Eli Apple Bio
Eli Apple, born Eli Woodard on August 9, 1995, is an American professional football cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 203 pounds, he has built a long NFL career as an outside corner after entering the league as a top-ten draft pick. He previously played for the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Los Angeles Chargers. Apple is also recognized as a 2015 College Football Playoff national champion with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Early Life and Background
Eli Apple was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later raised by his mother, Annie Apple, and stepfather, Tim Apple, in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. His mother is of Ghanaian descent, and he spent part of his early childhood in Ghana. He attended Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees Township, where he developed into one of the most sought-after cornerback recruits in the country.
Apple was rated the top prospect in New Jersey in the 2013 recruiting class by Rivals.com and was ranked the 28th best prospect nationally. He received roughly twenty scholarship offers from major programs, including Alabama, Michigan, Georgia Tech, Miami, and Clemson. In February 2012, he verbally committed to Ohio State shortly after Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 2012, Eli legally changed his surname from Woodard to Apple. He is the nephew of actor and comedian Michael Blackson, a well-known figure in entertainment with Ghanaian roots.
Path to Professional Football
Apple enrolled at Ohio State in January 2013 as a five-star recruit and was rated as high as the No. 11 prospect nationally on the ESPN 150. He was also the No. 1 overall prospect in New Jersey and the No. 6 cornerback prospect nationally by 247Sports. He redshirted as a true freshman before joining the Buckeyes’ secondary in 2014.
As a redshirt freshman in 2014, Apple appeared in the 2015 Sugar Bowl and the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship, helping Ohio State capture the national title. In his second season with the Buckeyes, he earned Defensive MVP honors and was named Second-Team All-Big Ten in 2015.
On January 4, 2016, Apple announced he would forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2016 NFL draft. He attended the NFL Scouting Combine, posted the tenth-fastest 40-yard dash time among all players, and was projected as an early to mid-first-round pick. Draft analysts ranked him among the top cornerback prospects in the class.
Eli Apple Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
The New York Giants selected Eli Apple in the first round (10th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft, making him the second cornerback taken that year after Jalen Ramsey. He signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $15.15 million rookie contract that included a $9.21 million signing bonus. Apple began his rookie season as the third cornerback behind Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
Apple made his professional debut in the Giants’ season opener at the Dallas Cowboys and finished his rookie year with 51 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, one interception, and a forced fumble in 14 games. He later earned a starting role on the outside and started the last ten games of the 2016 season.
New York Giants Tenure (2016–2018)
Entering 2017 as a starting outside cornerback, Apple recorded 49 combined tackles and eight pass deflections but was benched for disciplinary reasons and missed several games. Tensions with teammates grew during the season, with safety Landon Collins publicly calling him a cancer in the locker room. He was suspended for the 2017 season finale for conduct detrimental to the team.
Under new head coach Pat Shurmur in 2018, Apple returned to the starting lineup before a groin injury briefly sidelined him. On October 23, 2018, the Giants traded him to the New Orleans Saints for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft and a seventh-round pick in 2020.
New Orleans Saints Era (2018–2019)
The Saints acquired Apple to bolster a depleted secondary dealing with injuries to Patrick Robinson and Ken Crawley. Head coach Sean Payton immediately installed him as a starting cornerback, reuniting him with former Ohio State teammates Marshon Lattimore and Vonn Bell. Apple made an immediate impact, collecting nine solo tackles in his Saints debut against the Vikings.
On November 11, 2018, Apple recorded his first interception with New Orleans in a 51–14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He started 15 games in 2019, finishing with 58 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble. The Saints later declined his fifth-year option in May 2019.
Carolina Panthers (2020)
On May 29, 2020, Eli Apple signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. He opened the season on injured reserve with ankle and foot injuries and was activated on October 3, 2020. He was released by the team on October 27, 2020, after appearing in only a handful of games.
Cincinnati Bengals (2021–2022)
Apple signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Bengals on March 23, 2021, and started 18 games that season, recording 49 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. He became a subject of national scrutiny after Super Bowl LVI for allowing Cooper Kupp to score the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Apple re-signed with the Bengals on a one-year, $3.75 million contract in March 2022. In his second Bengals season, he totaled 49 tackles and eight passes defended across 15 starts.
Miami Dolphins (2023)
On July 29, 2023, Apple signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the Miami Dolphins after starting cornerback Jalen Ramsey suffered a knee injury. He appeared regularly in the rotation and finished the season with a half-sack, 46 tackles, one interception, and nine passes defended.
Los Angeles Chargers (2024)
Apple was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad on October 15, 2024, and promoted to the active roster on November 25. A hamstring injury suffered in Week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens landed him on injured reserve, and he was activated on January 10, 2025.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2025–Present)
On July 28, 2025, Eli Apple signed with the San Francisco 49ers before being released and re-signed to the team’s practice squad later that summer. On January 20, 2026, he signed a reserve/futures contract with San Francisco. His current contract with the team runs through the 2026 season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Apple’s career has included several signature moments, including his first career interception off Ben Roethlisberger in 2016 and his role on the Bengals’ Super Bowl LVI roster. His most publicized moment came in that Super Bowl, when he was beaten by Cooper Kupp on the game-winning touchdown. He has also been a steady presence in secondaries across the league throughout his career.
Eli Apple Career Statistics
Across his NFL career through 2025, Eli Apple has compiled 384 total tackles, 6 interceptions, 61 pass deflections, 3 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, and 0.5 sacks. These figures reflect his role as a durable outside cornerback who has appeared in regular and postseason games for multiple franchises.
Eli Apple Family
Family Background and Lineage
Eli Apple was raised primarily by his mother, Annie Apple, and his stepfather, Tim Apple, in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. His mother has been a prominent public figure, advocating for her son throughout his career and speaking openly about parenting and sports. Apple also has Ghanaian heritage through his mother and lived in Ghana during his early childhood.
Personal Life
Beyond his immediate family, Apple is the nephew of actor and comedian Michael Blackson, who is also of Ghanaian descent. In 2012, he legally changed his surname from Woodard to Apple. He has continued to reside in the United States throughout his professional career and maintains a public presence on social media.
2025 Season Performance
Eli Apple joined the San Francisco 49ers in late July 2025 as part of their cornerback rotation. After being released early in camp, he returned to the team via the practice squad and continued to contribute on defense and special teams when called upon. His experience and familiarity with multiple defensive schemes made him a valuable depth piece for the 49ers throughout the 2025 season.
As the season progressed, Apple’s role within the secondary expanded, and he provided steady play on the outside. He finished the 2025 campaign contributing to a 49ers defense that remained among the most competitive in the NFC. His contract runs through the 2026 season, ensuring his continued presence with San Francisco.