Kevin Byard
Kevin Byard was born in Lithonia, Georgia, United States on August 17th, 1993 and is the Football Player. At the age of 30, Kevin Byard biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 30 years old, Kevin Byard has this physical status:
College career
Byard was a member of the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University from 2012 to 2015. In 2011, he was redshirted. In 2013, he was named Honorable Mention All-Conference USA. In 2014 and 2015, he was named First-Team All-Conference USA. Byard's 19 career interceptions are the most notable in school history. Byard obtained a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Middle Tennessee in May 2015.
Professional career
Byard revealed on Twitter on November 22, 2015, that he had accepted his invitation to play in the 2016 Senior Bowl. Throughout the week leading up to the Senior Bowl, he was exceptional, showing his ball-hawking and athletic ability. During the week, Byard spoke with Atlanta Falcons players. Byard was not one of the 60 defensive backs to be eligible for the NFL Combine. He and 18 other teammates competed at Middle Tennessee's pro day on March 31, 2016. With a 4.46 and 4.5 percent in the 40-yard dash, he stunned many scouts and analysts as one of his weaknesses, as some scouting reports cited speed as one of his weaknesses. With Byard as the top prospect on show, team representatives and scouts from 24 NFL franchises were on hand, with Byard as the top prospect. On his pro day, he met with representatives from the Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, and Tennessee Titans. Byard was on official visits or workouts with 12 clubs, including the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Titans, and Los Angeles Rams. Byard's final draft projections from draft experts and scouts, with some (NFLDraftScout.com) predicting him to be a third or fourth round pick to others (NFL.com) expecting him to be drafted in the sixth or seventh round. NFLDraftScout.com ranked him as the fifth best strong safety prospect in the draft.
Byard was drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the first pick in the third round (64th overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft. Byard was the 24th player drafted from Middle Tennessee State and the highest draftee from there after Tyrone Calico (second round, 60th overall) who was also selected by the Titans in the 2003 NFL Draft. Byard was the fifth safety pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
The Tennessee Titans announced Byard's four-year, $3.63 million contract, with a signing bonus of $897,060.
He competed with Rashad Johnson for the vacant starting free safety position left by Michael Griffin's release during training camp. With Byard serving as his backup, head coach Mike Mularkey named Johnson as the starting free safety for the regular season.
In a 25–16 loss, Byard made his NFL debut in the Titans' season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings. In the Titans' 43–35 loss to the San Diego Chargers on November 6, he had a season-high ten combined tackles. After suffering a neck injury, Johnson's playing time increased. During a 47-23 victory over Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Byard got his first career start and recorded seven solo tackles, as well as his first NFL suspension. Despite Johnson's return from injury in Week 10, Byard remained the starting free safety for the last seven games of the season. He finished his rookie season with 58 combined tackles (44 solo), one sack, and four pass deflections in seven starts and 16 games. He also placed second on the squad with ten special teams tackles. Byard was a member of 656 (60.1%) of the Titans' defensive snaps, assuaging all of their safeties. Pro Football Focus gave him a 78.9 rating, his second highest safety rank in rookie safeties.
After deciding not to re-sign Rashad Johnson, Byard entered training camp as the Titans' de facto free safety. He was named the starting free safety to begin the 2017 season, as expected.
In a 26–16 loss, Byard opened the Titans' season-opener against the Oakland Raiders, receiving eight solo tackles. As the Titans lost 57–14 to the Houston Texans on October 1, 2017, he recorded a season-high nine combined tackles and made his first career interception off of Deshaun Watson. During the Titans' 12–9 overtime victory in Week 7, Byard had four combined tackles, three pass deflections, and two interceptions off of Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer. Since his three-interception play earned him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week, he was voted Week's Defensive Player of the Week. Following his victory over Baltimore, Byard made four solo tackles, covered three runs, and intercepted Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco twice to help his team win by 23-20. During two games with DeAngelo Hall (2010), Albert Lewis (1985), Willie Buchanon (1978), and Mike Haynes (1976), he became the fifth player in NFL history to record five interceptions in a two-game career. Pro Football Focus gave Byard's third highest score among safeties through the first twelve games, only behind Harrison Smith (94.2) and Adrian Amos (92.3). During a 24–13 victory over the Houston Texans, he had a season-high nine combined tackles and deflected a pass. In the Titans' 15-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 31, 2017, Byard had six combined tackles, broke up two passes, intercepted two passes by Blake Bortles, and intercepted two passes by Blake Bortles. He was named As the Week's Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. He had 87 combined tackles (62 solo), 16 pass deflections, and eight interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts in the 2017 season. His eight interceptions dominated the league, and he was named first-team All-Pro. Byard was given an overall rating of 89.0, ranking fourth out of all qualified safeties in 2017.
With a 9–7 record and a wildcard playoff berth, the Titans finished second in the AFC South. During a 22–21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wildcard Game, Byard began in his first NFL playoff game and made five solo tackles. In the Titans' 35–14 loss at the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round the following week, Byard made ten combined tackles (nine solo) in the Titans' 35–14 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round. Byard was selected to play in the 2018 Pro Bowl as an injury replacement on January 21, 2018. It was his first Pro Bowl appearance. He was also ranked 80th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
In a 20–17 victory over the Houston Texans, Byard threw a touchdown to rookie Dane Cruikshank on a fake punt. Byard scored Joe Flacco in Week 621–0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, his first interception of the season. Byard intercepted quarterback Dak Prescott in the end zone during a 28-14 Week 9 road win over the Dallas Cowboys. Byard paid tribute to the star at midfield after the pick was made. The commemoration was widely publicized because it resembled Terrell Owens' infamous celebration from the early 2000s. Byard was fined $10,026 for the occasion. Byard had five tackles, an intercept, and a sack during Week 15, a shut down road victory over the New York Giants. Eli Manning's fourth down pass gave him a shutout against the Giants. Byard made a crucial late-game play intercept by selecting Josh Johnson off the Washington Redskins on December 22, 2018. The Titans missed the playoffs by losing 33–17 against the Indianapolis Colts on Week 17 and ending with a 9–7 record. Byard finished the 2018 season with 90 tackles, two sacks, eight pass deflections, and four interceptions.
Byard signed a five-year contract with the Titans worth $70.5 million, guaranteeing him the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
Byard made an interception off Baker Mayfield's field and returned it 28 yards in the Titans' 43–13 road victory. Byard intercepted Josh Allen once in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills, ending in a 14-7 loss. He made an interception against the Denver Broncos the next day that bounced off tight end Noah Fant's back in the 16-0 road loss. In the 23–20 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, he received an 11-yard reception from punter Brett Kern on a fake punt. Byard intercepted a pass that was not awarded to A. J. McCarron during the 35-14 road triumph in the regular season finale against the Houston Texans.
Byard intercepted an early pass from Lamar Jackson to help set the tone for the 28-12 victory.
During Week 1 against the Denver Broncos, Byard led the team to a fumble on running back Melvin Gordon. Byard's first appearance of the season of a pass thrown by Chase Daniel during the 46-25 victory.