K’Lavon Chaisson Bio
K’Lavon Chaisson is an American professional football linebacker and defensive end who has played in the National Football League (NFL) since 2020. Born on July 25, 1999, in Houston, Texas, he rose to prominence as a pass rusher at North Shore Senior High School before starring for the LSU Tigers, where he was part of the 2019 College Football Playoff national championship team. Selected 20th overall in the 2020 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chaisson has since played for multiple franchises, including the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders.
K’Lavon Chaisson
Early Life and Background
K’Lavon Chaisson was born on July 25, 1999, in Houston, Texas, and grew up in the surrounding region of Galena Park. He attended North Shore Senior High School, where his father Kelvin Chaisson, a former linebacker for the Baylor Bears, helped shape his early interest in football. Tragedy struck the family in November 2014, when Kelvin Chaisson was shot and killed, an event that left a lasting mark on the young athlete’s life and career motivation.
As a freshman at North Shore, Chaisson briefly stepped away from football to focus on basketball, but he returned to the gridiron as a junior and quickly became a force on the defensive line. Playing for the Mustangs, he led Texas high schoolers with 15.5 sacks along with 50 tackles, including 13 for loss, and three forced fumbles, helping North Shore reach the Class 6A Division I state championship game. He was named first-team All-State by the Associated Press and earned defensive MVP honors after recording two sacks, four tackles for loss, a blocked kick, and a game-saving stop in a 21-14 victory over Westlake High School.
As a senior, Chaisson was named the 21-6A district defensive MVP, earned a spot on the Scout.com All-Midlands team, and was invited to the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game, where he tied a game record with three sacks. Rated a five-star recruit by Scout.com and a four-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals, he committed to LSU over offers from Florida and Texas.
Path to American Football
Chaisson arrived at LSU as one of the most highly touted defensive recruits in program history and wasted little time making an impact. As a true freshman in 2017, he started the Tigers’ season opener against BYU and recorded his first two career sacks the following week in a 45-10 win over Chattanooga, finishing the year with 27 tackles, two sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss in 12 games. His performance earned him a spot on the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team.
Named a starter at outside linebacker entering his sophomore season, Chaisson suffered a torn ACL in the fourth quarter of the opener against Miami, forcing him to use a medical redshirt. The following year, he returned wearing the prestigious No. 18 jersey, symbolic of a player’s impact beyond statistics, and delivered a breakout campaign with 60 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, and a first-team All-SEC selection. He closed his college career with 92 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and one forced fumble, culminating in a national championship and a decision to enter the 2020 NFL draft.
K’Lavon Chaisson Career
Early Career (2020-2023)
Chaisson was selected with the 20th pick of the 2020 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, using a selection previously acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in the Jalen Ramsey trade. He made his NFL debut in the 2020 season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, recording two tackles, and notched his first sack the following week against the Tennessee Titans. In October 2022, he was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury before being activated in December of that year. The Jaguars declined the fifth-year option of his rookie contract on May 1, 2023, making him a free agent after four seasons in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Jaguars Breakthrough (2020-2023)
Joining a rebuilding Jaguars defense, Chaisson was expected to develop into a long-term edge rusher alongside other young pieces. While his statistical growth was slowed by injuries, he appeared in all four of his Jacksonville seasons and continued to refine his technique as an outside linebacker and defensive end. By the end of his rookie contract, he had posted 136 career tackles and 17.5 sacks, establishing himself as a reliable rotational pass rusher with starting experience.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2024-2025)
After a brief 2024 stint with the Carolina Panthers, Chaisson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad on September 10, 2024, and was promoted to the active roster on October 5. His time in Las Vegas allowed him to showcase his pass-rushing ability on a defense that valued veteran depth. Although his stay was short, the experience provided a foundation for his next opportunity.
New England Patriots Era (2025-2025)
On March 17, 2025, Chaisson signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the New England Patriots. He quickly became a disruptive presence in New England’s front seven, highlighted by a two-sack, three-tackle, fumble-recovery-for-touchdown performance in a 31-13 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 7, which earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He later sealed a 28-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16 with a game-clinching forced fumble on Zay Flowers, cementing his role as a situational finisher.
Washington Commanders Era (2026-Present)
On March 13, 2026, Chaisson signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Washington Commanders, joining a defense looking to bolster its edge presence. The deal reflected his strong 2025 production and positioned him as a featured pass rusher entering the prime of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Chaisson’s defining moments are his Defensive MVP performance in the 2019 Peach Bowl against Oklahoma, his first career touchdown on a fumble recovery for New England in 2025, and his game-sealing forced fumble against the Baltimore Ravens later that same season. Across his NFL career through 2025, he has accumulated 136 tackles, 17.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, six pass deflections, and one interception, numbers that underscore his steady development as a versatile edge defender.
K’Lavon Chaisson Career Wins
K’Lavon Chaisson’s career has been defined by team success and individual milestones rather than personal championship trophies. As a senior at North Shore, he helped lead the Mustangs to the Class 6A Division I state championship game, and at LSU he was a key contributor to the Tigers’ 2019 College Football Playoff national championship. In the NFL, his most celebrated individual achievements include AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors and several game-defining plays for the New England Patriots in 2025.
College Highlights
Chaisson’s three seasons at LSU produced 92 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks, highlighted by first-team All-SEC recognition in 2019 and a Peach Bowl Defensive MVP award. He capped his career with two tackles in LSU’s 42-25 victory over Clemson in the 2020 National Championship Game before declaring for the NFL draft on January 17, 2020.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his college accolades, Chaisson earned first-team All-State honors from the Associated Press in high school and tied an Under Armour All-America Game record with three sacks. His professional highlights include a two-sack game against the Tennessee Titans in 2025 and a game-clinching forced fumble versus the Baltimore Ravens, both signature performances that shaped his late-career momentum.
K’Lavon Chaisson Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Chaisson’s father, Kelvin Chaisson, was a linebacker for the Baylor Bears and was a major influence on his son’s path in football. Kelvin was tragically shot and killed in November 2014, an event that has been publicly cited as a motivating force throughout K’Lavon’s career. Despite the loss, Chaisson has credited his father’s athletic legacy and the values instilled by his family for his continued pursuit of excellence on and off the field.
Personal Life
Chaisson maintains a relatively private personal life, with limited public details about relationships or family beyond his late father. He has built a presence for himself off the field and continues to honor his father’s memory through his performances in the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
Chaisson’s 2025 campaign with the New England Patriots marked the most productive stretch of his professional career. He signed a one-year, $5 million contract in March and quickly emerged as a key piece of the Patriots’ defensive line. His Week 7 performance against the Tennessee Titans, in which he recorded two sacks, three tackles, two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week and signaled a clear breakout.
He followed that with a game-sealing forced fumble on Zay Flowers in a 28-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, establishing himself as a clutch situational finisher. By season’s end, his 2025 production helped reshape the perception of his career trajectory heading into free agency.
The strong 2025 showing directly fueled his March 2026 signing with the Washington Commanders on a one-year, $11 million contract, the most lucrative deal of his career. Entering Washington, Chaisson is positioned as a starting-caliber edge rusher with momentum, durability questions largely behind him, and a clear opportunity to build on his most consistent professional season.