Teez Tabor

Teez Tabor's Biography

Jalen “Teez” Tabor, born on December 31, 1995, is a notable figure in professional American football, well-known for his robust career as a safety. Although currently a free agent, his contributions and performances in the National Football League (NFL) are noteworthy.

Tabor’s journey into the world of football started during his high school years at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C. His exceptional high school career manifested through a five-star recruit rating by Rivals.com triggered his subsequent commitment to the University of Arizona. However, he later made a strategic switch to the University of Florida.

The switch proved beneficial for Tabor as he got the opportunity to play in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2014 under the guidance of head coach Will Muschamp. He made five notable starts finishing the season with impressive stats – 31 tackles, one interception, and two sacks. Tabor’s sophomore year in 2015 brought another credible round as he started nine of the 13 games and emerged as a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection, recording 39 tackles, four interceptions, and one sack. The year 2016 signified another round of success for Tabor in his junior year as he received his second career first-team All-SEC selection. His decision to forego his senior season for the 2017 NFL draft was a significant one.

Leading up to the highly competitive NFL combine, draft experts and analysts had high expectations of Tabor. While his performance at the NFL Combine was underwhelming, his resilience took him to private workouts held by the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions. Despite initially being considered a top five cornerback in the draft by some analysts, he was eventually ranked as the eighth and 12th-best cornerback by Sports Illustrated, NFLDraftScout.com, and ESPN, respectively. Tabor was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft, uniting him with his Florida teammate, Jarrad Davis.

In May 2017, Tabor inked a four-year, $4.82 million contract with the Lions, which included a $1.64 million signing bonus and $2.33 million guaranteed. Despite competing for the starting cornerback position, he accepted the role of the Lions’ fourth cornerback, debuting in a match against the Minnesota Vikings. The following year saw Tabor appearing in 12 games with four as the starter. However, in a turn of events, Tabor was released by the Lions in 2019.

Subsequently, he joined the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers, and re-signed with them in February 2020. However, he was waived in July the same year due to a non-football injury. In December 2020, Tabor signed with the Chicago Bears’ practice squad and fulfilled a reserve/futures contract in January 2021. It was during his tenure with the Bears that he transitioned from a cornerback to a safety, as his speed was insufficient to serve the former role.

Tabor played six games for the Bears in the 2021 season, appearing mostly as a reserve. Despite being placed on injured reserve in December 2021, he marked his presence by playing 34% of the team’s snaps as a special teamer and 28% on defense. In 2022, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons and had brief tenures with the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts. Thereafter, he returned to the Seahawks’ practice squad but was released shortly after.

Tabor’s professional journey took an interesting turn when he was signed by the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in December 2023. The Roughnecks’ brand transitioned into the Houston Gamblers with the merger of the XFL and the United States Football League to establish the United Football League (UFL). His time in the UFL was brief, with a short stint at the San Antonio Brahmas before being released in April 2024. He was quickly re-signed, only to be waived again in August 2024. Despite facing numerous challenges, Tabor’s raw talent and unwavering dedication to the sport continue to define his professional career in football.