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Kevin Byard
Kevin Leon Byard III (born August 17, 1993) is an American professional football safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. In 2017, his second season in the NFL, Byard was selected to the Pro Bowl and was named the first-team All-Pro after co-leading the NFL in interceptions and leading the NFL in takeaways with 10 (eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries). He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 before joining the Chicago Bears the following season. Byard led the NFL in interceptions again in 2025.
Byard was born on August 17, 1993, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After his parents divorced when he was 14, Byard moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his mother and siblings. Byard attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Lithonia, Georgia, where he participated in football and track.
Byard played for the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University from 2012 to 2015. He was redshirted in 2011. Byard earned Honorable Mention All-Conference USA honors in 2013. In 2014 and 2015, he was named First-team All-Conference USA. Byard's 19 career interceptions are the most in school history. He graduated from Middle Tennessee in May 2015 with a degree in liberal studies.
On November 22, 2015, Byard announced on Twitter that he had accepted his invitation to play in the 2016 Senior Bowl. During the week leading up to the Senior Bowl, Byard was impressive during practices as he displayed his ball-hawking and athletic ability. Byard met with representatives from the Atlanta Falcons during the week. He was not one of the 60 defensive backs invited to the NFL Combine. On March 31, 2016, Byard participated at Middle Tennessee's pro day, along with 18 other teammates, and was the top prospect participating with representatives and scouts from 24 NFL teams attending. He surprised many scouts and analysts with a 4.46 and 4.50 in the 40-yard dash as many scouting reports listed speed as one of his weaknesses. Byard met with representatives from the Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, and Tennessee Titans during his pro day. He had official private visits or workouts with 12 NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Titans, and Los Angeles Rams. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Byard received many mixed draft projections from draft experts and scouts, with some (DraftScout.com) projecting him to be a third or fourth-round pick to others (NFL.com) projecting him to be drafted in the sixth or seventh round. Byard was ranked the fifth best strong safety prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com.
The Tennessee Titans selected Byard in the third round (64th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft. He was the 24th player ever drafted from Middle Tennessee State and the highest player drafted from there since Tyrone Calico (second round, 60th overall) in 2003, who was also drafted by the Titans. Byard was the fifth safety selected in the draft.
On July 18, 2016, the Titans signed Byard to a four-year, $3.63 million rookie contract with an initial signing bonus of $897,060.
Byard entered training camp as a candidate to earn a starting safety role following the departure of Michael Griffin, but had to compete against veterans Rashad Johnson and Da'Norris Searcy under defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. During training camp, Daimion Stafford began taking over first-team reps from Byard and Searcy. Head coach Mike Mularkey named him a backup to begin the season, behind starting safeties Rashad Johnson and Da'Norris Searcy and primary backup Daimion Stafford.
Byard made his professional regular season debut in the season-opening 25–16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and made five solo tackles. During Week 9 against the San Diego Chargers, Byard collected a season-high 10 combined tackles and a pass deflection in the 43–35 road loss. His playing time increased after Rashad Johnson suffered a neck injury and was subsequently inactive for two games (Weeks 8–9). After performing well, he supplanted Johnson as the starting free safety. Byard earned his first career start in Week 10 against the Green Bay Packers and finished the 47–25 victory with seven solo tackles and made his first career sack on Aaron Rodgers for an eight-yard loss. Although Johnson returned from injury in Week 10, Byard remained the starting free safety for the last seven games of the season.
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Kevin Byard
Kevin Leon Byard III (born August 17, 1993) is an American professional football safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. In 2017, his second season in the NFL, Byard was selected to the Pro Bowl and was named the first-team All-Pro after co-leading the NFL in interceptions and leading the NFL in takeaways with 10 (eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries). He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 before joining the Chicago Bears the following season. Byard led the NFL in interceptions again in 2025.
Byard was born on August 17, 1993, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After his parents divorced when he was 14, Byard moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his mother and siblings. Byard attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Lithonia, Georgia, where he participated in football and track.
Byard played for the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University from 2012 to 2015. He was redshirted in 2011. Byard earned Honorable Mention All-Conference USA honors in 2013. In 2014 and 2015, he was named First-team All-Conference USA. Byard's 19 career interceptions are the most in school history. He graduated from Middle Tennessee in May 2015 with a degree in liberal studies.
On November 22, 2015, Byard announced on Twitter that he had accepted his invitation to play in the 2016 Senior Bowl. During the week leading up to the Senior Bowl, Byard was impressive during practices as he displayed his ball-hawking and athletic ability. Byard met with representatives from the Atlanta Falcons during the week. He was not one of the 60 defensive backs invited to the NFL Combine. On March 31, 2016, Byard participated at Middle Tennessee's pro day, along with 18 other teammates, and was the top prospect participating with representatives and scouts from 24 NFL teams attending. He surprised many scouts and analysts with a 4.46 and 4.50 in the 40-yard dash as many scouting reports listed speed as one of his weaknesses. Byard met with representatives from the Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, and Tennessee Titans during his pro day. He had official private visits or workouts with 12 NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Titans, and Los Angeles Rams. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Byard received many mixed draft projections from draft experts and scouts, with some (DraftScout.com) projecting him to be a third or fourth-round pick to others (NFL.com) projecting him to be drafted in the sixth or seventh round. Byard was ranked the fifth best strong safety prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com.
The Tennessee Titans selected Byard in the third round (64th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft. He was the 24th player ever drafted from Middle Tennessee State and the highest player drafted from there since Tyrone Calico (second round, 60th overall) in 2003, who was also drafted by the Titans. Byard was the fifth safety selected in the draft.
On July 18, 2016, the Titans signed Byard to a four-year, $3.63 million rookie contract with an initial signing bonus of $897,060.
Byard entered training camp as a candidate to earn a starting safety role following the departure of Michael Griffin, but had to compete against veterans Rashad Johnson and Da'Norris Searcy under defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. During training camp, Daimion Stafford began taking over first-team reps from Byard and Searcy. Head coach Mike Mularkey named him a backup to begin the season, behind starting safeties Rashad Johnson and Da'Norris Searcy and primary backup Daimion Stafford.
Byard made his professional regular season debut in the season-opening 25–16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and made five solo tackles. During Week 9 against the San Diego Chargers, Byard collected a season-high 10 combined tackles and a pass deflection in the 43–35 road loss. His playing time increased after Rashad Johnson suffered a neck injury and was subsequently inactive for two games (Weeks 8–9). After performing well, he supplanted Johnson as the starting free safety. Byard earned his first career start in Week 10 against the Green Bay Packers and finished the 47–25 victory with seven solo tackles and made his first career sack on Aaron Rodgers for an eight-yard loss. Although Johnson returned from injury in Week 10, Byard remained the starting free safety for the last seven games of the season.
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