Tag: defensive back

Former Chiefs DB Steven Nelson announces retirement

Former Kansas City #Chiefs DB Steven Nelson announced his retirement after nine seasons in the NFL. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs have earned plenty of respect over the last few seasons for their Super Bowl titles and unrivaled success. Many players have helped build the foundation for the current success that just missed out.

Veteran NFL cornerback and former Chiefs starter Steven Nelson announced his retirement from the league on Sunday.

“Retirement, after thinking it over and having some talks with my family, I think it’s time for me to take a step back and spend more time with my family,” said Nelson during a phone interview with KPRC 2 in Houston. The 31-year-old has decided to call it a career after nine seasons.

In the 2015 draft class out of Oregon State, Nelson was the 14th cornerback selected, eventually going in the third round to Kansas City. During the first four seasons of his career, he played for the Chiefs, often as a starter in 38 of his 52 games. He tallied four interceptions and 182 tackles before leaving in free agency before the 2019 season.

“I think I’ll be remembered, mostly by my teammates, the guys that I played with and put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears with. as a leader and somebody that not only tries to lead by words but through my actions,” said Nelson. “Being a true pro and doing everything the right way.”

Nelson made stops with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and the last two seasons with the Houston Texans. In 130 career games with 115 starts, he recorded 13 career interceptions, 87 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one sack, and 456 total tackles.

Steve Wilson was the best player to wear No. 45 for the Broncos

Steve Wilson helped the Broncos reach two Super Bowls and he retired with the ninth-most interceptions (16) in franchise history.

Steve Wilson was the best player to ever wear jersey No. 45 for the Denver Broncos.

Wilson spent time at both a cornerback and safety, entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Howard with the Dallas Cowboys in 1979. After three seasons in Dallas, Wilson signed with the Broncos in 1982. He went on to play seven years in Denver, recording 16 interceptions, five fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns.

Wilson dressed for 92 games with the Broncos, earning 18 starts. He helped the team reach back-to-back Super Bowls in the late 1980s.

Former Denver linebacker Alexander Johnson also deserves a shout-out as an honorable mention. Johnson played for the Broncos from 2018-2021, recording 249 tackles, 11 quarterback hits, eight pass breakups, 4.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception in 38 games.

Wilson played three more seasons in Denver than Johnson and he started for the team in Super Bowl XXII. Wilson ranked ninth on the Broncos’ all-time interceptions list when he retired in 1989. He now ranks 16th.

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Penn State transfer DB King Mack announces transfer to Alabama

The Alabama secondary just got better. Penn State transfer defensive back King Mack announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide on (DAY).

The Alabama Crimson Tide added more talent to its secondary. Penn State transfer defensive back King Mack announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide.

Mack, the former top-100 safety prospect, spent one season in Happy Valley. The Florida native recorded three tackles in 13 games played. The majority of his playing time was spent on the Nittany Lions special teams unit.

Mack will add depth and talent to Alabama’s secondary. Alabama lost a total of six safeties following the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season. The list includes Kristian Story, Caleb Downs, Jaylen Key (NFL), Jake Pope, Peyton Woodyard, and Tony Mitchell. Five of the six entered the transfer portal while Key is headed to the NFL.

Mack could see immediate playing time as Alabama is relatively thin in the secondary. It will be interesting to see what his role is on Kane Wommack’s defense next season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program and its involvement in the transfer portal.

Broncos signing DB Kris Abrams-Draine to 4-year contract

University of Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine is now a Denver Bronco.

The Denver Broncos have signed defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine to a four-year contract on Thursday, according to the Denver Gazette.

Abrams-Draine (5-11, 179 pounds) was the 145th overall (5th round) selection in last month’s NFL draft, where he came out of the University of Missouri.

Abrams-Draine looks to become a contributor in the Broncos secondary, alongside Patrick Surtain, Ja’Quan McMillian and Caden Sterns. The secondary looks very different from how it was last season, after the release of safety Justin Simmons.

Prior to signing his contract, Abrams-Draine was assigned Simmons’ number 31. In relation to this move, Simmons showed tremendous support for the rookie, encouraging Abrams-Draine to “make it HIS number.”

Abrams-Draine’s four-year contract is projected to be worth $4.368 million, with a $348,264 signing bonus. He’ll count $882,066 against this season’s salary cap, according to Sports Illustrated.

He joins fellow rookies Bo Nix, fellow fifth-round selection Audric Estime, Nick Gargiulo and Devaughn Vele in signing their rookie contracts.

Former 49er Hall of Fame DB Jimmy Johnson dies at 86

Hall of Fame 49ers DB Jimmy Johnson has died

One of the great San Francisco 49ers, defensive back Jimmy Johnson died on Wednesday at 86.

The team released a statement:

“The 49ers family is deeply saddened by the passing of one of the NFL’s all-time greats, Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy embodied the essence of what it meant to be a 49er. He was the ultimate gentleman and will be remembered for his humility, kindness and loveable demeanor. We send our condolences to his wife Gisela and his entire family at this difficult time.”

Johnson played college ball at UCLA. He was the sixth overall selection in the 1961 draft.

He played his entire 16-year career in San Francisco where he registered 47 interceptions for 615 return yards.

As a rookie, Johnson had five picks, and two touchdowns.

Johnson began his 49ers career as a defensive back but was moved to wide receiver during the 1962 season when he caught 34 passes for 627 yards and four touchdowns. His 47 career interceptions and 213 career regular season games are both the second-most in franchise history, while his 16 seasons played with the team are tied for the second-most in franchise history. Johnson was named a Pro Bowler five times and an All-Pro on five occasions (First-Team 1970-72; Second-Team 1965-66). He was also named a member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.

Alabama Football lands Wake Forest transfer defensive back DaShawn Jones

The Alabama football program added talent to its secondary as Wake Forest DaShawn Jones announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide.

After taking an official visit to Tuscaloosa over the weekend, Wake Forest transfer defensive back DaShawn Jones has committed to Alabama. Jones is the second defensive back to commit in as many weeks joining Charlotte transfer safety Kameron Howard.

Jones was pursued by multiple other programs including the Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, and LSU Tigers. In the end, the Alabama coaching staff was able to sell the Maryland native on why Alabama was the best fit for him and his family.

Jones spent three seasons in Winston-Salem, North Carolina playing for the Demon Deacons. He recorded 61 tackles, three interceptions, and seven pass deflections.

In all likelihood, Jones will compete for the starting corner spot alongside Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson. The chances of Jones seeing early playing time are increasingly high given Alabama’s inexperience at cornerback.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program and its involvement in the transfer portal.

Las Vegas native Jaden Hicks says he’s not a Raiders fan

#Chiefs rookie Jaden Hicks, a Las Vegas native, made it clear that he is not a Raiders fan during comments to the media.

The Kansas City Chiefs solidified their depth in the secondary during the 2024 NFL draft. The loss of several veterans at the start of the offseason has led to another shake-up in the defensive unit.

The selection of defensive back Jaden Hicks was an example of the youth movement continuing within Steve Spagnuolo’s group. Hicks reflected on his NFL draft experience and provided his thoughts on the Las Vegas Raiders while speaking with media on Sunday at rookie minicamp.

“It was a lot of weight lifted off the shoulders for being drafted; that was a cool moment me and my family had,” Hicks explained. “Just the process of getting in here, [I’ve] been working out trying to get prepared for this moment. I’m taking every moment like it’s my last. Getting the playbook down that’s been going good. First practice was really good, so I’m excited for the next few practices.”

Hicks is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada but made it very clear that he isn’t a fan of the NFL team that calls the city home.

“No, I wasn’t a fan of the Raiders, so you guys don’t have to worry about that,” said Hicks. “Even my family, they’re all excited for me. We’re all Kansas City Chiefs now; it’s pretty cool.”

Hicks was an impact player at Washington State and now joins fellow Cougar Jaylen Watson in the Kansas City secondary.

Penn State transfer DB King Mack expected to visit Alabama this weekend

Penn State transfer defensive back King Mack is expected to visit Alabama this weekend, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are hosting multiple transfers for official visits this weekend. One of which includes Penn State Nittany Lions transfer safety King Mack.

Mack spent one season in Happy Valley. The native of Miami, Florida tallied three tackles for the Nittany Lions. He did appear in all 13 games, however. Coming out of high school, Mack was regarded as a consensus four-star prospect as well as a top-100 prospect.

Football runs in Mack’s family. His uncle, Keith Ferguson played football at Ohio State from 1977-1980. He is also a relative of Tremain Mack who played at Miami (FL) from 1993-1996.

Mack would help add depth and talent to Alabama’s safety room. The Crimson Tide currently have six safeties on the roster with two leaving this week in freshman Peyton Woodyard and sophomore Tony Mitchell. The addition of Mack could be very impactful in the near and distant future.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program and its involvement in the transfer portal.

Former Alabama DB Levi Wallace signs with Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos announce they have signed former Alabama cornerback Levi Wallace.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide football defensive back Levi Wallace has agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos and has signed on with the franchise to a one-year deal.

Wallace was a former walk-on at Alabama and has an inspiring story. Though he was not drafted, he found his way onto the Buffalo Bills roster in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. After four seasons in Buffalo, Wallace signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, he stays in the AFC and moves out west to play for the Broncos.

In a video shared to social media, found below, Wallace describes his excitement in playing for Denver, stating that it’s “a dream come true” to play for his dad’s favorite team.

In 2023, Wallace recorded 36 total tackles and 11 defended passes. He looks to increase his production and serve in a larger role for the broncos in 2024.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Wallace and other former Alabama football players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Broncos host intriguing draft prospect with no college experience

Qwan’Tez Stiggers is a rare draft prospect with no college experience. He played in the FCF and CFL before getting looks from NFL teams.

The Denver Broncos brought in Toronto Argonauts cornerback Qwan’Tez Stiggers for a pre-draft visit last week, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

The Broncos were also among 29 NFL teams who attended the defensive back’s personal pro day in Atlanta last month. After impressing at his workout, Stiggers is now visiting multiple teams leading up to the NFL draft.

Stiggers (5-11, 204 pounds) is an intriguing prospect because he has no college experience. He was set to attend Lane College in 2020 but dropped out following his father’s death. The defensive back later played in the Fan Controlled Football league in 2022 and caught the attention of the CFL.

The Argonauts signed Stiggers in 2023 and he had a breakout year in his first season, winning the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie Award after recording five interceptions. He was also named a CFL East All-Star.

At his pro day last month, Stiggers ran a 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds. The CFL has agreed to release Stiggers from his contract if he’s selected in the NFL draft. The 22-year-old cornerback is considered a late-round prospect, but his best bet to reach the NFL might be as an undrafted free agent. The draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.

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