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Deon Yelder

Deon Yelder
refer to caption
Yelder with the Washington Football Team in 2021
Personal information
Born: (1995-03-06) March 6, 1995 (age 29)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:Southern (Louisville)
College:Western Kentucky
Position:Tight end
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:11
Receiving yards:86
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Deon Yelder (born March 6, 1995) is an American professional football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Western Kentucky and signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Yelder won a Super Bowl title as part of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

Early life

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Yelder was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and attended Southern High School. He originally only played basketball at Southern and did not play football until his junior year.[1]

College career

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Yelder began his career at Western Kentucky as a walk-on and redshirted his freshman season. He saw his first collegiate action during his redshirt sophomore season, playing special teams, and did not catch his first career pass until his redshirt junior season. He earned a scholarship going into his redshirt senior season and finished the season with 52 receptions for 688 yards and eight total touchdowns and was named third-team All-Conference USA.[2][3] Yelder's performance earned him an invitation to the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and a late invitation to the 2017 Senior Bowl, where he scored a touchdown on a one-yard reception from quarterback Kyle Lauletta.[1][4]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+1⁄4 in
(1.91 m) 		255 lb
(116 kg) 		33 in
(0.84 m) 		10+1⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		 4.78 s 1.62 s 2.72 s 4.64 s 7.32 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)		 10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		 18 reps
All values from Pro Day[5]

New Orleans Saints

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Yelder was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2018, and received a signing bonus of $90,000.[6][1] He was cut at the end of training camp and subsequently re-signed to the team's practice squad on September 2, 2018.[7] Yelder was released by the Saints on October 3, 2018.[8]

Kansas City Chiefs

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Yelder was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad on October 4, 2018.[9] He was promoted by the Chiefs to the active roster on October 23, 2018.[10] Yelder made NFL debut on October 28, 2018, in a 30–23 win against the Denver Broncos, appearing on special teams.[11] He appeared in three games on special teams during his rookie season.[12]

Yelder caught his first career pass, a 24-yard reception from Patrick Mahomes, in a 34–30 win over the Detroit Lions in 2019.[13] He played in all three of the Chiefs playoff games, catching a pass for 11 yards in the team's Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans and playing in the Chiefs' victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.[14]

Yelder signed a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender with the Chiefs on April 20, 2020.[15] He was placed on injured reserve on January 16, 2021.[16] On February 6, 2021, Yelder was activated off of injured reserve ahead of Super Bowl LV against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[17]

Washington Football Team

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Yelder signed with the Washington Football Team on May 5, 2021, but was waived prior to the season on July 27, 2021.[18][19]

Tennessee Titans

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Yelder signed with the Tennessee Titans on August 15, 2021,[20] but was waived the next day.[21]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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On September 1, 2021, Yelder signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad.[22] He was released on November 10.[23]

New York Giants

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On November 25, 2021, Yelder signed with the New York Giants practice squad.[24] His contract expired when the teams season ended on January 9, 2022.

Arizona Cardinals

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On January 19, 2022, Yelder signed a reserve/future contract with the Arizona Cardinals.[25] He was released on August 19.

San Antonio Brahmas

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The San Antonio Brahmas selected Yelder in the 13th round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft on January 1, 2023.[26] He was removed from the roster on September 1, 2023.[27]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Erickson, Joel (May 19, 2018). "Saints might have landed 'an absolute steal' in undrafted tight end Deon Yelder". The Advocate. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  2. ^ Goldman, Charles (October 23, 2018). "Former Western Kentucky walk-on Deon Yelder elevated to Chiefs' active roster". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  3. ^ "White headlines 6 Toppers picked on Phil Steele's All-Conference USA squad". The Daily News. December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  4. ^ Jessie, Alec (January 29, 2018). "Former Hilltoppers participate in Senior Bowl". College Heights Herald. Retrieved December 10, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Deon Yelder College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Sigler, John (May 2, 2018). "New Orleans Saints 2018 Undrafted Free Agency Tracker". Canal Street Chronicles. SB Nation. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  7. ^ Johnson, Luke (September 2, 2018). "New Orleans Saints fill out their practice squad; Williams a late addition". The Times-Picayune. NOLA.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  8. ^ Peloquin, Steve (October 3, 2018). "SAINTS MAKE MULTIPLE MOVES ON PRACTICE SQUAD". www.espn1420.com. KPEL. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  9. ^ Connor, Matt (October 5, 2018). "Kansas City Chiefs add new tight end Deon Yelder to practice squad". www.ArrowheadAddict.com. FanSided. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  10. ^ Pryor, Brooke (October 23, 2018). "Injury bug bites Chiefs again, with two more players moved to injured reserve". The Kansas City Star. KansasCity.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ Goldman, Charles (October 30, 2018). "Chiefs snap counts, Week 8: Halfway point". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  12. ^ Conner, Matt (May 6, 2019). "Deon Yelder seems more important for the Chiefs than expected". ArrowheadAddict.com. FanSided. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  13. ^ Goldman, Charles (September 29, 2019). "Instant analysis of Chiefs' Week 4 win over Lions". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  14. ^ Weiter, Taylor (February 3, 2020). "Louisville native Deon Yelder wins Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs". WHAS11.com. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  15. ^ "Chiefs' Deon Yelder: Staying with Chiefs". CBSSports.com. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  16. ^ Goldman, Charles (January 16, 2021). "Chiefs announce flurry of roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  17. ^ Rosvoglou, Chris (February 6, 2021). "Chiefs Add 2 Players To Active Roster Before Super Bowl". The Spun. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  18. ^ Stackpole, Kyle (May 5, 2021). "Washington Signs TE Deon Yelder, CB Linden Stephens". WashingtonFootball.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  19. ^ Washington Football Team Public Relations (July 27, 2021). "Washington Makes Multiple Roster Moves". WashingtonFootball.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  20. ^ Wyatt, Jim (August 15, 2021). "Titans Agree to Terms with TE Deon Yelder, Waive TE Gabe Holmes". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  21. ^ Wyatt, Jim (August 16, 2021). "Titans Add Veteran Safeties Clayton Geathers and Bradley McDougald, Part Ways With Four Others, in a Flurry of Roster Moves". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  22. ^ Smith, Scott (September 1, 2021). "Bucs Sign Ryan Griffin, Nine Others to Practice Squad". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  23. ^ Smith, Scott (November 10, 2021). "Bucs Add Breshad Perriman, Darren Fells to Practice Squad". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  24. ^ Traina, Patricia (November 25, 2021). "Giants Add TE Deon Yelder to Practice Squad". FanNation.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  25. ^ Urban, Darren (January 19, 2022). "Cardinals Sign 15 Players To 'Futures' Contracts". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  26. ^ "Supplemental Draft Picks 2023". XFL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  27. ^ "San Antonio Brahmas Roster". www.xfl.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
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