Tashaun Gipson

On April 29, 2012, the Cleveland Browns signed Gipson to a three-year, $1.44 million contract after he went unselected in the 2012 NFL Draft.[3][4]

Throughout training camp, Gipson competed for a job as a backup safety against Ray Ventrone, Usama Young, David Sims, and Emanuel Davis.[5] Head coach Pat Shurmur named Gipson the third free safety on the Browns' depth chart to start the regular season, behind veterans Eric Hagg and Ray Ventrone.[6]

Gipson made his professional regular season debut in the season-opening 17-16 loss the Philadelphia Eagles and made his first NFL tackle on Brandon Boykin during a 29-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.[7] Two weeks later, Gipson had six combined tackles in a 24–14 loss against the Buffalo Bills. He earned increased playing time after Eric Hagg had an underwhelming performance in the first two games.[8] The following week against the Baltimore Ravens, Gipson had two solo tackles before leaving the eventual 23–16 road loss in the second quarter after sustaining a knee injury. His injury sidelined him for the next five games (Weeks 5–9).[9] On November 25, 2012, Gipson earned his first career start in place of free safety Usama Young and recorded two solo tackles in a 20–14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the next game, he made his second consecutive start and collected a season-high eight combined tackles during a 20–17 road victory over the Oakland Raiders. The following week against the Kansas City Chiefs, Gipson made two combined tackles, deflected a pass, and recorded his first career interception off a pass by quarterback Brady Quinn in the 30–7 victory.[10] On December 31, 2012, the Cleveland Browns announced the firing of head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert after the Browns finished the season with a 5–11 record.[11]

Gipson finished his rookie season with 33 combined tackles (26 solo), a pass deflection, and an interception in 10 games and three starts.[12]

Gipson entered training camp in 2013 slated as the starting free safety after Usama Young departed during free agency and Eric Hagg was released. He saw minor competition for the role from Johnson Bademosi. New head coach Rob Chudzinski named Gipson the starting free safety to start the regular season, alongside strong safety T. J. Ward.[13]

Gipson started in the season-opening 23-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins and recorded three solo tackles, broke up a pass, and an interception. During a Week 8 23-17 road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, he collected a season-high nine solo tackles. On December 15, 2013, he recorded eight combined tackles, two pass deflections, two interceptions, and returned an interception by Jay Cutler for 44-yard touchdown in Cleveland's 38–31 loss to the Chicago Bears. Gipson's touchdown came in the second quarter and marked his first NFL touchdown.[14] He finished the 2013 season with 95 combined tackles (63 solo), 11 passes defensed, five interceptions, and a touchdown in 16 games and 15 starts.[12] On December 30, 2013, the Browns unexpectedly fired head coach Rob Chudzinski after they finished 4–12 in his first and only season as head coach.[15]

Gipson finished his second professional season with 95 combined tackles (63 solo), 11 pass deflections, five interceptions, and a pick-six. He finished the 2013 season as the 68th ranked safety in Pro Football Focus' overall grades for the 2013 season.

Gipson entered training camp as the Browns' de facto starting free safety. New head coach Mike Pettine named Gipson and newly acquired free agent Donte Whitner the starting safeties to begin the regular season.[16]

On September 14, 2014, Gipson collected eight combined tackles, broke up a pass, and returned an interception by Drew Brees for a 62-yard touchdown in the Browns' 26–25 victory over the New Orleans Saints.[17] In Week 6, Gipson collected a season-high nine combined tackles as the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 31–10. In the next game, he made four combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted quarterback Blake Bortles twice in a 24–6 road loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. On November 2, 2014, Gipson made five combined tackles, broke up a pass, and recorded an interception in a 22–17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This marked his third consecutive game with an interception and brought his total to four interceptions in the last three weeks. In Week 12 against Atlanta Falcons, he collected three combined tackles, but left the eventual 26–24 road victory in the fourth quarter after colliding with teammate Joe Haden and sustaining a knee injury.[18] On December 20, 2014, the Browns placed Gipson on injured reserve for the last two games after he missed the last three games after sustaining damage to his MCL and PCL. He led the league in interceptions at the time of his injury, but would ultimately finish second.[19] On December 23, 2014, it was announced that Gipson was voted to play in the 2015 Pro Bowl, alongside teammates Joe Haden and Joe Thomas.[20]

Gipson finished the 2014 season with 52 combined tackles (28 solo), eight pass deflections, a touchdown, a forced fumble, and a career-high six interceptions in 11 games and starts.[12] On January 20, 2015, it was reported that he would have to miss the Pro Bowl due to his knee injury.[21] Gipson was ranked 67th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015, as voted on by NFL players.

On March 9, 2015, the Browns placed a second-round tender on Gipson and agreed to a one-year, $2.56 million contract.[4] Head coach Mike Pettine retained Gipson and Donte Whitner as the starting safety duo entering the 2015 regular season.[22]

Gipson started in the season-opening 31-10 road loss to the New York Jets and recorded five combined tackles, broke up a pass, and intercepted a pass by Geno Smith. Gipson missed three consecutive games (Weeks 5-7) after suffering an ankle injury.[23] On December 20, 2015, Gipson collected a season-high nine combined tackles in the Browns' 30-13 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Gipson finished the 2015 season with 60 combined tackles (42 solo), two pass deflections, and two interceptions in 13 games and starts.[24] After the season, he became an unrestricted free agent and did not receive an offer to remain with the Browns.

On March 10, 2016, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Gipson to a five-year, $36 million contract that includes $12 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $4 million.[25][26][4]

Head coach Gus Bradley named Gipson the starting free safety, alongside starting strong safety Johnathan Cyprien.[27]

During a Week 3 19-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Gipson recorded three solo tackles, broke up a pass, and intercepted a pass by Joe Flacco. On December 18, 2016, the Jaguars fired head coach Gus Bradley after the team lost nine consecutive games and accrued a 2–12 record. Assistant head coach and offensive line coach Doug Marrone was appointed the interim head coach for the last two games of the season.[28] In the regular season finale against the Indianapolis Colts, Gipson collected a season-high six combined tackles during the 24–20 road loss.

Gipson finished his first season with the Jaguars with 41 combined tackles (34 solo), two pass deflections, and an interception in 16 games and starts.[12]

Head coach Doug Marrone named Gipson the starting free safety to begin the regular season, opposite starting strong safety Barry Church.[29] Marrone became Gipson's fifth head coach as a professional over the span of his first six seasons in the league.

Gipson started in the season-opening 29-7 road victory over the Houston Texans and recorded six combined tackles, two pass deflections, and returned an interception by Deshaun Watson for 67 yards in the fourth quarter.[30] Three weeks later, Gipson collected a season-high seven solo tackles and broke up a pass during the Jaguars' 23–20 loss at the New York Jets. During a Week 5 30-9 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, he recorded six combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted two passes by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.[31] The Jaguars recorded a total of five interceptions by Roethlisberger during their victory.

Gipson finished the 2017 season with 64 combined tackles (53 solo), seven pass deflections, four interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 16 games and starts.[12] Pro Football Focus gave Gipson an overall grade of 81.4, ranking him 30th among all qualified safeties in 2017.[32]

The Jaguars finished atop the AFC South with a 10–6 record and clinched a playoff berth. On January 7, 2018, Gipson started his first career playoff game and made five solo tackles in a 10–3 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wildcard Game. The Jaguars went on to defeat the Steelers by a score of 45–42 in the AFC Divisional round before being eliminated from the playoffs after a 24–20 loss against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship.[31]

Gipson finished the 2018 season with 54 combined tackles (44 solo), seven pass deflections, and an interception in 16 games and starts.[12]

On March 8, 2019, Gipson was released by the Jaguars due to salary cap issues.[33]

On March 12, 2019, Gipson signed a three-year, $22.55 million contract with the Houston Texans.[34]

Gipson made his Texans debut in the season-opening 30-28 road loss to the New Orleans Saints and recorded three tackles.[35] During a Week 5 53-32 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Gipson recorded three tackles, a pass deflection, and a 79-yard pick six off of Matt Ryan.[36] In the next game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Gipson recorded five tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass from Patrick Mahomes in the 31-24 road victory.[37] During a Week 14 38-24 loss to the Denver Broncos, Gipson recorded two tackles, two pass deflections, and his third interception of the season off a pass thrown by rookie quarterback Drew Lock and returned it 26 yards.[38] Gipson was placed on injured reserve on December 31, 2019.

Gipson finished the 2019 season with 51 combined tackles (34 solo), eight pass deflections, three interceptions, and a pick-six in 14 games and starts.

On April 27, 2020, Gipson was released by the Texans.[39]

On May 1, 2020, Gipson signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears.[40]

Gipson made his Bears debut in the season-opening 27-23 victory over the Detroit Lions, recording seven tackles.[41] Two weeks later against the Atlanta Falcons, Gipson recorded his first interception of the year late in the fourth quarter off a pass thrown by Matt Ryan to secure a 30–26 road victory.[42] During a Week 6 23-16 road victory over the Carolina Panthers, Gipson recorded six tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted Teddy Bridgewater in the first quarter.[43]

In the Wild Card round of the playoffs against the New Orleans Saints, Gipson recorded a strip sack on Taysom Hill that was recovered by the Bears during the 21–9 road loss.[44]

On April 20, 2021, Gipson was re-signed by the Bears with a one-year deal.[45] He finished the season with 47 combined tackles (33 solo), three pass deflections, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a sack in 12 games and starts.[12]

On August 22, 2022, Gipson signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers.[46] He was released on August 30, 2022 and signed to the practice squad the next day.[47][48] Gipson was promoted to the active roster on September 13, 2022.[49]

Gipson finished the 2022 season with 61 tackles, eight passes defensed, and a team-high five interceptions in 17 games and starts.

On March 12, 2023, Gipson signed a one-year contract extension with the 49ers.[50]