Dell Pettus

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Dell Pettus was signed by the New England Patriots as a  rookie free agent on May 10, 2024.

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2025 (17/0, 4/0)

• Played in all 17 games, contributing on special teams and as a reserve safety. He logged 14 tackles (10 solo), 2 passes defensed, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 sack, along with 6 special teams tackles.
• Also competed in all four postseason games, logging 5 tackles (2 solo) and 1 pass defensed with 4 special teams tackles.
• Produced the first forced fumble of his career vs. Carolina (9/28) in the fourth quarter.
• Made a key stop on a fourth-and-4 situation in the fourth quarter vs. the New York Jets (11/13) when he forced an incompletion on a pass from QB Justin Fields intended for TE Jeremy Ruckert, which forced a turnover on downs prior to the 2-minute warning and helped secure the 27-14 victory.
• Recorded the second sack of his career at the N.Y. Jets (12/28) on QB Brady Cook in the second quarter for a 12-yard loss.

2024 (17/1)

• Played in 17 games with one start at safety and contributed as a key member of the special teams units. Finished with 28 total tackles (16 solo, 12 assists), 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, 2 passes defensed and 6 special teams tackles. Also converted a fake punt attempt for his first rushing attempt.
• Made the 53-man roster after joining the team as a rookie free agent.
• Made his first NFL start in a three-safety set vs. Miami (10/6), finishing with 8 tackles.
• Recorded his first-career sack at Chicago (11/10) when he took down QB Caleb Williams for a 7-yard loss on a third-down play in the fourth quarter. Contributed to the team's total of 9 sacks, tied for the second-most in franchise history. Added a pass defensed on a third-and-6 situation in the third quarter to force a punt. Played a key role in limiting the Bears offense to 142 total yards, the Patriots' fewest yards allowed since Nov. 20, 2022, when they held the New York Jets to 103 yards.
• Took a direct snap for a 2-yard gain for a first down on fourth-and-1 situation from the New England 23-yard line in the second quarter at Buffalo (12/22), converting the team's first successful fake punt since Nov. 16, 2017, when DB Nate Ebner ran 14 yards for a first down on a fake punt vs. Miami.

COLLEGE

• Spent five seasons at Troy (2019-23) and finished his career with 61 consecutive starts safety.
• Played in a total of 62 games during his college career and finished with 310 total tackles.
• In 2023, he finished with 74 total tackles in 14 games.

PERSONAL

Son of Tamara and Glenn Pettus.

Father played football at Alabama A&M and mother played basketball at Alabama A&M.

Graduated with a degree in computer science.