Tyree Gillespie Bio
Tyree Gillespie (born September 5, 1998) is an American professional football safety. He played college football at the University of Missouri and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Gillespie is currently a player for the Michigan Panthers in the United Football League, with a contract starting in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Tyree Gillespie was born in Ocala, Florida. He attended Vanguard High School, where he played as a safety and running back, also returning punts for the Knights. During his senior year, Gillespie recorded 40 tackles and two interceptions on defense while rushing for 555 yards and seven touchdowns on offense. His impressive high school performance led him to commit to play college football at the University of Missouri over offers from several other schools, including Iowa State, Marshall, New Mexico, and Troy.
Path to American Football
Gillespie played for the Missouri Tigers for four seasons. In his freshman year, he participated in seven games. He became a starter during his sophomore season, finishing with 48 tackles. In his junior year, he recorded 50 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss and one sack, along with seven pass breakups and a forced fumble. During his senior season, he had 46 total tackles and four pass breakups in nine games. While at Missouri, Gillespie was also a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Tyree Gillespie Career
Early Career (2021)
Tyree Gillespie was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round, 143rd overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year rookie contract with the Raiders on May 17, 2021. Gillespie entered his rookie season as the backup strong safety and primarily played on special teams. However, he was placed on injured reserve on November 17, 2021, and was activated on December 25 of the same year.
Breakthrough (2022-2023)
On August 16, 2022, Gillespie was traded to the Tennessee Titans for a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick but was waived on August 30. He was claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 31, 2022. After being waived again on December 19, he re-signed to the practice squad and signed a reserve/future contract with the Jaguars on February 9, 2023. However, he was waived on May 1, 2023. On May 2, 2023, Gillespie was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans, but he was waived/injured on August 23, 2023, and released on September 1.
Notable Works and Milestones
Gillespie’s time in the NFL has been marked by transitions between teams, showcasing his adaptability and resilience. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad on December 5, 2023, and was released on January 5, 2024. After multiple signings and waivers, he ultimately signed with the Michigan Panthers on March 6, 2025, marking a new chapter in his professional career.
Tyree Gillespie Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Tyree Gillespie has not yet received any major award nominations.
Tyree Gillespie Awards Won
Tyree Gillespie has not won any notable awards in his professional football career to date.
Tyree Gillespie Family
There is limited publicly available information regarding Tyree Gillespie’s family background.
Personal Life
Details about Tyree Gillespie’s personal life, including marital status and children, are not publicly disclosed.