Delarrin Turner-Yell Bio
Delarrin Turner-Yell (born December 16, 1999) is an American professional football safety who most recently played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and was selected by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft, taken 152nd overall. After a strong collegiate career, he entered the league hoping to make an immediate impact on the Denver secondary. His professional journey has been shaped by both promising early playing time and significant injury setbacks.
Listed at 5 ft 11 in and 200 lb, Turner-Yell brings a compact, physical profile to the safety position. He has built his reputation on hard hitting and instinctive play near the line of scrimmage. His career so far reflects the typical arc of a mid-round draft pick: flashes of production, opportunities on special teams, and battles with injuries that have tested his durability.
Early Life and Background
Delarrin Turner-Yell was born on December 16, 1999, in Hempstead, Texas. He grew up in the same small community that would later become the foundation of his athletic identity. Hempstead, located in Waller County, has a strong tradition of high school football, and Turner-Yell emerged as one of the area’s most promising young prospects.
He attended Hempstead High School, where he developed into a multi-position defender and began attracting attention from college recruiters. Although he was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com rather than a blue-chip national prospect, his on-field production and physicality helped him earn scholarship offers from several major programs. His upbringing in a football-focused region of Texas laid the groundwork for the disciplined, hard-nosed style that has come to define his play.
Path to American Football
Coming out of Hempstead High School, Turner-Yell weighed offers from Baylor, Houston, and Iowa before making his college decision. On August 26, 2017, he committed to the University of Oklahoma, choosing the Sooners over the other suitors. The commitment signaled his readiness to test himself at the highest level of collegiate football within the Big 12 Conference.
At Oklahoma, Turner-Yell worked his way into a rotational role and steadily grew into a reliable presence in the Sooners’ defensive backfield. His development through the program prepared him for the next step, as he put together a senior season that caught the attention of NFL scouts. That body of work ultimately led to his selection in the 2022 NFL draft and launched his professional career with the Denver Broncos.
Delarrin Turner-Yell Career
Early Career (2022)
Turner-Yell entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2022 draft, going 152nd overall. He joined a Denver secondary that was in the midst of a roster transition and looked to him as a developmental prospect with special teams value. As a rookie, he carved out a role on game days and contributed right away on special teams units.
Across his debut season, Turner-Yell appeared in 14 games and recorded two fumble recoveries, numbers that underscored his nose for the football and his reliability in open-field situations. Those early contributions gave the Broncos a glimpse of the instincts and toughness that had marked his college film and set the stage for a larger defensive role going forward.
Denver Broncos Breakthrough (2022–2025)
Turner-Yell’s second NFL season, 2023, began with continued opportunities as he worked to expand his role within Denver’s defense. He continued to appear regularly in the secondary and on special teams, building on the foundation of his rookie year. His trajectory, however, was interrupted late in the season when he suffered a torn ACL during a Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The injury was significant enough that the Broncos placed him on injured reserve on January 4, 2024, sidelining him just as he was pushing for a more prominent role.
Heading into the 2024 season, Turner-Yell opened the year on the physically unable to perform list as he continued his recovery from the ACL tear. He was unable to return to the field and missed the entirety of the 2024 campaign, a major setback for a young player trying to establish himself. The Broncos waived him on August 26, 2025, only to re-sign him to the practice squad the following day. He was later elevated to the active roster for Week 16 of the 2025 season, but suffered a knee injury during the game and was placed on the practice squad/injured list. Through his Denver tenure, he has recorded 42 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, and one pass deflection.
Driving Style and Strengths
Turner-Yell is best known for his physicality, tackling reliability, and instincts in run support. He plays with the kind of downhill aggression that allows him to contribute near the line of scrimmage and on special teams coverage units. His compact build and aggressive mentality have shaped his identity as a hard-nosed defender who embraces contact.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of his career are his fifth-round selection by the Broncos in 2022, his two fumble recoveries as a rookie, and the two significant knee injuries that have tested his resilience. His 2021 Second-team All-Big 12 selection at Oklahoma stands as his most prestigious pre-professional honor.
Delarrin Turner-Yell Career Wins
As a defensive player in the NFL, Turner-Yell’s contributions are measured through statistical production and team success rather than victory totals. His career has been defined by individual plays, special teams work, and steady growth within the Denver organization. While wins and losses are tracked at the team level, his personal milestones highlight his development as a young safety in a competitive league.
Denver Broncos Highlights
Across his time in Denver, Turner-Yell has appeared in multiple regular-season games and has been a regular contributor on special teams. He recorded two fumble recoveries during his 2022 rookie campaign and has accumulated 42 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, and one pass deflection through his career as of 2024. His selection in the fifth round of the 2022 draft marked the official start of his NFL journey with the franchise.
Other Wins & Performances
At the collegiate level, Turner-Yell earned Second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2021, recognition that reflected his strong senior season at Oklahoma. His three-star recruit status coming out of Hempstead High School also marked him as a notable prospect who exceeded expectations throughout his development path.
Delarrin Turner-Yell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Delarrin Turner-Yell was raised in Hempstead, Texas, a community that has produced a steady stream of football talent. His roots in this tight-knit Texas town helped shape his work ethic and his connection to the sport. The family details of his upbringing are not widely documented in public sources.
Personal Life
Turner-Yell keeps much of his personal life private. Publicly available information about his marital status, spouse, children, or current residence is limited. He is known to be active on social media, where fans can follow his updates.
2025 Season Performance
Turner-Yell’s 2025 season began with uncertainty after he was waived by the Broncos on August 26, 2025, during final roster cutdowns. The move came as Denver reshaped its defensive depth chart, but the organization quickly brought him back, re-signing him to the practice squad the very next day. That quick turnaround suggested the team still valued his familiarity with the scheme and his special teams contributions.
As the season progressed, Turner-Yell received an opportunity when he was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for Week 16. The elevation reflected the trust the coaching staff placed in him despite his long recovery from the previous ACL injury. His return to game action, however, was cut short when he suffered another knee injury during the contest.
Following the Week 16 injury, Turner-Yell was placed on the practice squad/injured list, ending his 2025 campaign. The injury added another chapter to a professional story defined as much by perseverance as by production. Looking ahead, his focus will be on recovery and earning another opportunity to contribute on the field.