Tashaun Gipson Bio
Tashaun James Gipson Sr. (born August 7, 1990) is an American professional football safety known for his ball-hawking play in the defensive secondary. He joined the National Football League as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns in 2012 and has since built a reputation as a reliable starter and playmaker across multiple franchises. Over his career, Gipson has suited up for the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, and San Francisco 49ers, reaching a career high point with a Pro Bowl selection in 2014. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing about 212 pounds, he has remained a steady presence at free safety for more than a decade of professional play.
Early Life and Background
Tashaun James Gipson Sr. was born on August 7, 1990, in San Bernardino, California. He was raised in Dallas, Texas, and attended Justin F. Kimball High School, where he became a three-sport star. At Kimball, Gipson played football and basketball while also competing on the track team, showcasing the kind of athletic versatility that would later define his professional career.
As a senior, Gipson was named the Most Valuable Player of the 4A District 14 Dallas City League and earned First Team All-District honors as both a cornerback and a returner. On defense, he recorded 35 tackles, broke up nine passes, and recovered two fumbles. On offense and special teams, he piled up more than 1,400 all-purpose yards and scored 14 touchdowns while serving as an offensive team captain, demonstrating the playmaking ability that drew recruiting attention from Baylor, Louisville, Fresno State, and Idaho.
Path to the NFL
Gipson chose the University of Wyoming in part for the opportunity to play alongside his brother Marcell. Both brothers lined up at cornerback for the Wyoming Cowboys football team from 2008 to 2010. Gipson started every game of his college career, and his production grew steadily, including three interceptions as a sophomore in 2009 and three more as a junior in 2010. As a freshman, he did not record an interception, but he and Marcell tied for the team lead in pass deflections with 10 each, signaling the instincts that would later define his professional game.
His senior season in 2011 became his statistical breakthrough, as he racked up 95 total tackles with 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and three interceptions. That year, Gipson began the season at cornerback before shifting to safety for the final eight games, a transition that helped shape his NFL identity. He earned Second-team All-Mountain West Conference honors for his senior play, and after going unselected in the 2012 NFL draft, he signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent, launching a professional career that has lasted more than a decade.
Tashaun Gipson Career
Early Career (2012–2013)
Gipson signed with the Cleveland Browns on April 29, 2012, agreeing to a three-year, $1.44 million contract as an undrafted rookie. He competed with Ray Ventrone, Usama Young, David Sims, and Emanuel Davis during training camp and opened his first season as a backup and third free safety on the depth chart. His regular-season debut came against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he earned his first career tackle on Brandon Boykin during the opening quarter of the narrow 17–16 loss. After early opportunities due to veteran injuries, Gipson made his first career start in place of Usama Young against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12 and recorded two solo tackles in the 20–14 win.
By his second season in 2013, Gipson had emerged as the Browns’ starting free safety, paired alongside strong safety T. J. Ward under new head coach Rob Chudzinski. He delivered a career-best rookie-sophomore surge, finishing the year with 95 combined tackles, 12 pass deflections, and five interceptions in 16 games and 15 starts. His first NFL touchdown came on a 44-yard interception return against Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears, a momentum-shifting play that announced his arrival as a true center-field threat.
Cleveland Browns Breakthrough (2014–2015)
Gipson entered the 2014 season as the Browns’ de facto starting free safety and was paired with newly acquired Donte Whitner to form one of the league’s most aggressive safety tandems. He opened the year with an interception return for a 62-yard touchdown against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, then strung together multiple interception performances against the Ravens, Jaguars, Raiders, and Buccaneers. Three consecutive games with a pick highlighted his consistent ball production.
His interception total climbed to a career-high six before a knee injury ended his season in December 2014. At the time of the injury, Gipson led the league in interceptions, and although he ultimately finished second, his play earned him a selection to the 2015 Pro Bowl alongside teammates Joe Haden and Joe Thomas, although a knee injury forced him to miss the all-star game. He was also ranked 67th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015 by his peers. Gipson returned in 2015 under head coach Mike Pettine, starting the season opener with an interception against the New York Jets and finishing the year with 60 tackles and two picks in 13 starts before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2016–2018)
On March 9, 2016, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Gipson to a five-year, $36 million contract with $12 million guaranteed and a $4 million signing bonus, naming him the starting free safety alongside strong safety Johnathan Cyprien. He finished the 2016 season with 41 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception in 16 starts, immediately establishing himself as a leader in the Jaguars’ secondary. In 2017, Gipson elevated his game, recording 64 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, four interceptions, and a fumble recovery while helping the Jaguars finish atop the AFC South at 10–6 and clinch a playoff berth.
His first career playoff appearance came in the 2017 Wild Card Round, a 10–3 victory over the Buffalo Bills in which he recorded five tackles. Gipson also started in the Divisional Round win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. In 2018, he started all 16 games and finished with 54 tackles, seven pass deflections, and an interception before being released by the Jaguars on March 8, 2019, due to salary cap considerations.
Houston Texans (2019)
Shortly after his Jacksonville release, Gipson signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Houston Texans on March 12, 2019, with $11.25 million guaranteed. He opened the season with three tackles against the New Orleans Saints and produced one of the highlight plays of his career in Week 5, returning an interception of Matt Ryan 79 yards for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in a 53–32 victory. Gipson added three interceptions and eight pass deflections across the year, finishing with 51 combined tackles in 14 starts before a back injury sent him to injured reserve on December 31, 2019, forcing him to miss the Texans’ playoff run. He was released by Houston on April 27, 2020.
Chicago Bears (2020–2021)
The Chicago Bears signed Gipson to a one-year, $1.05 million contract on May 1, 2020, and he responded with one of the most productive seasons of his late career. He opened with seven tackles against the Detroit Lions, then sealed a 30–26 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons with a late interception of Matt Ryan. Gipson finished the 2020 regular season with 66 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 16 starts, adding eight tackles, a pass deflection, and a strip sack of Taysom Hill in the Wild Card Round loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Following a one-year, $2.55 million extension in April 2021, Gipson continued to produce for the Bears, notching his first career sack against the Las Vegas Raiders and finishing the year with 47 combined tackles, three pass deflections, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a sack in 12 starts. After the 2021 season, Gipson moved on to chase another opportunity.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2022–Present)
Gipson signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 22, 2022, on a one-year, $1.12 million contract. After being released and quickly added to the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster on September 13 and immediately impacted the secondary. He recorded an interception in his first start against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 and finished the regular season with a team-high five interceptions, 61 tackles, eight pass deflections, and 0.5 sacks in 17 starts. The 49ers finished 13–4 and advanced through the playoffs, with Gipson starting in wins over the Seahawks and Cowboys before a 31–7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
In 2023, Gipson returned to the 49ers on a one-year, $2.9 million extension and posted 60 total tackles, three pass deflections, a sack, and an interception across 16 starts. The 49ers finished 12–5 as the NFC’s number-one seed, and Gipson started in the Divisional Round win over the Green Bay Packers, the NFC Championship comeback victory over the Detroit Lions, and Super Bowl LVIII, where he recorded five tackles in a 25–22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He rejoined Jacksonville in August 2024 before returning to the 49ers’ practice squad in November 2024 and finishing the year with six tackles and a pass deflection in nine games.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gipson built his game on sharp route recognition, disciplined zone coverage, and opportunistic ball-tracking, allowing him to post five or more interceptions in three different seasons. He pairs aggressive run-support with reliable tackling in the open field, and his experience next to strong safeties such as T. J. Ward and Talanoa Hufanga has helped him serve as a steady field general in multiple defensive schemes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Gipson’s signature moments are his 2014 Pro Bowl selection, his career-high six-interception season in Cleveland, and a five-interception campaign with the 49ers in 2022. He has also posted multiple pick-sixes against quarterbacks such as Jay Cutler, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan, and he has started in an AFC Championship Game and a Super Bowl.
Tashaun Gipson Career Wins
Gipson’s career has been defined more by turnover creation than by traditional win totals, and his interceptions and postseason appearances tell the story of his longevity. Across his time with the Browns, Jaguars, Texans, Bears, and 49ers, he has produced 33 career regular-season interceptions, including at least one in every season he has played, and has helped his teams reach multiple division titles, conference championship games, and a Super Bowl. The following highlights capture his most notable series accomplishments.
NFL Highlights
During his first stint with the Cleveland Browns from 2012 to 2015, Gipson emerged as a full-time starter and was selected to the 2014 Pro Bowl after posting six interceptions. His most recent major win came with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, when he led the team with five interceptions and started through the NFC Championship Game. He also played a key role in Jacksonville’s 2017 AFC South title run, starting all three postseason games, and contributed to the Bears’ 2020 playoff appearance with eight tackles and a strip sack in the Wild Card Round.
Other Wins and Performances
Gipson has also posted signature regular-season wins, including a Week 2 overtime victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 in which his overtime interception set up the game-winning field goal for San Francisco. He has played in three conference championship games, with the 2017 AFC Championship appearance with the Jaguars and the 2023 NFC Championship victory over the Lions standing out as defining postseason moments.
Tashaun Gipson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tashaun James Gipson Sr. shares a close football bond with his brother, Marcell Gipson, who played alongside him at the University of Wyoming from 2008 to 2010. The brothers both lined up at cornerback during their early college careers, and together they tied for the team lead in pass deflections during Gipson’s freshman season, an early sign of the family-driven work ethic that has shaped his path to the NFL.
Personal Life
Gipson carries the suffix Sr. in his full legal name, indicating he shares his name with a son in his family. Beyond that detail, little additional verified information about his spouse, children, or residence is publicly available from the supplied sources.
2025 Season Performance
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Tashaun James Gipson Sr. enters the year as a veteran free safety whose most recent contract was a one-year, $2.9 million deal signed in 2023 and a subsequent return to the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad in late 2024. He finished the 2024 season with six combined tackles and a pass deflection in nine games without a start, and he remains a candidate to compete for a reserve or starting safety role with the 49ers based on his experience and ball production.
Over his career, Gipson has totaled 690 combined tackles, 33 interceptions, 69 pass deflections, three defensive touchdowns, and 2.5 sacks, providing a versatile veteran profile that should keep him in contention for a roster spot. His proven track record of starting in big games, including a Super Bowl appearance with the 49ers, suggests he remains a valuable locker-room presence and situational playmaker. The 2025 outlook will depend on his health, training camp performance, and the evolving plans of the 49ers’ defensive staff.