Tashaun Gipson Sr. accepts suspension and aims for 13th NFL season

Veteran safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. said Monday that he takes full responsibility for taking a nutritional supplement that led to his six-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances and that he intends to play this season, which would be his 13th in the NFL.

“At one point during the offseason, I took a nutritional supplement that I thought was completely safe and in line with NFL guidelines. At no point did it have anything to do with performance, training or gaining any kind of advantage. I have competed at this level for a long time and have nothing but respect for the game and the community of players in it,” he said in a statement.

“The NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances is clear and I take full responsibility for everything I put into my body. It is with great disappointment that I accept this suspension and I do so knowing that I never attempted to cheat the game. I look forward to returning for my 13th NFL season and helping a team compete for a championship.”

Gipson, who played the last two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers, is currently a free agent.

Just before the 2022 season, Gipson was signed as a backup and gave new momentum to his career with the 49ers. He quickly became a regular at the free safety position and was brought back on a one-year, $2.9 million contract.

In his two seasons with San Francisco, Gipson, who turns 34 in August, developed into a reliable leader in the locker room for the other young defensive backs and a mainstay on defense.

In 2023, Gipson started in 16 games and recorded 60 tackles with one sack and one interception after recording 61 tackles and five interceptions in 2022. He also had five of his 14 postseason tackles in the Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Gipson originally came out of Wyoming as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and spent four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, three with the Jacksonville Jaguars, one with the Houston Texans and two with the Chicago Bears before joining the 49ers.

Gipson has recorded 684 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 33 interceptions and 3 defensive touchdowns in 173 regular season games.

ESPN’s Nick Wagoner contributed to this report.