Ali Gaye Bio
Ali Gaye is a Gambian professional American football linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Born on November 29, 1998, in The Gambia, Gaye immigrated to the United States with his family at age 12 and settled in Everett, Washington. He played college football at Arizona Western College, Garden City Community College, and Louisiana State University (LSU), where he earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2020. Gaye entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has since played for both the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans.
Early Life and Background
Ali Gaye was born in The Gambia in November 1998 and moved to Everett, Washington, with his family when he was 12 years old. Growing up, Gaye initially pursued soccer before discovering American football in eighth grade. He attended Edmonds Woodway High School in Edmonds, Washington, where he quickly developed into a standout linebacker. Gaye earned All-Wesco 3A/2A honors in each of his final three seasons of high school football, establishing himself as a promising defensive prospect.
Gaye was rated a three-star recruit coming out of high school. He initially signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Washington and planned to grayshirt his freshman season, choosing the Huskies over offers from USC, Arizona, California, and Mississippi. However, Gaye was ultimately not accepted by the university after failing to meet their SAT requirements, which led him to explore other options at the collegiate level.
Path to Professional Football
Following his recruitment challenge, Gaye began his collegiate career at Arizona Western College in 2018. When Arizona Western disbanded their football team, he transferred to Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas, for his sophomore season. At Garden City, Gaye demonstrated his defensive prowess, recording 44 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and two blocked kicks. His exceptional performance earned him first-team All-Jayhawk League recognition, showcasing his ability to disrupt opposing offenses.
Gaye transferred to LSU for his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility, choosing the Tigers over offers from Oklahoma and Nebraska. He was named a starter at defensive end entering the 2020 season. In his debut game with LSU, Gaye recorded three tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and three passes defended—a statement performance that announced his arrival in the Southeastern Conference. He finished the season with 32 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and six passes defended, earning second-team All-SEC honors and solidifying his draft stock.
Ali Gaye Career
Houston Texans (2023–2024)
Gaye entered the 2023 NFL Draft but went undrafted. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. Gaye was waived during final roster cuts on August 29 but was re-signed to the team’s practice squad shortly after. He demonstrated sufficient growth and consistency to earn a reserve/future contract with the Texans on January 22, 2024. However, he was waived by Houston on August 27, 2024, during final roster reductions.
Tennessee Titans (2024–Present)
Gaye was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans on August 28, 2024, and made the team’s final roster as a rotational outside linebacker for the 2024 season. He made his professional debut on special teams during Week 2 against the New York Jets. Gaye achieved his first career sack in Week 12 during a road victory against his former team, the Houston Texans, recording the sack against quarterback C.J. Stroud. He appeared in 15 games during the 2024 season, finishing his rookie year with eight tackles (seven solo).
During the 2025 season with the Titans, Gaye continued his role as a rotational defensive player. He was waived during final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. Gaye was promoted to the active roster on October 14, 2025. Unfortunately, he was placed on injured reserve on October 28 due to a knee injury suffered in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. He was activated on January 3, 2026, ahead of the team’s season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On April 30, 2026, Gaye was waived by the Titans.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gaye brings size and length to the linebacker position at 6 feet 6 inches and 265 pounds. His background as a soccer player translated into footwork and agility that serve him well in pursuing ball carriers and dropping into coverage. At LSU, he demonstrated an ability to generate pressure on passing downs with his combination of speed and hand technique. His experience as a rotational player in the NFL has allowed him to contribute on special teams while developing his craft in a professional defensive scheme.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gaye’s first career sack against his former team, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud in Week 12 of the 2024 season, represented a meaningful milestone in his young professional career. The undrafted free agent’s ability to earn a roster spot with the Titans after being waived by the Texans demonstrated his resilience and determination to establish himself in the league. His journey from Garden City Community College to the SEC and ultimately to the NFL exemplifies his capacity to overcome setbacks and prove himself at each level of competition.
Ali Gaye Career Statistics
Through his first two NFL seasons, Gaye has appeared in a combined 16 games with limited defensive snaps. His professional career statistics reflect his role as a rotational player and special teams contributor.
NFL Highlights
Gaye’s standout professional moment came in Week 12 of the 2024 season when he recorded his first career sack. That game against the Houston Texans marked a turning point where his collegiate experience at LSU translated into NFL production. He finished the 2024 season with eight tackles in 15 games played, showing consistency in his limited opportunities. His 2025 season was cut short by injury, but his ability to earn promotion from the practice squad to the active roster demonstrated the coaching staff’s confidence in his abilities.
College Statistics
At LSU during the 2020 season, Gaye recorded 32 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and six passes defended in his lone full season with the Tigers. His 9.5 tackles for loss highlighted his ability to disrupt opposing backfields and create negative plays. While at Garden City Community College, he accumulated 44 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and two blocked kicks on his way to first-team All-Jayhawk League honors.
| Competition Level | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSU (2020) | 32 | 9.5 | 2 | 6 |
| Garden City CC (2019) | 44 | 7.5 | 1 | 0 |
| NFL (Career) | 9 | — | 1 | — |
Ali Gaye Family
Family Background and Immigration
Ali Gaye was born in The Gambia, a country on the west coast of Africa. He immigrated to the United States with his family at age 12, making the significant transition to a new country and culture. The family settled in Everett, Washington, where Gaye would spend his formative teenage years and eventually discover his passion for American football.
Personal Life
Gaye resides in Everett, Washington, maintaining his connection to the community where he grew up after immigrating from The Gambia. He maintains an active presence on social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. His journey from an undrafted free agent to a roster player with the Tennessee Titans reflects his determination to succeed in professional football despite the obstacles he faced during his recruitment process.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season presented both challenges and opportunities for Ali Gaye with the Tennessee Titans. After being waived during final roster cuts in late August, he was re-signed to the practice squad and eventually promoted to the active roster in October. This progression indicated the coaching staff’s appreciation for his development and versatility as a rotational outside linebacker. Gaye contributed on special teams and provided depth along the defensive line during his time on the active roster.
Gaye’s season was unfortunately interrupted when he suffered a knee injury in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. The injury required him to be placed on injured reserve, ending his on-field contributions for the remainder of the regular season. He was activated ahead of the season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, though his participation was limited following the extended time off. The Titans’ decision to retain him through the injury and activate him for the final game demonstrated their continued investment in his long-term development. Gaye was subsequently waived in April 2026 before being claimed by the Houston Texans, returning to the team that originally signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2023.