Grant Delpit Bio
Grant Jacobs Delpit (born September 20, 1998) is an American professional football safety for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, earning consensus All-American honors twice and winning the Jim Thorpe Award as a junior in 2019. He was selected by the Browns in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Early Life and Background
Grant Delpit was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family was displaced after Hurricane Katrina and eventually settled in Houston, Texas. Delpit attended St. Thomas High School for two years before transferring to Lamar High School as a junior. For his senior season, he transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he was teammates with Dylan Moses. As a senior at IMG Academy, he recorded 47 tackles and five interceptions.
Delpit was a highly decorated high school prospect. He committed to Louisiana State University (LSU) to play college football, choosing the Tigers over several other major programs. His performance at IMG Academy positioned him as one of the top safety recruits in the country.
Path to Professional Football
Delpit arrived at LSU as a true freshman in 2017. He played in all 13 games with 10 starts, recording 60 tackles and one interception. His immediate impact demonstrated the talent that would make him a future first-round prospect.
He returned to LSU as a starter in 2018, where he truly emerged as a dominant defensive player. His sophomore season laid the foundation for the exceptional career that would follow, showcasing his ability to cover multiple positions and make plays on the ball.
Grant Delpit Career
College Career at LSU (2017–2019)
Grant Delpit became one of the most decorated safeties in LSU football history. As a sophomore in 2018, he won the Jack Tatum Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top defensive back. He earned unanimous All-American honors and was named first-team All-SEC that season.
Following a stellar junior season in 2019 where he won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and helped lead LSU to a College Football Playoff national championship, Delpit declared for the 2020 NFL draft, forgoing his senior season. He finished his collegiate career as a two-time consensus All-American and two-time first-team All-SEC selection.
2020 NFL Draft and Browns Selection
NFL.com lead analyst Lance Zierlein had Delpit ranked as the second best safety prospect available in the draft. Former NFL executive Gil Brandt had him ranked as the top safety in the draft. NFL draft analysts from Sports Illustrated and USA Today also had Delpit ranked as the best safety prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. Pro Football Focus had him ranked as the top safety in the draft.
The Cleveland Browns selected Delpit in the second round with the 44th overall pick. He was the third safety drafted in 2020. Browns General Manager Andrew Berry said the team viewed Delpit as a big versatile playmaker with excellent coverage abilities who could play the post, cover tight ends, and hold his own against receivers.
Cleveland Browns Era (2020–Present)
On July 15, 2020, Delpit signed a four-year, $7.46 million contract with $3.93 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.98 million. Throughout training camp, he competed against Andrew Sendejo and Karl Joseph for a starting role.
Tragedy struck during his rookie training camp. On August 24, 2020, Delpit sustained an injury during practice and was carted off the field. It was confirmed he had torn his Achilles tendon and would undergo surgery, missing his entire rookie season. He was officially placed on injured reserve on August 25, 2020.
Delpit returned for the 2021 season, competing against Ronnie Harrison during training camp. After missing Week 1 due to a hamstring reaggravation, he made his long-awaited professional debut on September 19, 2021, against the Houston Texans. He recorded six combined tackles, forced a fumble, and earned his first career sack for a 7-yard loss. In Week 3, he made his first career start as the third safety. On November 28, 2021, he recorded his first career interception on a pass by Lamar Jackson. Delpit took over as starting strong safety for the rest of the season after Ronnie Harrison was injured. He finished 2021 with 66 combined tackles, three pass deflections, one sack, a forced fumble, and an interception in 15 games with seven starts.
In 2022, Delpit was named the starting strong safety alongside John Johnson. He started in all 17 regular season games, recording 105 combined tackles, ten pass deflections, and four interceptions. On January 1, 2023, he recorded a career-high two interceptions in a win over the Washington Commanders.
On December 10, 2023, Delpit signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension with $23.60 million guaranteed. He was placed on injured reserve on December 13 due to a groin injury sustained while blitzing Trevor Lawrence. He finished the 2023 season with 80 combined tackles, four pass deflections, one interception, and a fumble recovery in 13 games with 13 starts. He was announced as an alternate for the 2024 Pro Bowl on January 3, 2024.
Entering his fifth season in 2024, Delpit returned as the starting strong safety and changed his jersey number from No. 22 to No. 9, wearing the number he had at the beginning of his LSU career. He produced 111 combined tackles, one pass deflection, and one sack while starting in 16 games.
Playing Style and Strengths
Grant Delpit is known for his versatility in coverage. He can play the post, line up at the line of scrimmage, cover tight ends, and shadow receivers in the slot. His coverage abilities and ball skills have been constants throughout his career. Delpit is also recognized for his toughness, having played through a high-ankle sprain during his junior season at LSU that would have sidelined many players.
Notable Events and Milestones
Delpit’s career has been marked by significant highs and challenging lows. Winning the Jim Thorpe Award and a national championship at LSU stands as a defining accomplishment. His dramatic return from a torn Achilles to make his NFL debut and record his first career interception represented a major personal milestone. The December 2023 contract extension worth $36 million recognized his emergence as a core piece of the Browns defense.
Grant Delpit Career Statistics
Throughout his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns, Delpit has established himself as a productive safety. His career statistics as of the 2025 season reflect his consistency and playmaking ability.
Career NFL Statistics Highlights
In five seasons with the Browns, Delpit has accumulated 451 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 21 pass deflections, 7 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries. His best statistical season came in 2022 when he started all 17 games and recorded 105 tackles with four interceptions.
Career Milestones
Delpit reached several career milestones during the 2025 season. In Week 7 of 2025, he recorded two special teams tackles and a forced fumble in a 31-6 win over the Miami Dolphins, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
| Category | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Total Tackles | 451 |
| Sacks | 6.5 |
| Pass Deflections | 21 |
| Interceptions | 7 |
| Forced Fumbles | 3 |
| Fumble Recoveries | 4 |
Grant Delpit Family
Family Background and Early Influences
Grant Delpit was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family’s experience being displaced by Hurricane Katrina shaped his early life and created the foundation for his resilience that would later define his football career.
Personal Life
Delpit wears jersey number 9 for the Cleveland Browns, a number he originally wore at the beginning of his collegiate career at LSU. He chose the number after it became available following the departure of wide receiver Jakeem Grant.
2025 Season Performance
Grant Delpit entered the 2025 season as the Cleveland Browns starting strong safety under head coach Kevin Stefanski. He continued to be paired with free safety Juan Thornhill in the defensive backfield. Delpit’s experience and leadership made him a key component of the Browns secondary.
The 2025 season saw Delpit continue his consistent production and impact on special teams. His standout performance came in Week 7 when he recorded two special teams tackles and forced a fumble in a 31-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition. This accolade highlighted his value beyond the defensive line, showcasing his ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game.
Delpit has emerged as one of the Browns’ most reliable defensive players since his return from injury. His versatility allows the coaching staff to deploy him in various roles, from deep coverage to blitz packages. The $36 million contract extension he signed in December 2023 reflected the organization’s confidence in his ability to anchor the secondary for years to come. As he continues to develop within the Browns’ system, Delpit remains focused on helping the team achieve playoff success.