Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott made some modern NFL history during the 2024 season. According to Next Gen Stats, Elliott made 108 of his 111 tackle opportunities, which puts him at a ridiculous 97.3% tackle efficiency.
Since Next Gen Stats started tracking such a thing, no one has posted such efficiency at that volume. Next Gen Stats started tracking those tackle chances in 2018, and of defenders with more than 100 tackle opportunities, Elliott posted the highest tackling efficiency in the history of the metric.
On top of that, Elliott led all strong safeties in run defense grade this season according to Pro Football Focus. He scored a 91.3 grade throughout the season. Elliott, who had played further off the line in Vic Fangio’s Cover 2 heavy defense in 2023, was able to showcase his run-stuffing ability in the box role the Steelers use.
The Steelers signed Elliott to a two-year, $6 million deal. That $3 million per season contract looks like a bonafide steal for the Steelers at this point, and Elliott will be due quite a payday in his next contract opportunity if he can stay healthy and keep up his high level of play.
Elliott was not the only secondary player with great tackling metrics. Minkah Fitzpatrick had a 93.2% tackling efieicnecy. Unlike Elliott, Fitzpatrick has played in the post as the free safety aside from 2023, where he was a slot cornerback and box safety.
Fitzpatrick shined in that role, too, though the splash plays have not come to Fitzpatrick. Elliott, on the other hand, was consistently in the backfield and making plays near the line of scrimmage, largely because the role dictated that.
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