Ashton Gillotte (pronounced jill-OHT-ee; born October 30, 2002) is an American professional football defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals and was selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early Life and Education
Gillotte was born in Middletown, Ohio, and moved to Florida at age three after his parents' divorce. He settled in Boca Raton, Florida, in the sixth grade and attended Boca Raton Community High School. As a senior in 2020, he was named the Sun Sentinel's Palm Beach County 8A-6A defensive player of the year after recording 55 tackles and 10 sacks in seven games. He committed to the University of Louisville.
College Career (Louisville, 2021–2024)
- 2021 (Freshman): Played in 12 games, recording 19 tackles and 4 sacks.
- 2022 (Sophomore): Started 12 games, totaling 24 tackles and 7 sacks.
- 2023 (Junior): Returned as a starter and earned First-team All-ACC honors.
- 2024 (Senior): Earned Second-team All-ACC honors.
Professional Career
Gillotte was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 66th overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The pick was acquired by the Chiefs via a trade that sent L'Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans.
NFL Statistics (2025 Regular Season)
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 17 |
| Games Started | 2 |
| Total Tackles | 38 |
| Sacks | 1.5 |
| Tackles for Loss | 3 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Pass Deflections | 1 |
Physical Measurements
- Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
- Weight: 270 lb (122 kg)
- 40-yard dash: 4.65 seconds
- Vertical jump: 36.5 in (0.93 m)
- Bench press: 24 reps
Personal Life
In May 2026, Gillotte married Cara Cresse, a player for the Indy Ignite. His brother, Devin Gillotte, played college football at Stetson University.
