Ahkello Witherspoon

PRO CAREER

• Has played in 56 games (36 starts) over his five seasons (49ers 2017-20; Steelers 2021)
• Has recorded 131 tackles (112 solo), seven interceptions, three tackles for loss, one interception return for a touchdown, 33 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
• Made NFL debut in Week 5 of 2017 (at Indianapolis)
• Made NFL starting debut in Week 8 of 2017 (at Philadelphia)

PRO CAREER

• Has played in 56 games (36 starts) over his five seasons (49ers 2017-20; Steelers 2021)
• Has recorded 131 tackles (112 solo), seven interceptions, three tackles for loss, one interception return for a touchdown, 33 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
• Made NFL debut in Week 5 of 2017 (at Indianapolis)
• Made NFL starting debut in Week 8 of 2017 (at Philadelphia)

2021 (STEELERS)

• Played in nine regular-season games (three starts) in his first year with the Steelers
• Registered 15 tackles (14 solo), three interceptions, nine passes defensed and one tackle for loss
• His three interceptions and nine passes defensed were both career highs
• Made his Steelers debut in Week 2 vs. Las Vegas
• Recorded the first multi-interception game of his career in Week 14 at Minnesota, twice picking off Kirk Cousins
• Recorded three passes defensed against both Minnesota (Week 14) and Cleveland (Week 17)

2020 (49ERS)

• Played in 11 games (four starts)
• Recorded 19 tackles (16 solo), four passes defensed, one tackle for loss and one interception
• Registered a career-high seven tackles and picked off a pass in Week 16 at Arizona

2019 (49ERS)

• Played in 10 games (eight starts)
• Recorded 28 tackles (24 solo), one tackle for loss, one interception (returned it 25 yards for a TD), and nine passes defensed
• Registered a career-high three passes defensed, including a 25-yard interception return for TD, in Week 1 at Tampa Bay

2018 (49ERS)

• Played in 14 games (12 starts)
• Recorded 37 tackles (30 solo), one fumble recovery and four passes defensed

2017 (49ERS)

• Played in 12 games (nine starts)
• Recorded 32 tackles (28 solo), two interceptions, one forced fumble and seven passes defended

COLLEGE

• Played in 37 games (21 starts) for Colorado (2014-16)
• Played in all 14 games (12 starts) as a senior at right cornerback, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors from both the Associated Press and the league coaches
• Led the nation in pass breakups with 23 on the year, the most in Colorado single-season history
• In three seasons, totaled 76 tackles (65 solo), three interceptions and 30 passes defensed
• Spent one season at Sacramento City College (2013) before transferring to Colorado
• Registered a 40.5" vertical jump at the 2017 NFL Combine, the highest registered among all cornerbacks and third-highest among all defensive backs

PERSONAL

• Began playing football as a high school senior at Christian Brothers High in 2012
• Grew up playing basketball with NFL lineman Arik Armstead and trained with his father, Guss
• Has a passion for medicine and wants to attend medical school after his career in the NFL
• Got his musical talents playing the drums and singing from his grandfather, Jimmy Witherspoon, who was a renowned blues/jazz musician and singer whose hits, including "Ain't Nobody's Business" which reached number one on the U.S. R&B charts in 1949
• Father, Lucky, was a running back at the University of Nevada and was invited to a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys
• Multi-sport athlete growing up, excelled in soccer as a midfielder and as an outfielder and pitcher in baseball
• Picked up soccer at the age of five in order to be more like his older sister, Alexis
• Credits soccer for teaching him footwork and body awareness skills that have translated to the football field