Tony Jefferson

Tony Jefferson's Biography

was subsequently released by the 49ers after reaching an injury settlement on August 20, 2021.

Not long after his departure from San Francisco, Jefferson signed a contract to play for the New York Giants on August 25, 2021. After a short stint with the Giants, he was released on October 12, 2021.

Finding a new home in the NFL, Jefferson signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on November 9, 2021, where he currently plays as an American professional football safety for the National Football League (NFL).

Born on January 27, 1992, Tony Lemar Jefferson Jr. attended Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, California. Throughout his high school career, Jefferson made a considerable impact on his team, leading Eastlake to a San Diego Division 1 CIF championship during his senior year. With 88 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, four sacks, two fumbles caused, two fumbles recovered, Jefferson earned a 2009 USA Today All-American selection. Seen as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was listed as the No. 4 cornerback prospect in the class of 2010.

Evolving his skills in college, Jefferson played football at the University of Oklahoma. In 2010, he was named Freshman All-American by College Football News, The Sporting News, and was the Big 12 Conference co-Defensive Freshman of the Year. Jefferson decided to forgo his senior season to further his career. He entered the 2013 NFL Draft after being ranked the fifth-best safety prospect in the draft by ESPN.

Despite a hamstring injury affecting his performance, Jefferson was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2013. During his time with the Cardinals, Jefferson showed great promise and was ranked eighth best safety in the draft by DraftScout.com and SB Nation. His high-performance record led to a surprise as he went undrafted during the 2013 NFL Draft.

Throughout his training with the Cardinals, Jefferson worked hard to secure the position as a backup safety in an intense competition. His effort paid off when he recorded five combined tackles and intercepted two passes during a victory against the Dallas Cowboys in their second preseason game.

Jefferson played a decisive role throughout his rookie season, leading the Cardinals to a number of victories. In his second professional season, Jefferson was named the starting strong safety, contributing significantly to the Cardinals finishing second in the NFC West with a rank of 11–5. He continued performing well throughout the following season and achieved the fourth-most tackles on the team.

In 2016, the Arizona Cardinals signed Jefferson to a one-year tender worth $1.67 million. Here, Jefferson recorded a career-high of 96 combined tackles and started in most of the games. Pro Football Focus ranked him fifth among all qualifying safeties in 2016 with an overall grade of 88.6.

After an exceptional performance with the Cardinals, Jefferson entered free agency in 2016. The Baltimore Ravens recognized his talent and signed him to a four-year contract worth $34 million, including $19 million guaranteed. Throughout his time with the Ravens, Jefferson proved his worth by consistently performing at high standards. However, in 2019, tragedy struck as Jefferson tore his ACL, ending his season prematurely.

After spending the 2020 season out of football due to his injury, Jefferson was signed by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. Unfortunately, Jefferson was placed on injured reserve and was later released by the 49ers. After a brief stint with the New York Giants, Jefferson signed with his current team, the Los Angeles Chargers, on November 9, 2021, continuing his professional football career.