Eli Apple Bio
Eli Apple is an American professional football cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Born Eli Woodard on August 9, 1995, he rose from a five-star high school recruit in New Jersey to a first-round NFL draft pick and has spent nearly a decade as a starting-caliber defensive back. Apple won a College Football Playoff National Championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2015 before launching a long professional career that has included stints with six NFL organizations.
Across his professional career, Apple has been valued for his size, length, and man-coverage skills at outside cornerback. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 203 pounds, he has built a reputation as a physical, durable defender capable of matching up with top wide receivers.
Early Life and Background
Eli Apple was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Voorhees Township, New Jersey, where he attended Eastern Regional High School. His mother, Annie Apple, raised him along with his stepfather, Tim Apple. He is also the nephew of actor and comedian Michael Blackson. In 2012, Apple changed his legal surname from Woodard to Apple, taking his stepfather’s last name.
Apple was rated the top overall prospect in New Jersey in the 2013 recruiting class by Rivals.com and ranked 28th nationally. He received roughly twenty scholarship offers from major college football programs, including Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame. After Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Apple announced his verbal commitment to Ohio State on February 12, 2012.
Path to Professional Football
Apple enrolled at Ohio State in January 2013 as a five-star recruit and one of the top-rated defensive backs in the country. He redshirted his first year before contributing as a redshirt freshman in 2014, when he earned the Defensive MVP award for the 2015 Sugar Bowl. The following season, he helped Ohio State win the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship and was named Second-team All-Big Ten.
On January 4, 2016, Apple announced he would forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2016 NFL Draft. He attended the NFL Scouting Combine, posted the tenth-fastest 40-yard dash time among all participants, and was rated as the third-best cornerback prospect by DraftScout.com.
Eli Apple Career
New York Giants Era (2016–2018)
The New York Giants selected Apple with the tenth overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, making him the second cornerback drafted that year. On May 6, 2016, he signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $15.15 million rookie contract that included a $9.21 million signing bonus. Apple opened his rookie season as the team’s third cornerback behind veterans Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, then worked his way into the starting lineup. He finished 2016 with 51 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, one interception, and a forced fumble across 14 games and 11 starts, including a first career interception off Ben Roethlisberger against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Apple entered his second season as a starting outside cornerback, but his 2017 campaign was marked by on-field struggles and discipline issues that drew criticism from teammates and the coaching staff. He was benched for a Week 5 loss and later disciplined for posting on social media during a game. After finishing the year with 49 combined tackles and eight pass deflections, Apple began 2018 as a starter under new head coach Pat Shurmur before a groin injury slowed him early in the season.
New Orleans Saints Era (2018–2019)
On October 23, 2018, the New York Giants traded Apple to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and a seventh-round pick in 2020. Head coach Sean Payton immediately inserted him into the starting lineup, reuniting Apple with former Ohio State defensive backs Marshon Lattimore and Vonn Bell. He recorded nine solo tackles in his Saints debut at the Minnesota Vikings and notched his first interception with New Orleans in a 51–14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
In 2019, Apple started 15 games and produced 58 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble. The Saints declined his fifth-year option on May 1, 2019, opening the door for free agency.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2021–2022)
After a brief 2020 stop with the Carolina Panthers and a cancelled agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders, Apple signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on March 23, 2021. He became a full-time starter and helped the Bengals reach Super Bowl LVI, finishing that postseason run with 49 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. He re-signed with Cincinnati on a one-year, $3.75 million deal in March 2022 and started 15 games, recording 49 tackles and eight passes defended.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2025–Present)
On July 28, 2025, Apple signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He was released on August 7, 2025, then rejoined the organization’s practice squad on August 27, 2025, providing veteran cornerback depth as the regular season approached.
Notable Events and Milestones
Apple’s most memorable professional moments include his first career interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016, his role in Cincinnati’s run to Super Bowl LVI following the 2021 season, and his selection as the tenth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Eli Apple Career Highlights
Across his NFL career, Eli Apple has been a multi-year starting cornerback for several franchises, including the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Los Angeles Chargers. He earned Second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2015 and won the College Football Playoff National Championship that same year.
Eli Apple Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Eli Apple was raised by his mother, Annie Apple, and his stepfather, Tim Apple, in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. He is the nephew of actor and comedian Michael Blackson. Apple took his stepfather’s surname in 2012, changing it from Woodard to Apple.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Eli Apple signed with the San Francisco 49ers in late July, was released shortly thereafter, and returned to the team’s practice squad in late August. The arrangement positions the veteran cornerback as experienced depth behind San Francisco’s top perimeter defensive backs. His prior stops with the Dolphins and Chargers, along with his postseason résumé from Cincinnati, underline his value as a reliable veteran option.