Elijah Chatman Bio
Elijah Chatman (born December 5, 2000) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the SMU Mustangs and was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Standing 6 ft 0 in and weighing 278 lb, Chatman earned a reputation for rare strength during his college years and transitioned into a reserve role in the NFL.
Early Life and Background
Elijah Chatman was born on December 5, 2000, and grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is the youngest of four siblings and started playing football at age six. According to The Dallas Morning News, he showed “incredible” strength from a young age and was able to lift 225 pounds in seventh grade with only “slight difficulty.”
Chatman attended Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, where he starred as a defensive lineman. As a senior, he was named the LSWA Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-state, and the district most valuable player. He was a top student with a 3.9 grade-point average, and he set the school’s bench press record at 455 pounds, later improving it to 475 pounds. A three-star recruit, he was part of the Shreveport Times Top 10 list before committing to play college football for the SMU Mustangs.
Path to American Football
Chatman’s path to professional football began in his youth in Shreveport, where he developed his strength and technique as a lineman. His standout senior season at Evangel Christian Academy, combined with his academic record, helped him attract college attention. He committed to SMU, where he spent five seasons developing into one of the conference’s most productive interior defenders.
Elijah Chatman Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
At SMU, Chatman played mainly as a defensive lineman, but he also saw time at fullback. He appeared in 11 games as a freshman in 2019, recording 11 tackles and a half-sack, and was selected to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Academic team. He started all 10 games of the 2020 season, posting 25 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks, and two fumble recoveries.
In 2021, Chatman started 11 of 12 games and totaled 40 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, and 2.5 sacks, earning second-team All-AAC honors. His steady production helped establish him as a reliable presence on the Mustangs’ defensive front.
SMU Breakthrough (2022–2023)
By the 2022 season, Chatman’s physical numbers were extraordinary. He was able to bench press 495 pounds, complete 42 consecutive reps at 225 pounds, back-squat 615 pounds, and power clean 315 pounds. Only 11 NFL Scouting Combine participants had ever surpassed his 225-pound rep total. He earned a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “freaks” list in The Athletic, which highlights the most athletic college football players.
That year, Chatman started 11 of 13 games and recorded 39 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, and three sacks, being chosen second-team All-AAC and to the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football All-Texas second-team. He returned for a final season in 2023 and started 11 games, posting 33 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and 5.5 sacks, earning first-team All-AAC recognition. He ended his collegiate career with 148 tackles, 34 tackles-for-loss, and 13.5 sacks, and his 60 career games played placed second in school history.
New York Giants Era (2024–2025)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, Chatman was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent. He impressed after rookie minicamp, which led to his signing, and he was among the 53 players to make the Giants’ initial regular-season roster. In Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns, Chatman recorded his first career sack.
On August 26, 2025, Chatman was waived by the Giants as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on December 27. On May 7, 2026, Chatman was released by the Giants after two years.
Cleveland Browns Era (2026–Present)
On May 8, 2026, Chatman was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns, joining the team’s defensive interior. He wears jersey number 62 and is listed as an active defensive tackle on the roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chatman is known for exceptional functional strength, which has been a hallmark of his profile since high school. His college record-setting lifting numbers translated into power at the point of attack, and he showed consistent production as a run defender and pass rusher at SMU. His combination of size, leverage, and conditioning made him a reliable rotational piece for the Giants and now the Browns.
Notable Events and Milestones
Chatman’s first career NFL sack came in Week 3 of the 2024 season against the Cleveland Browns, the team he now represents. His inclusion on Bruce Feldman’s “freaks” list in 2022 and his ranking second in SMU history for career games played stand among his most recognized milestones.
Elijah Chatman Career Wins
Across his NFL career through the 2025 season, Chatman has recorded one sack and one fumble recovery to go along with 24 total tackles, primarily serving in a reserve role on the defensive line.
Elijah Chatman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Chatman is the youngest of four siblings and grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, where his family supported his early involvement in football. He began playing the sport at age six, and his family environment helped shape his work ethic and discipline.
Personal Life
Public information about Chatman’s personal life is limited. He is known to have come from a close family in Shreveport, and he carried a 3.9 grade-point average through high school, reflecting a strong commitment to academics alongside athletics.
2025 Season Performance
Chatman’s 2025 campaign with the New York Giants began with him on the active roster before he was waived as part of final cuts on August 26. He re-signed to the practice squad the following day and continued to develop as a rotational interior defender, eventually being promoted back to the active roster on December 27.
Through the 2025 season, he contributed 24 total tackles, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery, reflecting his role as a depth piece along the defensive line. His movement between the practice squad and the active roster highlighted the competitive nature of his position group in New York.
Following the conclusion of his Giants tenure, Chatman was released on May 7, 2026, and was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns the next day. His outlook for the 2026 season centers on carving out a steady rotational role with the Browns and building on his first career sack from 2024.