The 49ers are set to sign Gifford to a one-year contract when the new league year starts Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Gifford has mostly served on special teams over his six-year NFL career. He started in the Titans' last four regular-season games in 2024 due to injuries to the linebacker corps, and over that span he logged 35 tackles (21 solo) and two pass defenses (including one interception). Gifford will likely revert to his special teams status in San Francisco, though a strong performance in offseason programs and training camp could earn him a rotational role at linebacker.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Luke Gifford news
Other 49ers Players
Team
San Francisco 49ers
Birthdate
8/28/1995 (29)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'3", 243 lbs
Birthplace
Lincoln, NE, USA
Position
LB
College
Nebraska
Experience
6 seasons
Career History
Tennessee Titans
2023-2025
(2 seasons)
Dallas Cowboys
2019-2023
(4 seasons)
The 49ers are set to sign Gifford to a one-year contract when the new league year starts Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Gifford has mostly served on special teams over his six-year NFL career. He started in the Titans' last four regular-season games in 2024 due to injuries to the linebacker corps, and over that span he logged 35 tackles (21 solo) and two pass defenses (including one interception). Gifford will likely revert to his special teams status in San Francisco, though a strong performance in offseason programs and training camp could earn him a rotational role at linebacker.
Gifford logged 49 tackles (31 solo) and two pass defenses (including one interception) across 16 regular-season games in 2024. Gifford was primarily used on special teams over the Titans' first 12 games of the regular season. He started at inside linebacker over his final four outings due to injuries to Jerome Baker (neck) and Kenneth Murray (hamstring), and Gifford recorded at least eight combined tackles in each of those outings. Gifford enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and will look to sign with a team who can offer him a consistent role on defense.
Gifford finished Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Jaguars with eight tackles (five solo) and one pass defense. Gifford was sidelined for the Titans' Week 16 loss to the Colts due to a concussion, but he was able to clear the league's five-step protocols ahead of Sunday's contest. He played every single defensive snap and finished as the Titans' co-leader in tackles with Mike Brown. Gifford has started at inside linebacker in each of his last three games and has accumulated 27 tackles (18 solo) and two pass defenses (including an interception) over that span. The 29-year-old will look to finish the season off strong against the Texans next Sunday.
Gifford (concussion) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's matchup versus Jacksonville, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports. Gifford suffered a concussion Week 15 against Cincinnati and didn't play last Sunday versus Indianapolis. However, he was listed as a full participant in practice throughout the week and appears to have cleared the NFL's concussion protocol given his lack of an injury designation heading into the weekend. Gifford played exclusively on special teams over Tennessee's first 11 games of the campaign, but he had taken on an increased role -- including logging all 58 of the team's defensive snaps Week 14 against Jacksonville -- after Jack Gibbens (ankle) landed on IR in late November and Jerome Baker suffered a neck injury in early December.
Gifford (concussion) was listed as a full participant in Tennessee's practice estimate Wednesday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports. Gifford is getting closer to making his return to the field after sitting out the team's Week 16 loss versus Indianapolis due to a concussion. However, he will still have to officially clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol in order to be cleared to play in Sunday's matchup versus the Jaguars.
Gifford (concussion) will miss Sunday's game against the Colts, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports. Gifford will miss his first full game of the season after leaving this past weekend's loss to the Bengals with a concussion. The veteran linebacker will now have to navigate though the NFL's five-step concussion protocol before he can be cleared to return for Week 17 against the Jaguars.
Gifford (concussion) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's matchup versus the Titans, Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com reports. Gifford won't return Sunday after suffering a concussion during the first half of the game. He had recorded an interception and racked up eight tackles (five solo) prior to exiting the game and in his absence, James Williams and Cedric Gray should be in line for increased playing time.
Gifford is being evaluated for a possible concussion during Sunday's game against the Bengals, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports. The linebacker led the Titans with eight tackles (five solo) before exiting, and he also picked off a pass. Gifford started for the second game in a row Sunday in place of Jerome Baker (neck). James Williams or Cedric Gray might be the next man up at inside linebacker.
Gifford totaled 11 tackles (eight solo) during Tennessee's loss versus Jacksonville on Sunday. Gifford got the start at linebacker Sunday as Kenneth Murray (hamstring) and Jerome Baker (neck) were both out and managed to record a season-high 11 tackles, which were also the most on the team. He could get the chance to start again during the Titans' Week 15 matchup versus the Bengals if both Jerome and Baker are out again.