Brandin Echols

Brandin Echols
No. 26  Pittsburgh Steelers
PositionCornerback
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (1997-10-16) October 16, 1997
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight179 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High schoolSouthaven (Southaven, Mississippi)
College
NFL draft2021: 6th round, 200th overall pick
Career history
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Total tackles170
Pass deflections22
Interceptions7
Sacks1
Forced fumbles1
Fumble recoveries2
Defensive touchdowns2
Stats at Pro Football Reference 

Brandin Echols (born October 16, 1997) is an American professional football cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northwest Mississippi Community College and Kentucky and was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft.[1]

College career

Echols played college football at Northwest Mississippi in 2017 and 2018.[2] He began his college career as a wide receiver and switched to defensive back as a freshman.[3] In 2018, he was named second-team NJCAA All-American.[4]

Echols was ranked as a three–star recruit by 247Sports.com coming out of junior college.[5] He committed to Kentucky on September 23, 2018,[6] playing for Kentucky in 2019 and 2020.[7] In the 2021 Gator Bowl, Echols recorded his first interception for Kentucky.[8]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+18 in
(1.78 m)
179 lb
(81 kg)
30+14 in
(0.77 m)
9+18 in
(0.23 m)
4.36 s 1.46 s 2.55 s 4.12 s 6.84 s 42.5 in
(1.08 m)
11 ft 4 in
(3.45 m)
13 reps
All values from Pro Day[9][10]

New York Jets

Echols was drafted by the New York Jets with the 200th pick in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft.[11] On May 7, 2021, Echols officially signed with the Jets.[12]

Echols was named a starting cornerback to begin his rookie season in 2021. He started the first nine games before suffering a thigh injury in Week 10. On November 16, 2021, he was placed on injured reserve.[13] He was activated on December 11.[14]

In 2022, Echols played in 13 games for the Jets, tallying 8 total tackles. His season ended after he was placed on injured reserve on January 7, 2023.[15]

On May 25, 2023, Echols was suspended one game by the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension stemmed from a 2022 high-speed car crash Echols was involved in.[16]

Pittsburgh Steelers

On March 13, 2025, Echols signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[17]

Personal life

On April 22, 2022, Echols was involved in a two-car crash in Florham Park, New Jersey that resulted in the partial paralyzation of the other driver. Echols had been traveling 84 mph in a 50 mph zone before making contact with the other vehicle.[18] In January 2023, Echols was charged with fourth-degree assault by auto, and was summoned for reckless driving, speeding, failure to wear a seat belt, an unsafe lane change, and improper passing.[19] On March 10, he was accepted into a diversionary program to avoid the charges.[20]

References

  1. ^ Wells, MacGregor (May 1, 2021). "2021 NFL Draft Results: Jets Select Brandin Echols With 200th Overall Pick". Gang Green Nation. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Brandin Echols - Football". Northwest Mississippi Community College Athletics.
  3. ^ "NSD 2019 – Brandin Echols". December 19, 2018 – via ukathletics.com.
  4. ^ "Jets Select Brandin Echols in Sixth Round of NFL Draft". Northwest Mississippi Community College Athletics. May 1, 2021.
  5. ^ "Brandin Echols Recruiting Profile". 247Sports.com.
  6. ^ "Brandin Echols 247". 247Sports.com.
  7. ^ "Brandin Echols". December 18, 2018.
  8. ^ Gear, Camille (May 1, 2021). "Brandin Echols Selected by New York Jets in Sixth Round of NFL Draft". www.wymt.com.
  9. ^ "Brandin Echols Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "Brandin Echols, Kentucky, CB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  11. ^ Allen, Eric (May 1, 2021). "Jets Grab Third Cornerback on Day 3, Select Brandin Echols". NewYorkJets.com.
  12. ^ Links, Zachary (May 7, 2021). "NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/7/21". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  13. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (November 16, 2021). "Jets Sign TE Kenny Yeboah, CB Rachad Wildgoose to Active Roster". NewYorkJets.com.
  14. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (December 11, 2021). "Jets Place WR Elijah Moore on IR, Activate CB Brandin Echols Off IR". NewYorkJets.com.
  15. ^ Alper, Josh (January 7, 2023). "Jets put Duane Brown and Lamarcus Joyner on IR; don't call up Chris Streveler". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Crane, Andrew (May 25, 2023). "Jets' Brandin Echols' one-game suspension may stem from 2022 crash". New York Post. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  17. ^ Varley, Teresa (March 13, 2025). "Echols signed to two-year contract". Pittsburgh Steelers.
  18. ^ Comstock, Lori (March 10, 2023). "NY Jets football player charged in NJ crash enrolls in PTI program". Daily Record. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  19. ^ Alper, Josh (May 25, 2023). "NFL suspends Jets CB Brandin Echols for one game". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  20. ^ Riccette, Billy (May 25, 2023). "Jets CB Brandin Echols suspended one game by league". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved August 28, 2024.