Updated August 15, 2026
Deshea Townsend (born September 8, 1975) is the passing game coordinator/defensive backs for the Detroit Lions. He played cornerback in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him No. 117 overall in the 1998 NFL draft. DLP IQ also lists coaching jobs with the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars. Roster membership as of August 14, 2026.
Player information
- Title: Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs
- Number: 23
- Born: September 8, 1975
- Height: 5 ft 10 in
- Weight: 190 lb
- NFL draft: 1998, No. 117 overall (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Roster as of: August 14, 2026
Coaching career
DLP IQ records Deshea Townsend’s coaching jobs below. Head-coach W-L is his record in those games. Assistant rows are the job only.
Arizona Cardinals (2011–2012)
Deshea Townsend was assistant defensive backs coach of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2011 regular season (16 games).
Deshea Townsend was assistant defensive backs coach of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2012 regular season (16 games).
Tennessee Titans (2016–2017)
Deshea Townsend was secondary coach of the Tennessee Titans in the 2016 regular season (16 games).
Deshea Townsend was secondary coach of the Tennessee Titans in the 2017 regular season (16 games).
New York Giants (2018)
Deshea Townsend was assistant defensive line coach of the New York Giants in the 2018 regular season (16 games).
Jacksonville Jaguars (2022–2023)
Deshea Townsend was defensive passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 regular season (17 games).
Deshea Townsend was defensive passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2023 regular season (17 games).
Detroit Lions (2024–2025)
Deshea Townsend was passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach of the Detroit Lions in the 2024 regular season (17 games).
Deshea Townsend was passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach of the Detroit Lions in the 2025 regular season (17 games).
Postseason
Deshea Townsend was secondary coach of the Tennessee Titans in the 2017 postseason (2 games).
Deshea Townsend was defensive passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 postseason (2 games).
Deshea Townsend was passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach of the Detroit Lions in the 2024 postseason (1 game).
Coaching jobs
| Year | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Arizona Cardinals | Assistant defensive backs coach |
| 2012 | Arizona Cardinals | Assistant defensive backs coach |
| 2016 | Tennessee Titans | Secondary coach |
| 2017 | Tennessee Titans | Secondary coach |
| 2017 playoffs | Tennessee Titans | Secondary coach |
| 2018 | New York Giants | Assistant defensive line coach |
| 2022 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Defensive passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach |
| 2022 playoffs | Jacksonville Jaguars | Defensive passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach |
| 2023 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Defensive passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach |
| 2024 | Detroit Lions | Passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach |
| 2024 playoffs | Detroit Lions | Passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach |
| 2025 | Detroit Lions | Passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach |
Playing career
Pittsburgh Steelers (1999–2009)
Deshea Townsend played 15 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1999, with 0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 29 solo tackles and 4 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 15 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2000, with 3.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 24 solo tackles and 8 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 16 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2001, with 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 20 solo tackles and 4 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 16 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002, with 0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 31 solo tackles and 7 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 14 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003, with 1 sacks, 3 interceptions, 30 solo tackles and 7 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 15 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004, with 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, 38 solo tackles and 9 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 16 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005, with 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 37 solo tackles and 14 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 16 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006, with 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 36 solo tackles and 4 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 16 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007, with 0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 43 solo tackles and 7 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 11 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008, with 0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 12 solo tackles and 4 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 13 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009, with 0 sacks, 1 interceptions, 19 solo tackles and 3 assists.
Indianapolis Colts (2010)
Deshea Townsend played 6 regular season games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2010, with 0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 8 solo tackles and 1 assists.
Postseason
Deshea Townsend played 2 postseason games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2001, with 0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 solo tackles and 0 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 2 postseason games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002, with 0 sacks, 1 interceptions, 9 solo tackles and 1 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 2 postseason games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004, with 0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 3 solo tackles and 2 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 4 postseason games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005, with 1 sacks, 0 interceptions, 12 solo tackles and 3 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 1 postseason games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007, with 0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 3 solo tackles and 0 assists.
Deshea Townsend played 2 postseason games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008, with 0 sacks, 1 interceptions, 2 solo tackles and 1 assists.
NFL statistics
Regular season
| Year | Team | G | Sacks | Int | Solo | Ast | TFL | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 15 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| 2000 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 15 | 3.5 | 0 | 24 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 0 | 3 | 31 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 14 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| 2004 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 15 | 4 | 3 | 38 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 2005 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| 2006 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 2 | 2 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| 2007 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 2008 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 11 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 13 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010 | Indianapolis Colts | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 169 | 15.5 | 20 | 327 | 72 | 8 | 111 | 5 |
Postseason
| Year | Team | G | Sacks | Int | Solo | Ast | TFL | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2005 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 13 | 1 | 2 | 31 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
Sources
Every counting number on this page is from DLP IQ. Derived rates use official NFL formulas on those counts. High-school, family, and award lists are omitted until DLP IQ has them. This page does not invent yards.
