NFL Records
191
Games
392
Solo Tackles
15.5
Sacks
21
Interceptions
Deshea Townsend is a former defensive back out of Alabama, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 117th overall pick (round 4) in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played 191 regular-season games from 1998 to 2010. From 1999 on, he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.
Draft Details
Deshea Townsend Career Stats
- Primary starter for 4 seasons.
- Ranks 7th in the 1998 draft class in interceptions (21).
Career Totals
| Games | Solo Tkl | Sacks | Def INT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 191 | 392 | 15.5 | 21 |
Defense
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sacks | QB Hits | INT | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | PIT | 15 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2000 | PIT | 15 | 24 | 8 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | PIT | 16 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | PIT | 16 | 31 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003 | PIT | 14 | 30 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 1 |
| 2004 | PIT | 15 | 38 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
| 2005 | PIT | 16 | 37 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 1 |
| 2006 | PIT | 16 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 2 |
| 2007 | PIT | 16 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 |
| 2008 | PIT | 11 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | PIT | 13 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010 | IND | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Since 1999 | 169 | 327 | 72 | 8 | 15.5 | 9 | 20 | 111 | 5 |
G = games with at least one recorded statistic; the career games total in the summary above includes every game played.
Season-by-season detail is available from 1999 on; career totals above cover the full career.
Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026
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More from the 1998 Draft
| Rd | Pick | Team | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |  IND |
 Peyton Manning |
QB |  Tennessee |
| 1 | 2 |  LAC |
 Ryan Leaf |
QB |  Washington State |
| 1 | 3 |  ARI |
 Andre Wadsworth |
DE |  Florida State |
| 1 | 4 |  LV |
 Charles Woodson |
FS |  Michigan |
| 1 | 5 |  CHI |
 Curtis Enis |
RB |  Penn State |
| 1 | 6 |  LA |
 Grant Wistrom |
DE |  Nebraska |
| 1 | 7 |  NO |
 Kyle Turley |
OT |  San Diego State |
| 1 | 8 |  DAL |
 Greg Ellis |
DE |  North Carolina |
| 2 | 1 |  GB |
 Mike Wahle |
G |  Navy |
| 2 | 2 | LAC |
 Jamal Williams |
NT | Oklahoma State, Kemper Military Junior College |
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