Luke Gifford

BIOGRAPHY

Luke Gifford was born on August 28, 1995, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL.

He attended Lincoln Southeast High School; he played for Coach Ryan Gottula. As a senior, Gifford passed for 970 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for 742 yards and eight touchdowns to help the Knights to the Class A state playoffs. Gifford also starred in the secondary, making 50 tackles with two interceptions and five pass breakups. Gifford was a first-team All-Nebraska defensive back selection by the Omaha World-Herald and also earned Super State accolades from the Lincoln Journal Star.

He played college football for the Cornhuskers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; in 2014 Gifford redshirted and worked as a defensive back on the scout team. In 2015 he played in each of the first six games and had seven tackles, including a tackle for a loss. Gifford had four tackles, including a TFL against South Alabama and added two tackles against Wisconsin.

In 2016 he saw action in four games as a reserve linebacker and made an assisted tackle at Ohio State. In 2017 he started each of the first seven games at outside linebacker; he had the most productive season of his career in Nebraska’s totaled 39 tackles with five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, while recording his first career sack, pass breakup and interception.

In 2018 he played his senior season as a graduate student and started all 12 games; totaled a career-high 62 tackles in 2018 after recording 47 tackles in his first three seasons combined. He led Nebraska with 13 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, both of which were career highs.

Luke Gifford signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

On March 20, 2023, Gifford signed a two-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.