Kevin Byard

PRONOUNCED BY-urd

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Kevin Byard was signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent from Chicago on March 12, 2026 ... Originally drafted by Tennessee in the third round (64th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft ... Acquired by Philadelphia in  a trade with Tennessee in exchange for S Terrell Edmunds and a 2024 fifth-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round pick (10/23/23) ... Released by Philadelphia (3/1/24) ... Signed by Chicago (3/10/24).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Reunited with Mike Vrabel after spending six seasons with him in Tennessee from 2018-23. Byard posted the third-most tackles (592) and tied for the fourth-most interceptions (20) among all safeties in that timeframe.
• Since entering the league in 2016, he leads the NFL in interceptions with 36 and is second in total tackles among defensive backs with 953.
• Three-time Associated Press All-Pro First Team honoree (2017, 2021, 2025) and three-time Pro Bowler (2017, 2021, 2025).
• Led the NFL in interceptions in 2025 with 7 and tied for the league lead in 2017 with a career high 8 interceptions, sharing the title with CB Darius Slay.
• Has never missed a game in his career.
• Accumulated 100 tackles in four seasons: 2024 (130), 2023 (122), 2022 (106) and 2020 (111).
• Has scored touchdowns on three separate occasions: a 66-yard touchdown pass vs at Houston (9/16/18), which was the longest touchdown pass by a primarily defensive player in the Super Bowl era, a fumble recovery for a touchdown at Jacksonville (10/10/21), and a pick six at the L.A. Rams (11/7/21).

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2025 (17/17, 2/2 - CHICAGO)

• Started in all 17 games and finished with 93 tackles (61 solo, 32 assists), a league-leading 7 interceptions and 8 passes defensed.
• Started both postseason games - the Wild Card Round vs. Green Bay (1/10) and the Divisional Round vs. the L.A. Rams (1/18) - and tallied 10 tackles.
• Named Associated Press First-Team All-Pro for the third time in his career.
• Earned Pro Bowl honors for the third time in his career.
• Selected as a team captain for the seventh straight season.
• Sealed the 31-14 victory vs. Dallas (9/21) after he picked off a pass from QB Joe Milton III that was intended for WR KaVontae Turpin with 58 seconds left in the game. Added 7 tackles and 1 pass defensed.
• Had his fifth career multi-interception game (2) at Las Vegas (9/28), tying him with CB Xavien Howard for the most such games since he entered the NFL in 2016. The first interception came on a pass from QB Geno Smith that was intended for WR Jakobi Meyers on a third-and-10 situation in the first quarter, and he returned it 35 yards to the Las Vegas 24-yard line. K Cairo Santos connected on a 46-yard field goal for the first score of the game on the ensuing drive. His second interception came on a pass from Smith that was intended for Meyers on a third-and-7 situation in the second quarter, and he returned it 12 yards to the Las Vegas 24-yard line. Santos connected on a 43-yard field goal on the ensuing drive. Also had 7 tackles and 1 pass defensed.
• Grabbed his fifth interception of the season vs. Minnesota (11/16) when he picked off a pass from QB J.J. McCarthy that was intended for WR Justin Jefferson in the second quarter. He returned it 23 yards to the Minnesota 25-yard line and helped set up a 38-yard field goal by K Cairo Santos.

2024 (17/17 - CHICAGO)

• Started in all 17 games and finished with a career high and team-leading 130 tackles (80 solo, 50 assists), 2 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries and 7 passes defensed.
• Recorded double-digit tackles in five games: 11 at Houston (9/15), 11 vs. New England (11/10), 13 vs. Minnesota (11/24), 10 at Detroit (11/28) and 14 at Green Bay (1/5/25).
• Recovered a fumble that was forced by DT Andrew Billings, who knocked the ball loose from RB Cam Akers in the fourth quarter. Helped set up a 54-yard field goal by K Cairo Santos.
• Recorded an interception vs. Carolina (10/6) when he picked off a pass from QB Andy Dalton that was intended for WR Jonathan Mingo in the third quarter. Helped set up a 33-yard field goal by K Cairo Santos on the ensuing drive. Added 6 tackles.
• Sacked QB Kyler Murray for a 3-yard loss to force a punt in the first quarter at Arizona (11/3). Also recovered a fumble after Murray mishandled a snap in the fourth quarter. Added 7 tackles.
• Had a single-game career high 14 tackles (9 solo, 5 assists) at Green Bay (1/5/25). Forced a fumble after he strip sacked QB Malik Willis in the third quarter.

2023 (10/10, 1/1 - PHILADELPHIA)

• Acquired by Philadelphia in a trade with Tennessee on Oct. 23 and started in all 10 remaining games. Finished with 75 tackles, 1 interception and 3 passes defensed.
• Started in the Wild Card Round at Tampa Bay (1/15/24) and totaled 5 tackles.
• Registered an interception in just his third game as an Eagle at Kansas City (11/20) when he picked off a pass from QB Patrick Mahomes that was intended for WR Justin Watson in the second quarter. Finished with a team-leading 8 tackles, 2 passes defensed and the interception.
• Had two games with double-digit tackles: 13 vs. Buffalo (11/26) and 11 vs. Arizona (12/31).

2023 (6/6 - TENNESSEE)

• Started in six games for Tennessee before being traded to Philadelphia on Oct. 23. Finished with 47 tackles and 1 fumble recovery.
• Had two games with double-digit tackles: 12 vs. the L.A. Chargers (9/17) and 10 vs. Baltimore (10/15).
• Recovered a fumble vs. Cincinnati (10/1) after LB Trevis Gipson strip sacked QB Joe Burrow in the third quarter.

2022 (17/17 - Tennessee)

• Started all 17 games, accumulating a team-leading 106 tackles (68 solo), 6 passes defensed and 4 interceptions, along with 2 special teams tackles.
• Had two games with double-digit tackles: 12 vs. the N.Y. Giants (9/11) and 12 at Kansas City (11/6).
• Played in his 100th-career game vs. Las Vegas (9/25), logging 4 tackles and an interception.
• Recorded 2 interceptions vs. Dallas (12/29), the fourth game of his career with multiple interceptions. It also marked 27 interceptions for him with the Titans, the most by any Titans player since the franchise relocated to Tennessee and tied for fourth-most in franchise history.

2021 (17/17, 1/1 - Tennessee)

• Started in all 17 of the team's games at safety, notching a team-leading 88 tackles (57 solo), 13 passes defensed, 5 interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown, 1 sack and 1 tackle for loss.
• Received First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors at safety after tying for fourth in the NFL in interceptions and tying for first among safeties.
• Named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for the Month of October after logging 27 tackles, 7 passes defensed, 3 interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.
• Scored two defensive touchdowns: a fumble recovered for a touchdown at Jacksonville (10/10) and a pick six at the L.A. Rams (11/7).
• Logged double-digit tackles twice: 11 at Jacksonville (10/10) and 12 at New England (11/28).
• Recorded an interception and recovered a fumble for a touchdown at Jacksonville (10/10), the first defensive score of his career. He scooped up the ball and scored on a 30-yard return off of an Elijah Molden forced fumble on Dan Arnold to give the Titans their first score. He also logged the 20th interception of his career on a pass to the end zone from QB Trevor Lawrence to end the game. He was the ninth player in franchise history to log an interception and fumble recovery touchdown in the same game.
• Produced an interception at Indianapolis (10/31) to set up the game winning field goal in overtime, intercepting a pass from QB Carson Wentz intended for WR Michael Pittman Jr. and returning it 14 yards to the Colts' 32-yard line.
• Logged his first career pick six at the L.A. Rams (11/7), intercepting a ball from QB Matthew Stafford intended for WR Robert Woods and putting the Titans up 14-3.
• Started the team's Divisional Round game vs. Cincinnati (1/22/22), notching three total tackles.

2020 (16/16, 1/1 - Tennessee)

• Started all 16 games, accumulating 111 tackles (79 solo), 7 passes defensed, 1 interception, 1 tackle for loss and 1 forced fumble.
• Posted double-digit tackles in three games: 10 vs. Indianapolis (11/12), 11 at Jacksonville (12/13) and 11 vs. Detroit (12/20).
• Posted his first career forced fumble at Denver (9/14) on a 2-yard reception by RB Melvin Gordon III, which was recovered by DT Jeffery Simmons at the Broncos' 23-yard line early in the second quarter.
• Started in the team's Wild Card Round matchup vs. Baltimore (1/10/21), registering 5 tackles and 1 pass defensed.

2019 (16/16, 3/3 - Tennessee)

• Started all 16 games at safety, logging 79 tackles (57 solo), 9 passes defensed, 5 interceptions and 2 tackles for loss, with 5 special teams tackles. Also caught one pass for 11 yards.
• Tied for fourth in the NFL in interceptions, and tied for second among safeties.
• Had two games with double-digit tackles: 11 vs. Philadelphia (9/30) and 10 vs. Indianapolis (12/30).
• Intercepted a Josh Allen third-and-five pass in the third quarter vs. Buffalo (10/6) to set up a Titans touchdown.
• Recorded his first career reception vs. the L.A. Chargers (10/20). Caught an 11-yard pass from P Brett Kern on a fake punt to convert on fourth-and-8 on the team's opening drive, which helped set up their opening score.
• Started all three of the team's postseason games, including the Wild Card Round at New England (1/4/20), the Divisional Round at Baltimore (1/11/20) and the AFC Championship at Kansas City (1//19/20). Posted totals of 20 tackles (15 solo), 1 pass defensed and 1 interception, along with 1 special teams tackle.
• Notched a playoff career high 11 tackles and 1 interception in the Divisional Round at Baltimore (1/11/20), returning the interception 31 yards to help set up the team's opening touchdown in the first quarter.

2018 (16/16 - Tennessee)

• Started in all 16 games for Tennessee, producing 86 tackles (60 solo), 8 passes defensed, 4 interceptions, 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks, along with 4 special teams tackles. Also threw a 66-yard touchdown pass.
• Tied for fourth among safeties in interceptions.
• Threw the opening touchdown vs. Houston (9/16) on a 66-yard pass to DB Dane Cruikshank on a fake punt on fourth-and-14 from the Tennessee 34-yard line. He was the first primarily defensive player in franchise history to throw a touchdown pass, and it was the longest touchdown pass by a defensive player in the Super Bowl era.
• Logged double-digit tackles in a game for the first time vs. Philadelphia (9/30), finishing with 11 total.

2017 (16/16, 2/2 - Tennessee)

• Started all 16 games, finishing with 87 tackles (62 solo), 16 passes defensed, a career-high 8 interceptions, 3 tackles for loss and 2 fumble recoveries.
• Was named First-Team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl as a safety.
• Received AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice (Week 7 and Week 17).
• His 8 interceptions tied for the league lead and were the most by any Titan in a season since the team relocated from Houston to Tennessee in 1996.
• Recorded his first career interception at Houston (10/1) on a pass from QB Deshaun Watson intended for WR DeAndre Hopkins.
• Awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 7 after logging 3 interceptions at Cleveland (10/22) and tying the franchise's single-game record. He was the ninth Titan to do so in a single game.
• Produced two interceptions vs. Baltimore (11/5), becoming the first player in Titans history to have multiple interceptions in back-to-back games in a single season. He also became the fifth player in the Super Bowl era (1967) to record 5 interceptions over two games in a single season.
• Registered 2 interceptions vs. Jacksonville (12/31), for which he received AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for Week 17. It was his third game of the season with multiple interceptions, joining DBs Miller Farr (1967) and Mike Reinfeldt (1979) as the only players in team history to have three games with multiple interceptions in a single season.
• Became the 10th player since 2000 with at least three games with multiple interceptions in a single season.
• Started both of the team's playoff games in the Wild Card Round at Kansas City (1/6/18) and at New England (1/13/18). He finished with 15 tackles (14 solo).

2016 (16/7 - Tennessee)

• Played in all 16 games with seven starts, logging 51 tackles (40 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 4 passes defensed and 1 sack, along with 8 special teams tackles.
• Made his NFL debut vs. Minnesota (9/11), recording 4 tackles and 1 tackle for loss, with 1 special teams tackle.
• Started the final seven games for the season at safety, with his first career start coming vs. Green Bay (11/13). He produced 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and 1 special teams tackle.

COLLEGE

• Played four seasons at Middle Tennessee State (2012-15) after taking a redshirt year, appearing in 49 games with 46 starts. He finished his career in Murfreesboro with 312 tackles (195 solo), 36 passes defensed, 19 interceptions (including four returned for touchdowns), 5 tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 blocked kick. He also returned one punt 76 yards for a touchdown.
• Is the career leader in interceptions, interception return yards (377) and pick sixes for the Lightning, and ranks sixth in total tackles. His #20 jersey was retired by the program.
• Played in 12 games with nine starts as a senior in 2015, logging 66 tackles (43 solo), 10 passes defensed, 4 interceptions and 1 tackle for loss. He was named a permanent team captain and earned First Team All-C-USA honors.
• Started all 12 games in 2014 as a junior, producing 66 tackles (43 solo), 10 passes defensed, 6 interceptions, 3 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and a blocked kick. He also returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown on the first and only punt return of his career. He was named to the All-C-USA First Team.
• Started all 13 games in 2013 and registered a career-high 106 tackles (61 solo), 10 passes defensed, 5 interceptions (including 2 pick sixes), 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
• Started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman, notching 74 tackles (48 solo), 6 passes defensed, 4 interceptions (with 2 pick sixes) and 2 forced fumbles. Named a FWAA Freshman All-American.

PERSONAL

• Attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School (Lithonia, Ga.), and was voted first-team all-state Class 5A as a senior.