Elerson G. Smith Bio
Elerson G. Smith (born July 17, 1998) is an American former professional football defensive end. Over the course of his NFL career, he played for the New York Giants, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, and Cleveland Browns. A product of Northern Iowa, he entered the league in 2021 after being selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Giants.
Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 256 pounds, Smith used his length and frame to develop into a disruptive edge rusher. Though injuries and roster moves limited his regular-season playing time, he remained a respected presence on practice squads and special teams units across the league before announcing his retirement in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Elerson G. Smith was born on July 17, 1998, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in the city and attended Minneapolis South High School, where he first gained attention for his athletic ability. In addition to football, he lettered in track and field, wrestling, and basketball, an unusually broad set of sports that helped him develop the coordination, strength, and competitive mindset that would later define his football career.
His multi-sport background gave Smith an early foundation in explosive movement and hand-fighting, traits that translate well to the defensive end position. He became a sought-after collegiate prospect and ultimately chose the University of Northern Iowa, an FCS program with a reputation for developing professional defensive linemen.
Path to the NFL
At Northern Iowa, Smith redshirted his true freshman year and did not appear in any games during his redshirt freshman season. Once he stepped onto the field as a redshirt sophomore, he quickly announced his presence, finishing the year with 19 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Those numbers demonstrated both his quick first step and his ability to disrupt plays in the backfield.
As a redshirt junior, Smith delivered one of the most decorated seasons in program history. He recorded 63 total tackles, 14 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles, earning first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors and first-team FCS All-American recognition from the AFCA. Heading into his redshirt senior year, he was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, but he ultimately chose to forgo that final season, which had been pushed to the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. He also earned an invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl, a showcase that further raised his profile among league scouts.
Elerson G. Smith Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
The New York Giants selected Elerson G. Smith in the fourth round with the 116th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 25, 2021, but his first season got off to a difficult start when he was placed on injured reserve on September 1. He was activated from injured reserve on November 6 and spent the remainder of the year working to establish himself on the Giants’ defensive depth chart.
His second season in New York followed a similar pattern. Smith was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2022, activated on October 29, and then placed back on injured reserve on December 16 with a neck injury. After two seasons in which injuries repeatedly interrupted his development, the Giants waived him on July 25, 2023, opening the door to a new chapter elsewhere in the league.
New York Jets (2023)
On October 11, 2023, Elerson G. Smith signed with the practice squad of the New York Jets, looking for a fresh opportunity after his release from the Giants. He spent the next several weeks contributing on the practice squad, but his tenure in New York was brief. The Jets released him on November 1, 2023, sending him back onto the open market in search of another landing spot.
Las Vegas Raiders (2023–2024)
Smith found his next opportunity less than three weeks later. On November 22, 2023, he signed with the practice squad of the Las Vegas Raiders, where he worked to impress the coaching staff during the remainder of the season. He signed a reserve/future contract with the team on January 8, 2024, signaling the Raiders’ interest in keeping him in the organization for the following season.
Smith’s time in Las Vegas, however, ended during the 2024 preseason. The Raiders waived him with an injury designation on August 27, 2024, closing out his short stint on the West Coast and sending him back into free agency.
Cleveland Browns Era (2024–2025)
On September 25, 2024, Elerson G. Smith signed with the Cleveland Browns practice squad, joining a defensive front looking to add depth. He was promoted to the active roster on November 16, giving him another chance to contribute on game day. Although he was waived on November 27, the Browns quickly re-signed him to the practice squad, and on January 6, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract to remain with the organization.
That stability, however, gave way to a career-defining decision. On July 16, 2025, Smith announced his retirement from professional football, bringing a close to a four-year NFL journey that spanned four teams and a series of perseverance-driven comebacks from injury.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although listed as a defensive end rather than a race-car driver, Smith brought a clear set of tools to the field. His 6-foot-6 frame and long arms made him a difficult matchup for shorter offensive tackles, and his multi-sport athletic background showed up in his explosiveness off the line. Coaches valued his versatility along the edge and his willingness to contribute on special teams, which helped him remain employable even when injuries slowed his defensive production.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Elerson G. Smith’s career were his 2020 first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference and AFCA FCS All-American honors at Northern Iowa, along with his invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl. Being selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the 116th overall pick, stands as the clearest validation of his college résumé, and his promotion to the Browns’ active roster in November 2024 marked his most significant regular-season opportunity at the NFL level.
Elerson G. Smith Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Elerson G. Smith’s parents and immediate family is limited, and he has generally kept his personal life private. He is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has often credited his upbringing in the city, along with his high school coaches at Minneapolis South, for shaping his work ethic and toughness on the field.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into 2025, Elerson G. Smith had secured his NFL future with a reserve/future contract signed with the Cleveland Browns on January 6, 2025. The deal offered him an opportunity to compete for a depth role along Cleveland’s defensive edge, a position group that had been reshaped during the 2024 season. His familiarity with the Browns’ defensive system after spending time on both their practice squad and active roster the previous year gave him a clear path toward earning a spot in the rotation.
However, in a turn that surprised many around the league, Smith announced his retirement from professional football on July 16, 2025. The decision ended a career arc that had taken him from a decorated FCS standout at Northern Iowa to the practice squads and active rosters of four NFL franchises, and closed the book on the 2025 outlook before training camp fully got underway.