How a high school basketball pivot shaped an NFL linebacker's career
In short: Before becoming a first-round NFL draft pick, K'Lavon Chaisson walked away from football entirely. As a high school freshman, he chose to focus on basketball, only returning to the gridiron as a junior. This detour preceded a dominant collegiate career at LSU and a professional journey through several NFL franchises.
Born in Houston, Texas, on July 25, 1999, Chaisson's path to professional football was anything but linear. After temporarily abandoning the sport to pursue basketball during his freshman year of high school, he returned as a junior to North Shore Senior High School. After a brilliant showing against Westlake High School, he secured defensive MVP awards and guided his squad to the Class 6A Division I state championship final, earning Associated Press first-team All-State recognition.
Chaisson's collegiate tenure at LSU was marked by both rapid ascent and significant adversity. Following a strong freshman season where he earned Southeastern Conference All-Freshman honors, a torn ACL during his sophomore year forced him to use a medical redshirt. He returned to dominate, leading the Tigers with 6.5 sacks and earning first-team All-SEC honors. His collegiate career concluded with 92 total tackles and 9.5 sacks, prompting him to forgo two years of eligibility to enter the 2020 NFL draft.
Selected 20th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL draft, Chaisson's professional career has seen him navigate multiple organizations. Following stints with the New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders, and Carolina Panthers, he joined the Washington Commanders in March 2026. His resilience was highlighted in 2025 when, playing for the Patriots, he earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a touchdown-returning fumble recovery against the Tennessee Titans.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: K'Lavon Chaisson
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