NFL CAREER – Signed by the Saints after the 2018 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State, Gray enjoyed a banner campaign in 2021, emerging as one of the league's elite players on special teams. Voted by his teammates as the club's special teams captain for the first time, Gray led the NFL with 19 special teams tackles in 16 games and added three defensive stops as he was selected as a Pro Bowl starter and as the team's only first-team Associated Press All-Pro. Playing in 53 career games, Gray has career totals of 44 special teams stops, one blocked punt, three fumble recoveries and five defensive tackles and one pass defensed.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms with New Orleans Saints on a two-year contract extension, 3/3/21; Signed to reserve/future contract, 1/21/19; Signed to the practice squad, 11/15/18; Waived, 11/13/18; Signed as an undrafted free agent, 5/2/18.
HONORS – 2021: AP first-team All-Pro; PFWA All-NFL and All-NFC; Pro Bowl (starter); 2019: AP second-team All-Pro; PFWA All-NFC.
2021 – Played in 16 games and led NFL with 19 special teams tackles (NFL-leading 16 solo) and added three defensive stops…In season opener vs. Green Bay, Sept. 12, played on defense and special teams and finished with a career-high two tackles (one solo) and two coverage stops (one solo)…Finished with two special teams tackles at Seattle, Oct. 25...Played on defense and special teams at Tennessee, Nov. 14, and finished with two coverage stops…Played on defense and special teams at Philadelphia, Nov. 21 and recorded one coverage stop…With a coverage stop vs. Buffalo, Nov. 25, recorded double-digit figures for second time in three seasons…Recorded two special teams tackles vs. Dallas, Dec. 2…Played in 50th career regular season game at N.Y. Jets and recorded career-high four special teams tackles (three solo)…Finished with a special teams stop in Sunday Night win at Tampa Bay, Dec. 19…Missed Week 16 contest vs. Miami, Dec. 27, (COVID-19 protocols)…Returned in Week 17 and rotated at safety and on special teams vs. Carolina, 1/2/22, recording a solo tackle and a coverage stop…Finished with one special teams tackle in regular season finale at Atlanta, 1/9/22 to finish season with league-best and career-high 19 stops.2020 – Played in all 16 regular season games and posted team-high seven special teams tackles, a defensive stop and a pass breakup…Recorded a special teams tackle at Las Vegas, Sept. 21…Recorded a special teams stop vs. Carolina, Oct. 25…Recorded a coverage stop at Tampa Bay, Nov. 8…Recorded one special teams tackle vs. Atlanta, Nov. 22…Recorded fifth special teams tackle of season at Atlanta, Dec. 6…Recorded season-high two coverage tackles, vs. Kansas City, Dec. 20…Played on defense and special teams, recording a solo tackle and his first career pass breakup in regular season finale at Carolina, 1/3/21…Appeared in both postseason contests. 2019 – Played in all 16 regular season games and posted team-high and career-high 16 special teams tackles, one blocked punt, one coverage fumble recovery and one defensive tackle…AP second-team All-Pro and PFWA All-NFC…Notched three special teams tackles at Seattle, Sept. 22…Recorded first career blocked punt on Chicago's opening possession that resulted in a safety at Bears, Oct. 20…Recorded first career defensive solo tackle and a special teams stop vs. Atlanta, Nov. 10…Recorded a special teams stop at Tampa Bay, Nov. 17…Had a first quarter fumble recovery off a muffed punt that led to a touchdown at Carolina, Nov. 24…Recorded two special teams tackles (one solo) at Tennessee, Dec. 22…Posted two solo special teams stops in regular season finale at Carolina, Dec. 29…Played on special teams in the NFC Wild Card Playoff loss vs. Minnesota, 1/5/20. 2018 – Played in five regular season games, spending the remainder of the season on the club's practice squad…Had a solo special teams tackle at Atlanta, Sept. 23.
COLLEGE – Played in 45 games with 17 starts for the Bulldogs from 2014-17 and collected 210 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, eight passes defensed and an interception…In 2017, ranked third on team in tackles (65) while playing MSU's S/LB hybrid…As a junior, ranked third on the team in tackles (71), playing in all 13 games at Viper and starting 10 contests…In 2015, played in all 13 games at linebacker and ranked fourth on the team in tackles (74) and added 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack…Industrial Technology major.
PERSONAL – Played junior season at Coolidge (Ariz.) HS, before transferring to Clarksdale (Miss.) HS for senior campaign...Grew up in the Magnolia State and came home for final high school season...Helped the Cougars to a 7-5 record as a senior as his team advanced to the second round of the Class 5A Mississippi state playoffs...A member of The Clarion-Ledger's Targeted 22...Took part in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic...Earned Arizona Division IV Section II first-team as a DB after junior season and second-team at RB in 2012...Played on both sides of the ball as a senior and recorded 58 tackles. Offensively, rushed for 939 yards and 16 scores...As junior, tallied 60 carries for 914 yards and 15 scores and caught ten passes for 117 yards and a TD...Defensively, booked team-leading 112 stops and two picks…Ran track for Coolidge and qualified for the state meet in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter run, high jump and long jump…Participated in NFL's My Cause, My Cleats initiative in 2019 to promote mental health awareness… In March, participated in a Hancock Whitney Play Football Experience with Chalmette Elementary Youth…Juantavius Tavon Gray was born Jan. 18, 1996 in Clarksdale, Miss.
