Luke Gifford Bio
Luke Gifford (born August 28, 1995) is an American professional football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and listed at 243 lb (110 kg), Gifford has built his career on special teams play and dependable linebacker depth. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Gifford has also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, and he earned Pro Bowl recognition in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Luke Gifford was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he attended Lincoln Southeast High School. He developed as a two-way player in high school, lining up at both tight end and safety, an experience that helped shape his physical, tackling-first approach to the game. As a sophomore, Gifford contributed to Lincoln Southeast’s 2011 state championship run, an early taste of competitive success that fueled his growing interest in defensive football. He earned second-team All-Nebraska honors as a junior and was later named the team’s starting quarterback as a senior, showcasing the versatility that would later help him transition across positions at the college level.
Coming out of high school, Gifford was regarded as a multi-sport athlete with strong football upside. His combination of size, athleticism, and football IQ attracted attention from several college programs, and he ultimately chose to continue his career close to home. He enrolled at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with the intention of playing safety, but the Nebraska coaching staff had other plans for the local product.
Path to American Football
At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Gifford accepted a football scholarship and was converted from safety into a linebacker, a position change that ultimately defined his professional trajectory. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in six games and recorded seven tackles, including one for loss, before a season-ending hip injury cut his year short. The following season, he appeared in four games as a backup and made only one assisted tackle, continuing his development behind the scenes.
Gifford’s breakthrough came during his junior year, when he appeared in seven games as a starter at outside linebacker and registered 39 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks before another season-ending hip injury. As a senior, he played in all 12 games and posted 62 tackles, 13 tackles for loss (team-leading), 5.5 sacks (also team-leading), seven quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble, cementing his status as a productive Big Ten defender. Despite his college production, Gifford went undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft and signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2019.
Luke Gifford Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Gifford’s rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys was a test of perseverance. He suffered a left high ankle sprain in the first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers after making an interception, a tackle, and a pass deflection, yet the Cowboys kept him on the regular season roster. He returned in Week 6 against the New York Jets and focused on special teams, recording three special teams tackles against the New York Giants a few weeks later. A fractured left arm suffered while covering a punt in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams ended his rookie year, and he finished with six games played and six special teams tackles.
In 2020, Gifford appeared in eight games primarily on special teams. He was declared inactive for the season opener with a hamstring strain and was later suspended two games on November 24 for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, sitting out Weeks 12 and 13. Although he was reinstated on December 9, the Cowboys kept him inactive for two additional games. He finished second on the team with seven special teams tackles, reinforcing his value in the third phase of the game.
Dallas Cowboys Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Gifford took a step forward in 2021, appearing in 16 games as a backup linebacker and tying for second on the team with five special teams tackles while also adding six defensive tackles, including one for loss. He blocked his first career punt against the New England Patriots and recorded a career-high three defensive tackles in the season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, signaling growing trust from the coaching staff.
On March 21, 2022, Gifford re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year contract, and he delivered his most complete season to date. He appeared in 16 games as a backup linebacker and led the team with a career-high 12 special teams tackles, while also contributing five defensive tackles and a forced fumble. He posted a career-high five special teams tackles and a fumble recovery against the Green Bay Packers and added two special teams tackles and a forced fumble against the Minnesota Vikings. A hamstring injury caused him to miss the third meeting with the New York Giants, but he exited Dallas as one of the team’s most reliable special teams contributors.
Tennessee Titans Era (2023–2024)
On March 20, 2023, Gifford signed a two-year contract with the Tennessee Titans, opening a new chapter in his career. He was limited by injuries and played in only 11 games, focusing mostly on special teams and tallying just eight defensive snaps. A hamstring injury placed him on injured reserve on December 23, cutting his first Titans season short.
Gifford’s time in Tennessee came alive in 2024. He was waived on September 3, signed to the practice squad the next day, and promoted back to the active roster on September 27. He opened the season on special teams, but after injuries to Jerome Baker and Kenneth Murray in Week 14, he was elevated to starting linebacker and recorded 11 tackles. The following week, Gifford caught his first career interception, picking off Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on the opening drive. He played in 16 games with four starts and finished with a career-high 48 total tackles (31 solo) and two pass deflections, a strong platform for his next move.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, Gifford signed with the San Francisco 49ers, joining one of the NFL’s most stable defensive organizations. He wore number 51 and settled into a hybrid linebacker and special teams role that has long been his calling card. His 2025 season culminated in Pro Bowl recognition, a notable milestone for a player who entered the league as an undrafted free agent.
On March 13, 2026, Gifford re-signed with the 49ers on a two-year, $5.3 million contract, a strong vote of confidence from the franchise. The deal underscored his continued value as a defensive contributor and core special teams player heading into the next phase of his career in the Bay Area.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gifford’s game is built on physicality, tackling reliability, and football intelligence rather than raw athletic traits. He excels on special teams thanks to his relentless pursuit, sure tackling, and willingness to play through contact, while his linebacker instincts allow him to read run fits and contribute in pass coverage when called upon.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments are his first career interception, which came off Joe Burrow during the 2024 season with the Titans, and his Pro Bowl selection in 2025. He also set a career high with 12 special teams tackles in 2022 and posted a personal-best 48 total tackles in 2024, milestones that trace his steady climb from undrafted rookie to league-recognized linebacker.
Luke Gifford Career Wins
As a linebacker and core special teams player, Luke Gifford’s statistical milestones reflect consistency, durability, and steady production rather than headline-grabbing award counts. Across his time with the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers, he has built a reputation as a dependable role player whose value shows up in tackling totals, coverage snaps, and situational defense.
NFL Highlights
Gifford has appeared in regular season games for the Dallas Cowboys (2019–2022), the Tennessee Titans (2023–2024), and the San Francisco 49ers (2025–present). His career NFL statistics as of 2025 include 130 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 pass deflections, and 1 interception, totals compiled largely through special teams and rotational defensive snaps. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2025, a crowning achievement for a player who entered the league without a draft selection.
Other Wins and Performances
Before the NFL, Gifford was part of Lincoln Southeast’s 2011 state championship team in Nebraska high school football, one of the defining team results of his pre-college career. At Nebraska, he led the team in tackles for loss (13) and sacks (5.5) as a senior in 2018, foreshadowing the professional production that followed.
Luke Gifford Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Luke Gifford is a Nebraska native who grew up in Lincoln and attended Lincoln Southeast High School, where his football foundation was built. Publicly available details about his parents and extended family are limited, and any further information on his family background has not been confirmed in verified sources.
Personal Life
Public information about Luke Gifford’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, or children, is not confirmed in verified sources. He is known to be an American professional football player who has spent his career across the Midwest and on the West Coast.
2025 Season Performance
Gifford’s 2025 campaign with the San Francisco 49ers marked his first season in the Bay Area and culminated in his first Pro Bowl selection. Operating primarily as a core special teams player and rotational linebacker, he contributed to a 49ers defense that has long prided itself on physicality, tackling, and depth across the front seven. His Pro Bowl nod highlighted the respect he has earned from coaches, teammates, and league evaluators.
The season served as a continuation of the upward arc he built during the back half of his time in Tennessee, where injuries thrust him into a starting linebacker role and he responded with career-best tackle production. In San Francisco’s structured defensive system, Gifford was able to focus on run fits, special teams, and situational defense while playing within one of the league’s more disciplined schemes.
Looking ahead, his two-year, $5.3 million re-signing on March 13, 2026 provides stability as the 49ers head into the next competitive window. With Pro Bowl recognition already on his résumé, Gifford’s outlook centers on maintaining his role as a trusted special teams leader and dependable linebacker depth for a perennial contender.