Jabrill Peppers Bio
Jabrill Ahmad Peppers (born October 4, 1995) is an American professional football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was a two-time college football All-American for the Michigan Wolverines, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2016. That season he was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Linebacker of the Year, and Return Specialist of the Year. Peppers was selected in the first round by the Cleveland Browns in the 2017 NFL draft and has also spent time with the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.
Early Life and Background
Jabrill Ahmad Peppers was born on October 4, 1995, in East Orange, New Jersey. He was raised by his mother, Ivory Bryant, in East Orange after his father, Terry Peppers, was arrested when Jabrill was seven years old. Terry Peppers was later charged in a racketeering case linked to the Bloods street gang and was released from prison in 2014. Peppers’ older brother, Don Curtis, was killed in January 2010 after being shot at a restaurant in Newark, New Jersey.
Peppers originally attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey, where he played youth football for the Montclair Bulldogs, a Pop Warner team out of Montclair. He began as a cornerback as a freshman and added running back duties as a sophomore. With Peppers on the roster, Don Bosco won consecutive New Jersey state championships in 2010 and 2011 and finished as the top-ranked team in the nation by USA Today in 2011.
He later transferred to Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey, where he led the Paladins to state titles in 2012 and 2013, giving him a state championship in all four years of his high school career. He was selected for the 2013-14 Under Armour All-America Game. Peppers was also a standout sprinter, setting the New Jersey Non-Public Class A outdoor 100-meter dash record at 10.77 seconds and posting a personal best of 10.51 seconds.
Path to the NFL
Rated as a five-star recruit in the Class of 2014, Peppers announced his verbal commitment to the Michigan Wolverines on ESPN on May 26, 2013. ESPN ranked him as the second-best recruit in his class, behind only running back Leonard Fournette. He was regarded as the headliner of Michigan’s 2014 recruiting class.
As a true freshman at Michigan in 2014 under head coach Brady Hoke, Peppers appeared in three games and made one start before a redshirt season. In 2015, his first year under head coach Jim Harbaugh, he was named the Big Ten Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year and a Second-team All-American. By the end of that season he had established himself as one of the most versatile players in college football, contributing on defense, offense, and special teams.
After a career-defining 2016 season in which he earned the Lott Trophy, the Paul Hornung Award, unanimous All-American honors, and a fifth-place finish in Heisman Trophy voting, Peppers announced on January 10, 2017, that he would enter the NFL draft, forgoing his final two years of NCAA eligibility.
Jabrill Peppers Career
Early Career (2017-2018)
The Cleveland Browns selected Peppers in the first round, 25th overall, of the 2017 NFL draft and signed him to a fully guaranteed four-year, $10.70 million contract that included a $5.60 million signing bonus. He started at free safety as a rookie and also served as the team’s primary kick and punt returner. In 13 games and 13 starts he recorded 57 combined tackles, three pass deflections, and one interception, while adding 14 kick returns and 30 punt returns.
In 2018, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams moved Peppers to strong safety alongside free safety Damarious Randall. He finished the year with 79 combined tackles, five passes defended, one interception, and one sack. His most dramatic play came in Week 15 against the Denver Broncos, when he made the game-winning sack with 43 seconds remaining in a 17-16 victory.
Cleveland Browns Era (2017-2018)
Peppers’ two seasons in Cleveland established him as a versatile defender and returner. After playing free safety in 2017, the 2018 switch to strong safety gave him a clearer run-stopping role while preserving his return duties. He closed his Browns tenure as one of the few bright spots on a young, rebuilding defense.
New York Giants Era (2019-2021)
On March 13, 2019, the New York Giants acquired Peppers from the Cleveland Browns as part of the trade package that sent Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon to Cleveland. He stepped in as the starting strong safety and earned Pro Football Focus grades of 66.6 in 2019 and 64.7 in 2020. In 2020 he set career highs with 91 combined tackles, 11 passes defensed, and 2.5 sacks, and the Giants picked up his fifth-year option for 2021.
His Giants tenure ended abruptly in Week 7 of 2021, when he ruptured his ACL during a punt return against the Carolina Panthers. He finished that season with 29 combined tackles and one sack in six games before being placed on injured reserve.
New England Patriots Era (2022-2024)
On April 4, 2022, the New England Patriots signed Peppers to a one-year, $2.00 million contract, reuniting him with former Giants head coach Joe Judge. He served mostly as a backup safety in 2022 behind Devin McCourty, Kyle Dugger, and Adrian Phillips, appearing in all 17 games with five starts. After the 2022 season he signed a two-year, $9.00 million extension and switched his uniform number to No. 5.
Following Devin McCourty’s retirement, Peppers won the starting free safety job in 2023 opposite Kyle Dugger and posted 78 combined tackles, two interceptions, and a Pro Football Focus grade of 87.3. On July 26, 2024, he signed a three-year, $24.00 million extension, but his 2024 season was interrupted in October when he was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list following his arrest in Braintree, Massachusetts. After being acquitted of all charges in January 2025, he was released by the Patriots on August 29, 2025.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2025-Present)
On September 10, 2025, Peppers signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He appeared in 14 games and made two starts during the 2025 season, recording 16 total tackles and one fumble recovery.
Driving Style and Strengths
Peppers built his reputation on versatility rather than a single positional specialty. At Michigan he lined up at 15 different positions across defense, offense, and special teams, and in the NFL he has shown comfort in the box as a strong safety, deep as a free safety, and on coverage units. Coaches have consistently praised his tackling, football intelligence, and ability to contribute in multiple phases.
Notable Events and Milestones
Peppers’ most memorable NFL moment came in Week 15 of the 2018 season, when his late sack against the Denver Broncos sealed a 17-16 win for the Browns. In 2019 he scored his first career defensive touchdown on a 32-yard interception return against Washington, and in 2023 he earned a top-10 Pro Football Focus ranking among qualifying safeties.
Jabrill Peppers Career Wins
Jabrill Ahmad Peppers has accumulated 527 total tackles, 7 interceptions, 35 pass deflections, 5.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 8 fumble recoveries across his NFL career through the 2025 season. His 1,468 return yards highlight his continued role on special teams.
NFL Highlights
Peppers has notched signature wins against several playoff-caliber opponents, including the 2018 game-winning sack against Denver and the 2023 interception of Josh Allen in a victory over the Buffalo Bills. His Week 14 pick-six style interception against Mitchell Trubisky in 2023 also helped New England break a multi-game losing streak with a 21-18 win at Pittsburgh.
Other Performances
Beyond the NFL, Peppers was a four-time New Jersey high school state champion and a decorated college performer, including a unanimous All-American selection in 2016.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jabrill Peppers Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Peppers was raised by his mother, Ivory Bryant, in East Orange, New Jersey, after his father, Terry Peppers, was incarcerated when Jabrill was seven years old. Terry Peppers was later connected to a racketeering case involving the Bloods street gang and was released from prison in 2014. Peppers’ older brother, Don Curtis, was killed in a shooting in Newark in January 2010.
Personal Life
Peppers maintained a 3.8 GPA through high school and is an avid rapper off the field. He has long admired Michigan great Charles Woodson and built a close relationship with him during his time in Ann Arbor. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, joining while an undergraduate at the University of Michigan’s Phi Chapter.
2025 Season Performance
Peppers joined the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 10, 2025, after being released by the Patriots at the end of the preseason. He carved out a complementary safety role and contributed on special teams, appearing in 14 games with two starts. He closed the year with 16 total tackles and one fumble recovery.
His path back onto an NFL roster, following his 2024 legal issues and subsequent acquittal, marked one of the more notable comeback stories of the 2025 season. Peppers remained healthy and available, offering the Steelers veteran depth in the secondary and on coverage units.
Looking ahead, Peppers is under contract with the Steelers through the 2025 season, giving him an opportunity to extend his career with another strong showing in 2026.
