Eli Apple is a former first-round cornerback out of Ohio State who spent the 2025 season as a depth piece with the San Francisco 49ers.
Apple won a national title at Ohio State before the New York Giants made him a first-round pick in 2016. He has since played for several franchises in a journeyman stretch of his career. He joined San Francisco during the 2025 season and signed a reserve/futures contract to stay into 2026.
Path to the league
Apple played college football at Ohio State, where he won the 2015 national championship and registered 86 tackles, 18 passes defensed and four interceptions across 28 games. The New York Giants selected him in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He later played for the Saints, Panthers, Bengals and others.
Career highlights
Apple's career has included a Super Bowl appearance and stints with multiple teams as he reinvented himself as a veteran depth corner. His college pedigree and first-round draft status remain notable markers of his profile, even as his recent role has leaned toward special teams and roster depth.
2025 season
Apple signed with the 49ers in July 2025, was released in early August, and re-signed to the practice squad later that month, per his career timeline. He appeared in two regular-season games, logging one solo tackle while serving mostly on special teams. He signed a reserve/futures contract with San Francisco in January 2026.
Sources
- Buckeye Sports Bulletin: Former Ohio State Cornerback Eli Apple Signs With San Francisco 49ers
- ESPN: Eli Apple player page
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
2 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49ers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | chargers | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | dolphins | 10 | 46 | 37 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 | bengals | 15 | 49 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2021 | bengals | 16 | 49 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2020 | panthers | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | saints | 15 | 58 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2018 | giants | 5 | 23 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2018 | saints | 10 | 52 | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 2018 | 2018 Totals | 15 | 75 | 62 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| 2017 | giants | 11 | 49 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 2016 | giants | 14 | 51 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Cornerback
- Group
- defense
- College
- Ohio State
- Hometown
- Voorhees, NJ, USA
- Age
- 30
- Status
- active
