Deon Yelder


Deon Yelder is an American football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He played college football at Western Kentucky.

Early life and high school

Yelder was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and attended Southern High School. He originally only played basketball at Southern and did not play football until his junior year.

College career

Yelder began his career at Western Kentucky as a walk-on and redshirted his freshman season. He saw his first collegiate action during his redshirt sophomore season, playing special teams, and did not catch his first career pass until his redshirt junior season. He earned a scholarship going into his redshirt senior season and finished the season with 52 receptions for 688 yards and eight total touchdowns and was named third team All-Conference USA. Yelder's performance earned him an invitation to the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and a late invitation to the 2017 Senior Bowl, where he scored a touchdown on a one-yard reception from quarterback Kyle Lauletta.

Professional career

New Orleans Saints

Yelder was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2018 and received a signing bonus of $90,000. He was cut at the end of training camp and subsequently re-signed to the team's practice squad on September 2, 2018. Yelder was released by the Saints on October 3, 2018.

Kansas City Chiefs

Yelder was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad on October 4, 2018. He was promoted by the Chiefs to the active roster on October 23, 2018. Yelder made NFL debut on October 28, 2018 in a 30–23 win against the Denver Broncos, appearing on special teams. He appeared in three games on special teams during his rookie season.
Yelder caught his first career pass, a 24-yard reception from Patrick Mahomes, on September 29, 2019 in a 34–30 win over the Detroit Lions. Yelder played in all three of the Chiefs playoff games, catching a pass for 11 yards in the team's Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans and playing in the Chiefs' victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.
Yelder signed a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender with the Chiefs on April 20, 2020.