Jabrill Peppers

PRONOUNCED JUH-BRILL

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Jabrill Peppers was re-signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 17, 2023 ... Originally drafted by Cleveland in the first round (25th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft ... Acquired by the New York Giants along with OL Kevin Zeitler and a 2019 first and third-round draft pick in a trade with Cleveland in exchange for WR Odell Beckham Jr. and DL Olivier Vernon (3/13/19) ... Signed by New England as an unrestricted free agent from the New York Giants on April 4, 2022.

Seasonal reviews

2024 (6/6)

• Started in all six games he played, finishing with 39 total tackles (20 solo, 19 assists), 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 2 passes defensed and 1 special teams tackle.
• Started at safety in the first four games of the season.
• Inactive vs. Miami (10/6) due to injury.
• Placed on the Commissioner's exempt list on Oct. 9 and was removed from the Commissioner's exempt list on Nov. 25.
• Returned to action vs. Indianapolis (12/1) and started at safety.
• Inactive at Buffalo (12/22) and vs. the L.A. Chargers (12/28) due to injury and was placed on Injured Reserve on Jan. 4, 2025.
• Recorded the defense's first interception of the season when he picked off QB Brock Purdy in the end zone on a pass intended for WR Brandon Aiyuk in the fourth quarter at San Francisco (9/29).
• Started vs. Indianapolis (12/1) at safety, finishing with a team-high 10 tackles, his fifth career 10-tackle game and his first with the Patriots.

2023 (15/15)

• Played and started in 15 games and finished with 75 tackles (50 solo, 25 assists), 1 sack for a loss of 7 yards, 2 interceptions, 2 quarterback hits, 5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 8 passes defensed and 3 special teams tackles. He also returned 4 punts for 26 yards.
• He was inactive for two games due to injury, at Denver (12/24) and at Buffalo (12/31).
• Racked up 6 tackles (3 solo, 3 assists), 1 pass defensed and a crucial forced fumble that was recovered by CB Marcus Jones late in the fourth quarter to give the offense a chance to take the lead vs. Philadelphia (9/10).
• Led the Patriots defense in tackles with 7 (6 solo, 1 assist) at N.Y. Jets (10/24). Added 1 pass defense and returned a first quarter punt 18 yards. It was his first punt return as a member of the Patriots.
• Led the team with 7 tackles at Las Vegas (10/15) and collected two passes defensed. Made a massive hit and pass defense which led to an interception by LB Jahlani Tavai in the first quarter.
• Intercepted Buffalo QB Josh Allen on the Bills first play from scrimmage vs. Buffalo (10/22) to set up the Patriots in Bills territory, which would lead to a touchdown and a 10-0 lead in a 29-25 win.
• Recorded a sack for a loss of 7 yards in the first quarter at N.Y. Giants (11/26), his first sack as a member of the Patriots and his first since a 4-yard sack vs. Carolina on Oct. 24, 2021 at MetLife Stadium when he played for the New York Giants.
• Intercepted QB Mitch Trubisky at Pittsburgh (12/7) in the second quarter and returned the pick 32 yards to the Pittsburgh 27-yard line. The turnover helped set up QB Bailey Zappe's 8-yard touchdown pass to TE Hunter Henry in a 21-18 win.

2022 (17/5)

• Played in all 17 games with five starts and recorded 52 tackles (29 solo, 23 assists), 1 fumble recovery that he returned 12 yards and 8 special teams tackles.
• Was a regular in rotation at safety and a key player on special teams.
• Started five games with four in the nickel defense and one at safety.
• Started at safety vs. Baltimore (9/25) in place of an injured Kyle Dugger.
• Saw significant action at safety in the second half at Pittsburgh (9/18) after Kyle Dugger left with the game with a knee injury. Made a tackle and then was in position to defend a pass on consecutive plays to bring up fourth down and hold Pittsburgh to a field goal.
• Made his first start as a member of the Patriots in the home opener vs. Baltimore (9/25). Recorded 6 total tackles (5 solo, 1 assist). Recovered a fumble forced by Jonathan Jones in the fourth quarter and returned it 12 yards.
• Started the game in the nickel defense and led the team in total tackles with 7 (5 solo, 2 asst.) at N.Y. Jets (10/30). Had a key block on DB Marcus Jones 32-yard punt return that set up a Patriots field goal. Also fielded an onside kick in the fourth quarter to secure possession and the win for the Patriots.
• Started in the game vs. N.Y. Jets (11/20). Was part of the defensive unit that held the Jets to just 103 total yards, the third-fewest yards allowed in Patriots history, only 2 total yards in the second half, the fewest ever allowed in a half in Patriots history, only six first touchdowns and no touchdowns.

2021 (6/5 – N.Y. Giants)

• Was limited to just six games with five starts due to a knee injury that forced him to spend the rest of the season on injured reserve.
• Started four games as a defensive back in the nickel defense and one game at strong safety.
• Finished the season with 29 total tackles, 1 sack for 4 yards and 1 pass defensed. Also returned 9 punts for 58 yards.

2020 (15/14 – N.Y. Giants)

• Played in 15 games with 14 starts at strong safety and finished the season with a career-high 89 total tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, 1 interception, 11 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 2 special teams tackles. Also returned 15 punts for 187 yards for a career-high 12.5-yard average.
• Missed the game at the L.A. Rams (10/4) due to injury.
• Elected one of the Giants team captains.
• Intercepted a QB Alex Smith pass at Washington (11/8) late in the game.

2019 (11/11 – N.Y. Giants)

• Started in all 11 games that he played at strong safety and finished second on the team with 76 total tackles, one interception that he returned 32 yards for a touchdown, 5 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, 4 punt returns for 49 yards and 1 kickoff return for 23 yards.
• Suffered a knee injury during a kickoff return at Chicago (11/24) and was placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
• Scored the Giants' first defensive touchdown of the season when he intercepted a QB Dwayne Haskins pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown vs. Washington (9/29).

2018 (16/16 – Cleveland)

• Started all 16 games at safety and finished with 77 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 5 passes defensed, 3 fumble recoveries, 25 punts returned for 219 yards, 19 kicks returned for 408 yards and 2 special teams tackles.
• Intercepted a QB Case Keenum pass in the end zone and sacked Kennum for an 11-yard loss on a fourth-down play to clinch a victory at Denver (12/15).

2017 (13/13 – Cleveland)

• Started all 13 games that he played at safety and finished with 57 total tackles, 1 interception, 3 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, 30 punt returns for 180 yards, 14 kickoffs for 318 yards and 1 special teams tackle.
• Was inactive for the games vs. Tennessee (10/22) and vs. Minnesota (10/29) due to an injury and then missed the game vs. Green Bay (12/10) due to injury.
• Picked up his first career interception when he picked off QB Landry Jones at Pittsburgh (12/31).

College

• Played in 27 games with 24 starts at Michigan, where he played defense, offense and special teams.
• Totaled 123 tackles and 1 interception on defense.
• Rushed 45 times for 268 yards and caught 10 passes for 82 yards.
• Was a 2016 consensus first-team All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist.
• He was the first player in Big Ten history to win three individual awards in a single season: Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year.
• Played 15 different offense, defense and special teams positions.
• Named the 2016 Bo Schembechker Award winner, given to Michigan's team MVP.

Personal

• Was enrolled in Michigan's college of literature, science and arts.
• Native of East Orange, N.J.
• Credits his mother, Ivory Bryant, as the person who influenced him the most, as well as his late older brother, Don Curtis, who was fatally shot at age 20 in 2010.
• Attended Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, N.J.
• Previously attended Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J. where he helped the team earn state championships in 2010 and 2011 as a starting defensive back.
• Writes poetry and his own music.