Pirates Sign DB Tyree Gillespie
ORLANDO, FL - The Pirates have signed former NFL defensive back Tyree Gillespie. Gillespie was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 National Football League Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders (143rd overall) after playing four seasons at the University of Missouri.
By: Mick Moninghoff
In the 2021 season Gillespie played in 11 games and recorded eight tackles. In August of 2022 he was traded to the Tennessee Titans. Gillespie was waived and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and did play in three regular season games. He later joined the Jags practice squad and remained with the team until May 1 of 2023.
A native of Ocala, FL, Gillespie was claimed off waivers one day later by the Houston Texans. Upon his release from Houston, the 6'0", 200 DB was signed to the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs. He subsequently left the Chiefs in August of 2024.
Gillespie then made the transition to the UFL as he signed with the Michigan Panthers in 2025 and played two games making three tackles.
A product of Vanguard High School, Gillespie began his collegiate career with the Missouri Tigers in 2017 and played in four games as a true freshman making two tackles. He then would start 26 games over the next three years. His finest season in Columbia may have been as a junior in 2019 when he recorded a season highs with 50 tackles, four tackles for a loss, one sack, seven passes broken up and one forced fumble.
In all, he appeared in 37 games making 146 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, 12 passes broken up and one forced fumble.
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