in 11 games, making 33 tackles, nine TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. He ended his college football journey on a high note, selected first-team All-AAC.

Chatman’s college arc was impressive. He played 60 career games, a second-highest in school history, and overall accomplished 148 tackles, 34 TFLs, and 13.5 sacks.

Nevertheless, despite his rich journey, he went undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft. But his perseverance paid off when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants. It wasn’t long before he secured his spot among the 53 players making the initial regular-season roster of the Giants. In the match against the Cleveland Browns, he recorded his first professional career sack. Chatman’s journey in football shows promise for further growth and impact on the sport.