 Ferrell with theWashington Commanders in 2024 | |||||||||||||
| No. 96 – San Francisco 49ers | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive End | ||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | (1997-05-17)May 17, 1997 (age 28) Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Benedictine (Richmond) | ||||||||||||
| College | Clemson (2015–2018) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2019: 1st round, 4th overall pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 11, 2025 | |||||||||||||
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Clelin Ferrell (born May 17, 1997) is an American professionalfootballdefensive end for theSan Francisco 49ers of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theClemson Tigers, winning the 2018Ted Hendricks Award, and was selected fourth overall by theLas Vegas Raiders in the2019 NFL draft. Ferrell has also played for theSan Francisco 49ers andWashington Commanders.
Ferrell was born on May 17, 1997, inRichmond, Virginia. Clelin attendedBenedictine College Preparatory, a private military academy in Richmond.[1] Clelin committed to playcollege football at Clemson nearly three months before he tore his ACL, which caused him to miss his senior football season.[1][2]
At Clemson, Ferrell suffered a hand injury that forced him toredshirt the 2015 season.[3] Returning the following season, he was named co-defensive rookie of the year award withDexter Lawrence after recording 50 tackles, 12.5 for loss, and six sacks. Ferrell was named first-team All-American in 2017 and won theTed Hendricks Award and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 after recording 53 tackles, 11.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and three forced fumbles.[4][5][6] He led the ACC in sacks and tackles for loss in the 2018 season.[7] He declared for the2019 NFL draft following the season.[8]
| Year | GP | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Total | Loss | Sack | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF | ||
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 14 | 21 | 23 | 44 | 12.5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 14 | 33 | 33 | 66 | 18 | 9.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2018 | 15 | 29 | 26 | 55 | 20 | 11.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Career | 44 | 84 | 82 | 166 | 50.5 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+3⁄8 in (1.94 m) | 264 lb (120 kg) | 34+1⁄8 in (0.87 m) | 10+1⁄2 in (0.27 m) | 4.40 s | 7.26 s | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) | 25 reps | 21[9] | ||||
| All values are fromNFL Scouting Combine[10][11] | ||||||||||||
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Ferrell was selected by theOakland Raiders fourth overall in the2019 NFL draft.[12] This selection was met with widespread criticism as Ferrell was widely regarded as a late first round or early second round pick, while several other defensive linemen more highly-rated than Ferrell likeJosh Allen andEd Oliver were available.[13] On June 18, 2019, Ferrell signed his four-year rookie contract, worth a fully guaranteed $31.2 million, including a $20.8 million signing bonus.[14] Ferrell made his NFL debut in Week 1 against theDenver Broncos onMonday Night Football. In the game, Ferrell made three tackles and recorded his first sack onJoe Flacco in the 24–16 win.[15] In Week 10 against theLos Angeles Chargers onThursday Night Football, Ferrell recorded 8 tackles and sackedPhilip Rivers 2.5 times in the 26–24 win.[16]
Ferrell was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Raiders on November 17, 2020,[17] and activated on November 26.[18] In Week 13 against theNew York Jets, he recorded two strip sacks onSam Darnold that were recovered by the Raiders during the 31–28 win.[19] On December 30, 2020, Ferrell was placed oninjured reserve.[20] He finished the season with 27 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles through 11 games.[21]
On April 29, 2022, the Raiders announced that they would not pick up the fifth-year option on Ferrell's contract, making him a free agent in the 2023 offseason.[22] Ferrell recorded half sacks in a Week 7, 38–20 win against theHouston Texans[23] and a Week 13, 27–20 win against the Chargers.[24] He recorded his final sack as a Raider during a Week 18, 31–13 loss to theKansas City Chiefs.[25]
On March 16, 2023, Ferrell signed a one-year contract with theSan Francisco 49ers.[26]
Ferrell recorded his first forced fumble as a 49er in a Week 8, 31–17 loss to theCincinnati Bengals, during which he also recorded his first half sack for the team.[27] The following week he recorded his first full sack in a 34–3 victory against theJacksonville Jaguars.[28] He recorded another sack in a Week 14, 28–16 victory over theSeattle Seahawks.[29] In the 2023 season, he started in all 17 regular season games. He finished with 3.5 sacks, 28 total tackles (15 solo), one pass defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.[30]
On March 18, 2024, Ferrell signed with theWashington Commanders.[31] In 14 appearances (10 starts) for the Commanders, Ferrell logged 1 forced fumble, 3.5 sacks, and 26 combined tackles. Ferrell re-signed with the Commanders on a one-year contract on March 15, 2025, and was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts.[32][33]
On September 18, 2025, Ferrell signed with theLos Angeles Chargers practice squad.[34] He was elevated to the active roster on October 4th, appeared in their October 5th game vs theWashington Commanders. He was put back onto the practice squad on October 6th.[35] He was released on October 14.[36]
On October 29, 2025, Ferrell signed with the 49ers' practice squad.[37] On November 15, Ferrell was promoted to the active roster.[38]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | TfL | Sck | Sfty | Int | Yds | Lng | TD | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2019 | OAK | 15 | 15 | 38 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | LV | 11 | 11 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | LV | 16 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | LV | 16 | 4 | 26 | 8 | 18 | 3 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | SF | 17 | 17 | 28 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | WAS | 14 | 10 | 26 | 11 | 15 | 3 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 88 | 57 | 158 | 84 | 74 | 24 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | TfL | Sck | Sfty | Int | Yds | Lng | TD | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2021 | LV | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Both of Ferrell's parents served in theU.S. military.[1] He has four brothers and four sisters, all at least 10 years older than him.[1] Ferrell's father Cleavester died from cancer in March 2012.[1]
