DeShon Elliott Bio
DeShon Elliott (born April 21, 1997) is an American professional football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 209 pounds, Elliott has built his career as a physical defensive back who excels near the line of scrimmage.
After beginning his NFL journey in Baltimore, Elliott spent single seasons with the Detroit Lions and the Miami Dolphins before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. Known for his tackling reliability and willingness to support the run game, he has worked to stay on the field after several early-career injury interruptions.
Early Life and Background
DeShon Elliott was born on April 21, 1997, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and attended Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, where he played high school football. His size, length, and physical approach at the safety position drew early attention from college recruiters.
During his high school career, Elliott developed into one of the more sought-after defensive backs in the region. He committed to the University of Texas to play college football, choosing the Longhorns over other scholarship offers. That decision set the stage for his move into a Power Five conference program and a national stage.
Path to American Football
Elliott arrived at the University of Texas as a freshman in 2015 and quickly contributed in the secondary. As a freshman, he appeared in seven games and recorded 13 tackles with two interceptions. The following season, he played in 12 games with one start, finishing his sophomore year with 30 tackles, one interception, and one sack.
His junior season in 2017 marked his emergence as one of the top safeties in college football. Elliott was named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s best defensive back. He also earned Unanimous All-American honors and First-team All-Big 12 recognition. In late November 2017, Elliott announced that he would forgo his senior year at Texas and enter the 2018 NFL draft, opting not to play in the Longhorns’ bowl game.
DeShon Elliott Career
Baltimore Ravens (2018–2021)
The Baltimore Ravens selected Elliott in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft. He was the 17th safety drafted that year and signed a four-year, $2.61 million contract that included an initial signing bonus of $157,795. His rookie season was cut short when he fractured his forearm during the preseason and was placed on injured reserve, causing him to miss the entire 2018 campaign.
Elliott made his regular-season debut in 2019 but appeared in only six games before a knee injury ended his year. In 2020, after the unexpected release of Earl Thomas, he became the Ravens’ de facto starting free safety alongside Chuck Clark. He started all 16 games and finished with 80 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. In 2021, his final season in Baltimore, Elliott recorded his first career interception against Justin Herbert in a Week 6 win over the Los Angeles Chargers before a biceps and pectoral injury in Week 8 ended his season.
Detroit Lions (2022)
On April 14, 2022, the Detroit Lions signed Elliott to a one-year, $1.10 million contract that included a signing bonus of $135,000. Head coach Dan Campbell named him the starting free safety alongside Tracy Walker to begin the season. In a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, Elliott intercepted a pass attempt by Bailey Zappe and recorded a season-high 12 combined tackles.
He dealt with a finger injury and a shoulder injury during the year but still finished the 2022 NFL season with 96 combined tackles, three pass deflections, one interception, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 14 games and 13 starts. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 66.5 for the season.
Miami Dolphins (2023)
On March 15, 2023, the Miami Dolphins signed Elliott to a fully guaranteed one-year, $1.77 million contract. New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio named him the starting free safety alongside Jevon Holland. Elliott opened the season with a 13-tackle performance against the Los Angeles Chargers and added two pass deflections in a 70–20 rout of the Denver Broncos in Week 3.
An ankle injury and a concussion caused him to miss time, but he returned to record an interception off Josh Allen in the regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills. Elliott finished 2023 with 82 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, one interception, and a fumble recovery across 15 starts. He earned an overall grade of 72.6 from Pro Football Focus.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2024–Present)
On March 14, 2024, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Elliott to a two-year, $6.00 million contract that included a signing bonus of $1.50 million. Head coach Mike Tomlin named him the starting strong safety alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick. In the season opener at the Atlanta Falcons, Elliott intercepted a Kirk Cousins pass intended for Drake London and added two pass deflections in an 18–10 victory.
He recorded a career-high 108 combined tackles, six pass deflections, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and one interception across 15 games and 14 starts in 2024. On June 16, 2025, Elliott signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract extension with Pittsburgh that includes $9.21 million guaranteed. After suffering a hyperextended knee in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers, he was placed on injured reserve on October 31, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Elliott plays a physical brand of football, using his size and downhill aggression to attack blockers and ball carriers near the line of scrimmage. Scouts have consistently described him as a confident zone defender who can handle tight ends and running backs in coverage while contributing on kickoffs and punts. His strength lies in run support, tackling consistency, and the ability to read plays quickly from the safety position.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Elliott’s career include his 2017 Unanimous All-American selection at Texas, his first career interception against Justin Herbert in 2021, and a career-best 108-tackle season in 2024 with the Steelers. He has also demonstrated durability by returning from forearm, knee, biceps, and pectoral injuries to reclaim starting roles.
DeShon Elliott Family
Personal Life
DeShon Elliott was born and raised in the Dallas, Texas, area and has remained closely connected to his home state throughout his career. Public information about his immediate family members is limited, and no verified details about a spouse or children are currently available.
2025 Season Performance
DeShon Elliott entered the 2025 season as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting strong safety after signing a two-year contract extension in June. He continued his role alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick in a Steelers defense that relied on his run support and tackling. Through the early weeks of the season, he remained a steady presence in the secondary.
His 2025 campaign was interrupted in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers when he suffered a hyperextended knee. The Steelers placed him on injured reserve on October 31, 2025, pausing his on-field contribution for the remainder of the year. With his contract running through 2026, Elliott remains part of Pittsburgh’s long-term defensive plans.