Luke Gifford (born August 28, 1995) is an American professional football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 2019. Gifford has also played for the Tennessee Titans. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2025.
Luke Gifford Bio
Luke Gifford is an American football linebacker who has built a reputation as a reliable special teams player and depth linebacker across his NFL career. Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Gifford attended Lincoln Southeast High School before playing collegiately at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. After going undrafted in 2019, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys and has since developed into a consistent performer at the professional level. Gifford enters the 2025 season with the San Francisco 49ers following his Pro Bowl selection the previous year.
Early Life and Background
Luke Gifford grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he attended Lincoln Southeast High School. During his high school career, Gifford played as a two-way player, seeing action at both tight end and safety. As a sophomore in 2011, he helped lead the Knights to a state championship victory.
Gifford continued to develop as a football player and received second-team All-Nebraska honors during his junior year. His senior season saw him take on a new challenge as he was named the starting quarterback for Lincoln Southeast. This versatility demonstrated his athletic ability to adapt to different positions on the field.
Path to American Football
After high school, Gifford accepted a football scholarship from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He initially intended to play safety at the collegiate level, but the coaching staff converted him to linebacker during his college career. This position change would prove significant in shaping his professional future.
Gifford’s college career was interrupted by injuries, as he suffered season-ending hip injuries during both his redshirt freshman and junior seasons. Despite these setbacks, he continued to work toward his goals. His senior season in 2018 was his most productive, as he appeared in all 12 games and led the team with 13 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He finished that season with 62 total tackles, seven quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble.
Luke Gifford Career
Dallas Cowboys (2019–2022)
Gifford signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2019. He suffered a left high ankle sprain during the first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers after making an interception, a tackle, and a pass deflection. Despite the injury, the Cowboys kept him on their roster through the regular season. Gifford returned to action in Week 6 against the New York Jets, focusing primarily on special teams play.
In Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams, Gifford suffered a fractured left arm while covering a punt return and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. He was placed on injured reserve on December 17. Gifford appeared in six games and tied for fourth on the team with six special teams tackles during his rookie year.
In 2020, Gifford appeared in eight games, playing mostly on special teams. He was declared inactive for the season opener with a hamstring strain. On November 24, he was suspended two games by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Although reinstated on December 9, the team declared him inactive for two additional games. He finished second on the team with seven special teams tackles that season.
During the 2021 season, Gifford appeared in 16 games as a backup linebacker and tied for second on the team with five special teams tackles. He also had six defensive tackles and blocked his first career punt against the New England Patriots. He recorded a career-high three defensive tackles in the season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles.
On March 21, 2022, Gifford re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year contract. He appeared in 16 games and led the team with a career-high 12 special teams tackles. He also had five defensive tackles and one forced fumble. Gifford recorded a career-high five special teams tackles and one fumble recovery against the Green Bay Packers and tallied two special teams tackles and a forced fumble against the Minnesota Vikings.
Tennessee Titans (2023–2024)
On March 20, 2023, Gifford signed a two-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. He was limited by injuries and appeared in only 11 games, focusing mostly on special teams with just eight snaps on defense. On December 23, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a hamstring injury.
On September 3, 2024, the Titans waived Gifford and signed him to their practice squad the following day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 27. Gifford started the season on special teams but was elevated to starting linebacker after injuries to Jerome Baker and Kenneth Murray in Week 14, where he recorded 11 tackles. In the next game, Gifford caught his first career interception from Joe Burrow during the opening drive of the loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Gifford played in 16 games with four starts during the 2024 season, finishing with a career-high 48 total tackles and two pass deflections.
San Francisco 49ers (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, Gifford signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection that season, recognizing his contributions as a key special teams performer and reliable depth linebacker. His selection to the Pro Bowl marked the highlight of his career as he continued his professional journey with a new team.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gifford has established himself as a player who excels on special teams units, consistently ranking among team leaders in special teams tackles throughout his career. His ability to contribute on multiple coverage units has made him a valuable asset for each team he has played for. He brings physicality and awareness to his defensive play, demonstrating a nose for the ball when given opportunities on defense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Gifford has achieved several notable milestones. He blocked his first career punt during the 2021 season against the New England Patriots. His most memorable moment came in 2024 when he recorded his first career interception off Joe Burrow during the opening drive against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 2025 Pro Bowl selection stands as the pinnacle of his professional achievements thus far.
Luke Gifford Career Wins
Across six NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers, Gifford has built a solid professional record. His career statistics include 130 total tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, three pass deflections, and one interception.
NFL Highlights
Gifford’s career highlights include leading the Dallas Cowboys in special teams tackles during the 2022 season with 12. His most productive defensive season came in 2024 with the Titans, where he recorded a career-high 48 total tackles while appearing in 16 games with four starts. The 2025 Pro Bowl selection marked his first major professional honor.
Other Notable Performances
Gifford has consistently contributed on special teams throughout his career, regularly ranking among team leaders in that phase. His versatility has allowed him to play in multiple defensive packages when called upon, and his career-high single-game performance came when he recorded 11 tackles in Week 14 of the 2024 season against the Los Angeles Chargers.
| Season | Team | Games | Total Tackles | Special Teams Tackles | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Dallas Cowboys | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2020 | Dallas Cowboys | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2021 | Dallas Cowboys | 16 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 | Dallas Cowboys | 16 | 5 | 12 | 0 |
| 2023 | Tennessee Titans | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 48 | 0 | 1 |
Luke Gifford Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information regarding Luke Gifford’s family background and any sports lineage is not extensively documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Gifford graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he played for the Cornhuskers from 2014 to 2018. He continues to maintain connections to his home state of Nebraska. He is active on social media, where he shares updates about his football career with his followers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Gifford’s first with the San Francisco 49ers after signing with the team in March. He enters the season having earned his first Pro Bowl selection the previous year, a recognition of his consistent special teams play and defensive contributions. Gifford brings experience and reliability to a 49ers linebacker corps that values versatility and consistency from its depth players.
His special teams abilities remain his strongest asset as he works to secure a consistent role with his new team. The 49ers coaching staff will likely utilize Gifford in multiple special teams units while developing him further as a situational linebacker. His Pro Bowl selection from the previous season provides him with increased credibility and expectations heading into this campaign.