The Jacksonville Jaguars announced today that the club has signed fifth-year safety Tashaun Gipson as an unrestricted free agent.
Gipson, 5-11, 205, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Browns after signing with Cleveland as an undrafted rookie on May 9, 2012. Gipson has appeared in 50 career games with 42 starts and has totaled 240 tackles (159 solo), 22 passes defensed, 14 interceptions and one forced fumble. A 2014 Pro Bowl selection, Gipson has scored two defensive touchdowns (both on interception returns) in his career and his 14 interceptions since 2012 are the sixth-most in the NFL and the fourth-most by a player under the age of 26.
In 2015, Gipson started 13 games and totaled 60 tackles (42 solo) and two interceptions. In 2014 he started all 11 games in which he played and registered a career-high six interceptions, the second-most in the NFL, en route to Pro Bowl honors. In 2013, Gipson appeared in all 16 games with 15 starts and tallied a career-high 95 tackles (63 solo), 11 passes defensed and five interceptions. As a rookie in 2012 he appeared in 10 games with three starts and registered 33 tackles (26 solo) and one interception.
Gipson, 25, attended the University of Wyoming, and played with his brother, Marcell Gipson, in the secondary from 2008-10. Gipson started all 50 games in which he appeared at Wyoming and finished with nine career interceptions, the fourth-most in school history. As a senior in 2011, he made the transition from cornerback to safety and totaled 95 tackles (73 solo), three interceptions and one forced fumble. Gipson also added three interceptions in both his junior and sophomore seasons. As a freshman in 2008, he tied for the team-lead with 10 passes defensed.
The Dallas native was a three-sport athlete at Dallas Kimball High School, competing on the school’s football, basketball and track teams. As a senior, Gipson was named the Most Valuable Player of the 4A District 14 Dallas City League and a first-team All-District selection as a cornerback and as a returner. Defensively, Gipson totaled 35 tackles, nine passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. Offensively, he registered 1,400-plus all-purpose yards and scored 14 touchdowns as a quarterback and wide receiver.
His first name is pronounced tuh-SHAWN. Gipson has one younger brother, Teriyon Gipson, who plays running back at New Mexico. Gipson has one son, Tashaun Jr., and one daughter, Nala. Gipson’s father played collegiately at Arizona State and all three of his brother played college football.
Gipson can be found on Twitter at @Gipson_Duos24
