DE #25

DeShon Elliott

Safety · Texas

DeShon Elliott is the Pittsburgh Steelers' hard-hitting safety out of Texas.

Elliott signed with Pittsburgh in 2024 and earned a contract extension in June 2025, becoming a key piece of the Steelers secondary. The Texas product is known for his physical, downhill style of play and his energy on the field. Injuries have been a recurring theme across his career, but he has consistently returned to a starting role.

★ Two-year contract extension with Pittsburgh (2025)

★ Multi-year NFL starter at safety

Path to the league

Elliott played college football at Texas, where he developed into a productive safety for the Longhorns. The Baltimore Ravens selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent time with the Ravens, Lions and Dolphins before signing with the Steelers, where he has settled in as a starter.

Career highlights

Elliott has built a reputation as an aggressive, physical defender who sets the tone for Pittsburgh's defense. He signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract extension with the Steelers on June 16, 2025. He has overcome multiple injuries throughout his career to remain a contributor.

2025 season

Elliott's 2025 season was disrupted by injury when he suffered a knee injury during Pittsburgh's Week 8 loss to Green Bay on October 26. The Steelers placed him on injured reserve, and he was activated on February 15, 2026, returning for the postseason. When healthy, he remained an emotional leader for the Pittsburgh defense.

Sources

CBS Sports: DeShon Elliott player page
ESPN: DeShon Elliott player page

Statistics

2025 season and career

2025 Season · Defense

5 games played

TOT

SOLO

SACK

INT

▶

Defense · career

Year	Team	GP	TOT	SOLO	SACK	INT	FF	FR	PD
2025	steelers	5	38	20	1	1	1	0	2
2024	steelers	15	108	73	0	1	2	3	6
2023	dolphins	15	82	53	0	1	0	1	7
2022	lions	14	96	73	0	1	1	1	3
2021	ravens	6	23	19	1	1	0	0	2
2020	ravens	16	80	51	2.5	0	2	0	4
2019	ravens	6	6	6	0	0	0	0	1