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Justin Gilbert

Justin Rodrell Gilbert (born November 7, 1991) is an American football cornerback for the Sioux City Bandits of the National Arena League (NAL) as of the 2025 season. He played college football at Oklahoma State University, where he earned consensus All-American honors in 2013 as a senior, recording seven interceptions, a total that ranked third nationally. Gilbert was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, signing a four-year rookie contract worth $12,833,502, including a $7,653,456 signing bonus. During his NFL career, appeared in 35 games across three seasons, split between the Browns (2014–2015) and (2016), accumulating 42 total tackles (36 solo), one , and two pass deflections. He was traded to the Steelers on September 3, 2016, in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick, but was released by the team in February 2017. After his NFL tenure, Gilbert signed with the Sioux City Bandits ahead of the 2023 NAL season, where he has since re-signed multiple times, appearing in 10 games during his rookie indoor football year and contributing on defense.

Early life

Upbringing and family

Justin Gilbert was born on November 7, 1991, in . He grew up in the nearby small town of , approximately 30 miles north, where the community atmosphere fostered a strong emphasis on local sports and youth activities. He is the son of Iwanna Rolling and Sherman Gilbert. His upbringing in rural exposed him to multiple sports from an early age, including , , and , which became central to his development as an . During grade school, Gilbert primarily played in local games, honing his skills in a competitive yet supportive environment typical of small-town culture.

High school career

Justin Gilbert attended Huntsville High School in , where he competed in , , and under coaches Mitchell Coey and Shane Martin. In , Gilbert excelled as a , serving as on offense and contributing on defense and special teams as a and . He earned two-time district MVP honors, showcasing standout performances with multiple interceptions and explosive returns that highlighted his speed and athleticism. As a senior, he rushed for 1,061 yards and nine touchdowns on 122 carries while completing 50 of 108 passes for 753 yards and four touchdowns, demonstrating his versatility. Gilbert's multi-sport prowess extended to track and field, where he lettered and recorded personal bests of 10.68 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.59 seconds in the 200-meter dash; he won the Texas Class 4A state championship in the 200-meter and the Division II 100-meter title at the Texas Relays. He also lettered in basketball, further emphasizing his athletic range. Ranked as a four-star recruit by (No. 26 athlete nationally, member of the Texas Top 100 and Rivals100) and No. 51 in Texas by SuperPrep, Gilbert drew interest from several Texas colleges before committing to in February 2010, a move considered a significant recruiting coup for the Cowboys.

College career

2010–2012 seasons

As a true freshman in , Justin Gilbert appeared in all 12 games for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, primarily contributing on special teams while adjusting to the college level. He recorded 18 total tackles and one pass defended on defense, reflecting his limited role in the secondary as he learned the system under coach . On returns, Gilbert excelled, handling 26 kickoffs for 698 yards with a 26.8-yard average, including two touchdowns—one an 89-yard return in the Bedlam rivalry game against . His performance earned him Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors after the Oklahoma game, making him the only true freshman recipient that season. In , Gilbert transitioned to a starting role at , playing in all 13 games and solidifying his place in the Cowboys' defense. He tallied 59 tackles (48 solo), five interceptions for 57 yards, and 10 passes defended, emerging as a key in the secondary. Gilbert also continued his special teams impact with 26 kick returns for 703 yards and two touchdowns, contributing to the team's high-powered offense and defense. The Cowboys finished the year 12-1 overall and 8-1 in Big 12 play, capturing their first conference championship with a 44-10 win over before defeating Stanford 41-38 in overtime in the . During his junior season in , Gilbert started all 13 games, taking on an expanded defensive role while maintaining his return duties. He amassed 63 tackles (53 ), 2.5 tackles for loss, and forced one fumble, helping anchor the secondary amid a transitional year for the program. As a , logged 32 kick returns for 827 yards with one , providing consistent field position advantages. Oklahoma State compiled an 8-5 record (5-4 in the Big 12), culminating in a 24-14 loss to UCLA in the Holiday Bowl. Gilbert, a three-star recruit from Huntsville High School in , developed steadily within the competitive , where the Cowboys emphasized a balanced attack under Gundy, blending strong defenses with explosive offenses led by players like Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon.

2013 season and awards

In 2013, as a senior cornerback for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Justin Gilbert emerged as a standout performer on both defense and special teams, recording 42 tackles (36 solo), seven interceptions for 123 yards including two touchdowns, and seven passes defended across 13 games. His defensive contributions helped anchor a secondary that supported the team's potent offense, while his versatility shone in the return game with 18 kickoff returns for 453 yards averaging 25.2 yards per return and one touchdown. Notably, Gilbert's 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against on November 9 marked his sixth career such score, setting a new record for kickoff return touchdowns. The Oklahoma State Cowboys finished the 2013 season with a 10–3 overall record and 7–2 mark in Big 12 play, tying for second place in the conference before earning a berth in the , where they fell to 41–31 on January 3, 2014. Gilbert's dual-threat ability was instrumental in key victories, such as the 42–6 rout of , where his opening kickoff return set the tone early. Gilbert's exceptional senior campaign earned him multiple accolades, including the 2013 College Football Performance Award as the nation's top defensive back, with recognition for also delivering the best career kickoff return performance in FBS history. He was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football, and garnered first-team All-American honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America, along with second-team Associated Press All-American selection. Additionally, he earned first-team All-Big 12 honors as a defensive back from both the conference coaches and the Associated Press. Gilbert's breakout year significantly elevated his NFL draft profile, with scouts praising his ball skills, speed, and return prowess as hallmarks of a top-tier prospect. At the 2014 , he further solidified his stock by posting the fastest time among defensive backs at 4.37 seconds, complemented by a 35.5-inch , showcasing elite athleticism that positioned him as a projected early-round selection.

Professional career

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns selected Justin Gilbert eighth overall in the first round of the , acquiring the pick from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the ninth overall selection and a fifth-round pick. Gilbert's college performance, including earning consensus All-American honors in 2013, contributed to his high draft position as one of the top cover corners available. On July 23, 2014, Gilbert signed his with , a four-year deal worth approximately $12.8 million fully guaranteed, including a of $7.65 million. The averaged $3.2 million annually and included a fifth-year team option. In his 2014 season, Gilbert played in 14 games, starting two, and recorded 29 tackles (25 solo) along with eight passes defensed. His lone interception came on December 7 against the , which he returned 23 yards for a , providing a key score in a 25-24 loss. Gilbert's 2015 season saw drastically reduced opportunities amid the Browns' 3-13 campaign, as he appeared in just nine games with one start, totaling 10 solo tackles and one pass defensed. He was relegated lower on the depth chart behind veterans like and , compounded by injuries including a hip flexor strain in and a later in the year. Gilbert also handled 12 kickoff returns for 339 yards during the season. Throughout his Browns tenure, Gilbert struggled with adapting to the NFL's increased speed and complexity compared to , alongside reported maturity concerns such as missing meetings and inconsistent focus that hindered his progress. His time with the team concluded on September 3, 2016, when the Browns traded him to the in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the .

Pittsburgh Steelers

On September 3, 2016, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired cornerback Justin Gilbert from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. The trade occurred shortly before the start of the 2016 regular season, with Gilbert retaining the remaining terms of his rookie contract, including a fully guaranteed base salary of $786,682 for 2016 and a scheduled $970,023 base salary plus a $1.2 million roster bonus for 2017. During the 2016 season, Gilbert appeared in 12 games for the Steelers, primarily contributing on special teams with limited defensive snaps and no starts. He recorded three total tackles (one solo and two assists) and no interceptions, reflecting his marginal role on a depth chart led by established cornerbacks like and William Gay. The Steelers released Gilbert on February 6, 2017, prior to the start of free agency, allowing the team to avoid his 2017 guaranteed compensation through a contract offset clause. Later that year, as a , Gilbert faced an initial four-game suspension in May for violating the 's substance abuse policy, which was extended to a full one-year ban in June following a second violation. These events marked the end of Gilbert's NFL tenure, severely impacting his career trajectory by sidelining him from professional football opportunities and reinforcing perceptions of him as a high draft pick who underachieved due to off-field challenges and inconsistent performance.

Sioux City Bandits

Following his release from the in 2017, Gilbert pursued non-football endeavors for several years before returning to the professional ranks. On January 13, 2023, Gilbert signed with the Sioux City Bandits of the Champions Indoor Football (CIF) league, providing him a platform to revive his career in the format. Adapting to the confined field and high-speed play, he appeared in 10 games that season, ranking fourth on the team with 43 total tackles and second with 15 tackles for loss, while adding one , five pass breakups, and a rare offensive . Gilbert re-signed with the Bandits on December 18, 2023, ahead of their transition to the (NAL) for the 2024 season. In 2024, his first NAL campaign, Gilbert solidified his role as a defensive stalwart, contributing significantly to the Bandits' 5-4 regular-season record and playoff appearance, including a standout performance of 13 tackles in a May 18, 2024, 32-34 loss to the . He also handled punt return duties, leveraging his speed for field position gains. The Bandits re-signed Gilbert on September 9, 2024, for the 2025 season, his third with the team, coinciding with the franchise's 25th anniversary celebrations. In 2025, the Bandits finished with a 3-6 record and missed the playoffs. Gilbert appeared in 9 games, recording 2 interceptions, and continued to contribute with consistent tackling, such as six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup in an April game against the . As of November 2025, Gilbert remains an active contributor, with career arena totals including over 100 tackles, multiple interceptions, and versatile roles in returns across his three seasons.

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