Elijah Chatman Bio
Elijah Chatman (born December 5, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the SMU Mustangs and signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 252 pounds, he is known for exceptional strength that began showing in his youth.
Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Elijah Chatman was born on December 5, 2000, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He grew up in Shreveport as the youngest of four siblings. He began playing football at age six and quickly stood out for unusual physical ability, a foundation that would define his career path.
According to The Dallas Morning News, Chatman could lift 225 pounds in seventh grade with only slight difficulty, a feat that hinted at his future as a power defensive lineman. He attended Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, where he became a standout high school football player and a strong student, compiling a 3.9 grade-point average.
At Evangel Christian, Chatman set a school bench press record of 455 pounds, which he later raised to 475 pounds. Rated a three-star college football recruit, he was named to the Shreveport Times Top 10 list and earned the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-state, and district most valuable player as a senior. He committed to play college football for the SMU Mustangs.
Path to American Football
Chatman’s path to professional American football began in Shreveport, where his unusual strength gave him a clear developmental edge. His high school production at Evangel Christian Academy confirmed the promise that had been visible since childhood, and his commitment to SMU offered a top-tier stage to test his physical gifts against high-level competition.
At SMU, he was given opportunities to grow on both sides of the line of scrimmage, playing as a defensive lineman while occasionally seeing time at fullback. That versatility, combined with his rare weight-room numbers, helped him gain attention from NFL scouts and positioned him for a professional future.
Elijah Chatman Career
Early Career (2019-2020)
Chatman appeared in 11 games as a freshman at SMU in 2019, recording 11 tackles and a half-sack while earning American Athletic Conference All-Academic honors. The 2020 season saw him start all 10 games, posting 25 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks, and two fumble recoveries, a clear step forward in his development.
These early college football seasons established Chatman as a reliable, durable presence on the SMU defensive line, and his production in the box showed he could play with leverage and power. Coaches trusted him with full-time starting duties by his second season.
SMU Mustangs Breakthrough (2021-2023)
Chatman’s college football career continued to build in 2021, when he started 11 of 12 games and totaled 40 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, and 2.5 sacks, earning second-team All-AAC recognition. By the 2022 season he had become one of the strongest players in college football, bench pressing 495 pounds, performing 42 consecutive reps at 225 pounds, back-squatting 615 pounds, and power cleaning 315 pounds, numbers that landed him on Bruce Feldman of The Athletic’s “freaks” list of the most athletic college football players.
In 2022, Chatman started 11 of 13 games and recorded 39 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, and three sacks, earning second-team All-AAC and a spot on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football All-Texas second team. He returned for a final college season in 2023, starting 11 games and posting 33 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and 5.5 sacks, winning first-team All-AAC.
Chatman ended his collegiate career with 148 tackles, 34 tackles-for-loss, and 13.5 sacks across 60 games, with the 60 career games played ranking second in SMU history.
New York Giants Era (2024-Present)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Chatman signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent. He made the Giants’ initial 53-man regular-season roster, a notable achievement for an undrafted rookie defensive lineman, and recorded his first career sack in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns.
On August 26, 2025, Chatman was waived by the Giants as part of final roster cuts, and he was re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He remains a member of the New York Giants organization as of the 2025 NFL season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chatman’s game is built around rare functional strength, leverage, and durability at the point of attack. His college football testing numbers, including 42 consecutive reps at 225 pounds and a 615-pound back squat, allowed him to anchor against double teams and collapse the pocket from the interior, while his experience at fullback showed he could adjust in space when required.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his milestone moments, Chatman’s first career NFL sack against the Cleveland Browns in 2024 stands out as the defining early highlight of his professional career. He also set multiple SMU records with 60 career games played, second in school history, and earned three straight All-AAC honors from 2021 to 2023.
Elijah Chatman Career Wins
Elijah Chatman’s career win totals to date are centered on college football All-AAC honors and one early NFL milestone. While the win counts below summarize his verified recognitions rather than game-by-game results, they trace the arc of his rise from Shreveport high school standout to NFL practice squad member.
SMU Mustangs Highlights
Chatman earned second-team All-AAC recognition in both 2021 and 2022, then upgraded to first-team All-AAC in 2023, his final SMU season. He finished his college football career with 148 tackles, 34 tackles-for-loss, and 13.5 sacks, and ranked second in school history with 60 games played.
Other Wins and Performances
At Evangel Christian Academy, Chatman was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-state, and district most valuable player, and he was a Shreveport Times Top 10 selection. In 2022, he also earned a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “freaks” list of the most athletic college football players.
Elijah Chatman Family
Family Background and Lineage
Elijah Chatman grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the youngest of four siblings. Limited public information is available about his parents or extended family details, and his personal life remains largely private.
Personal Life
Chatman has kept most of his personal life out of the public eye, and no verified information is available about a spouse, partner, or children. He continues to focus on his professional football career with the New York Giants organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season storyline for Elijah Chatman has centered on a roster shift. On August 26, 2025, he was waived by the New York Giants as part of final roster cuts, and the very next day he was re-signed to the team’s practice squad, keeping him in the organization he first joined in 2024.
With Chatman on the practice squad, the Giants retain his development upside and his defensive end positional depth without burning a 53-man roster spot. The move allows him to continue building the strength-based skill set that made him a college football standout, while staying ready to be elevated if injuries create an opening on the active roster.
Looking ahead, Chatman’s 2025 outlook is tied to staying healthy, refining his pass-rush craft, and earning another shot on the Giants’ active roster. His combination of All-AAC production at SMU and one verified NFL sack gives him a clear foundation to build on as he pushes for a more permanent role in the defensive line rotation.