Latest news with #KevinByard
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Meet our 10 best Tennessee Titans defensive players in franchise history
The summer Tennessee Titans slow down is underway. The Titans are off until late July. So, while we wait for fall camp to begin on July 22, we've ranked the 10 best defensive players in Tennessee Titans history since the organization moved to Nashville in 1997. Everyone selected for this list played a minimum of one season in Nashville as a Tennessee Titan to be eligible. How long they spent within the organization was also considered. Let the debate begin. 1. Keith Bulluck Bulluck played linebacker for the Titans from 2000 to 2009. He was named to the All-Pro first team twice and second team once. The linebacker was also selected to the Pro Bowl in 2003. Bulluck recorded 1,057 total tackles and 18 sacks during his time in Tennessee. 2. Kevin Byard Byard was drafted by the Titans in 2016 out of Middle Tennessee State and played in Nashville until 2023. He led the NFL in interceptions in 2017 with eight. The safety was a two-time All-Pro first-team member and two-time Pro Bowler. Byard recorded 27 interceptions during his time in Nashville, which is tied for fourth most in franchise history. 3. Jurrell Casey Casey was drafted by the Titans in 2011 and stayed in Nashville until 2019. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and named to the All-Pro second team in 2013. Casey is seventh on the list for most sacks in franchise history with 51. The defensive tackle recorded 493 total tackles as a Titan. 4. Jevon Kearse Kearse was drafted by the Titans in 1999 and stayed until 2003. He then returned and played the 2008 and 2009 season in Nashville. In 1999, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and First-team All-Pro. That season, he was the NFL co-leader in forced fumbles. The defensive end was also a three-time Pro Bowler as a Titan. He has the sixth most sacks in franchise history with 52. 5. Michael Griffin Griffin was drafted by the Titans and played in Tennessee from 2007-2015. In his first season, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In 2010, Griffin was named an All-Pro second-team member. The safety was also a two-time Pro Bowler. Griffin's 25 career interceptions gives him the ninth most in franchise history. 6. Albert Haynesworth Haynesworth played for the Titans from 2002-2008. During his time in Tennessee, he was named a two-time All-Pro first-team member as well as a two-time Pro Bowler. The defensive tackle recorded 24 career sacks as a Titan. 7. Kyle Vanden Bosch Vanden Bosch played for the Titans from 2005-2009. As a Titan, he was selected to the Pro Bowl three times. The defensive end was named First-team All-Pro in 2007. Vanden Bosch has the 12th most career sacks in franchise history with 38.5. 8. Samari Rolle The cornerback was drafted by the franchise in 1998 and played in Tennessee until 2004. In 2000, he was named First-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl. During his tenure with the team, Rolle recorded 27 interceptions. The cornerback was part of the Titans team that went to Super Bowl XXXIV. 9. Jeffery Simmons Simmons was drafted in 2019 and is heading into his seventh season with the Titans. The defensive tackle has been named Second-team All-Pro twice and to the Pro Bowl three times. He has 31.5 sacks, which is 13th most in franchise history. 10. Cortland Finnegan Finnegan played for the Titans from 2006-2011. In 2008, the cornerback was named a Pro Bowler and First-team All-Pro. The seventh-round draft pick recorded 473 total tackles and 14 interceptions during his time in Nashville. 3 Titans who just missed the list Blaine Bishop Bishop was drafted by the franchise in 1993 and played with the Titans until 2001. He was an All-Pro second-team member in 2000 and was a four-time Pro Bowler. The safety led the team in tackles in 1995, 1996 and 1999. Harold Landry III Landry played for the Titans from 2018-2024. The linebacker was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021. He recorded 50.5 sacks during his tenure in Tennessee, which is the eighth most in franchise history. Landry combined for 397 total tackles as a Titan. Derrick Morgan Morgan played his entire career as a Titan from 2010 to 2018. He recorded 44.5 sacks, which is 10th most in franchise history. During his tenure, the linebacker recorded 305 total tackles, 26 deflections, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 10 best Tennessee Titans defensive players in franchise history
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Titans select two-time All-Pro two rounds earlier in 2016 re-draft
The NFL draft is hit or miss. Teams do their best to determine which players fit their needs, but things don't always play out the way they hoped, which is why Pro Football Focus releases re-drafts using current data and PFF grades. If teams had the information that they have today about the players that were drafted previously, what (if anything) would they have done differently? In 2016, the Tennessee Titans had the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft. PFF switched the Titans and Cleveland Browns on their list, but the Titans did, indeed, have the No. 8 overall pick, not the 15th. Cleveland Browns (Tennessee Titans): S Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee (Round 3, Pick 64)Original Pick: T Jack Conklin, Michigan StateByard was originally a third-round pick out of Middle Tennessee State. He has far exceeded the expectations attached to that draft slot as a two-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro has earned four single-season PFF coverage grades above 80.0, and two above 90.0. He is also on a seven-year run of recording a PFF tackling grade above 83.0. Since 2020, Byard's 1.44 PFF WAR trails only Antoine Winfield Jr. among safeties. It's interesting that they suggest the Titans selecting a player in the first round that they were able to obtain in the third round when the draft originally happened, but that's where they are with this one. Kevin Byard played for the Titans until 2023, when the Titans traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles. During his tenure with the Titans, Byard was a two-time first-team All-Pro selection and a two-time Pro Bowl selection. Jack Conklin joined the Cleveland Browns as a free agent after the 2019 season, which is where he remains today.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kevin Byard sees noticeable energy difference this Bears offseason
In what was a busy offseason for the Chicago Bears, with several new roster additions and a new coaching staff, the vibe around the organization has been much different this year. At this time last year, the Bears were preparing to be the feature team on HBO's "Hard Knocks" while first-round picks Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were entering their first season in the league and Matt Eberflus was still the head coach. Following a 5-12 season, the Bears moved quickly to overall their coaching staff and the roster. Advertisement Veteran safety Kevin Byard, who was in his first year with the team last season, has seen a real difference this offseason. From Eberflus and last year's team to the arrival of Ben Johnson and new teammates on both sides of the ball, Byard spoke about the big differences since last year, which brings a much different feeling. 'It's been fun," Byard said, without making many comparisons to the previous regime. "I don't really like to get into comparisons and stuff like that, but the intensity level of Ben Johnson – I feel like it's very evident. I think you guys can see that. A couple times where he's stopping practice, you can definitely hear him out there. It's been fun, a lot of competition, especially going with the offense. I really like the additions we made on offense and defense. I think those guys are going to help us out a lot this year.' Johnson's arrival has changed the tone and culture inside the Bears organization before they've even stepped on the field for meaningful games. All of it will have to come together and fall in line for the team to improve in a big way from their disastrous 2024 season. But, so far, so good. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears' Kevin Byard sees noticeable energy difference this offseason
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kevin Byard sees noticeable energy difference this Bears offseason
Kevin Byard sees noticeable energy difference this Bears offseason In what was a busy offseason for the Chicago Bears, with several new roster additions and a new coaching staff, the vibe around the organization has been much different this year. At this time last year, the Bears were preparing to be the feature team on HBO's "Hard Knocks" while first-round picks Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were entering their first season in the league and Matt Eberflus was still the head coach. Following a 5-12 season, the Bears moved quickly to overall their coaching staff and the roster. Veteran safety Kevin Byard, who was in his first year with the team last season, has seen a real difference this offseason. From Eberflus and last year's team to the arrival of Ben Johnson and new teammates on both sides of the ball, Byard spoke about the big differences since last year, which brings a much different feeling. 'It's been fun," Byard said, without making many comparisons to the previous regime. "I don't really like to get into comparisons and stuff like that, but the intensity level of Ben Johnson – I feel like it's very evident. I think you guys can see that. A couple times where he's stopping practice, you can definitely hear him out there. It's been fun, a lot of competition, especially going with the offense. I really like the additions we made on offense and defense. I think those guys are going to help us out a lot this year.' Johnson's arrival has changed the tone and culture inside the Bears organization before they've even stepped on the field for meaningful games. All of it will have to come together and fall in line for the team to improve in a big way from their disastrous 2024 season. But, so far, so good. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bears' Kevin Byard sounds off on NFL players playing in Olympics
For the first time in history, NFL players will be allowed to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games for flag football. While much of the conversation will be revolved around the potential risks vs. rewards in the decision to the let NFL players compete in the Olympics, there's been a widespread response around the league, and veterans on the Chicago Bears are also weighing in on the decision. Advertisement Safety Kevin Byard recently stared his thoughts about the ruling. While he understands the allure of playing for his country in the Olympics, he's not necessarily looking to participate. "I think for any athlete to be able to have the opportunity to go and get a gold medal for our country, I think that's an enormous opportunity and it's a blessing," Byard said. "Would I want to play? Probably not, if you asked me probably five some years ago, I probably would be one of the guys in the front of the line. I did hear something about it, I think it'll be during training camp. I don't want to speak too soon, but I just don't know how that would work." Byard believes Bears quarterback Caleb Williams would be a good fit for flag football, but with teams preparing in training camp, he doesn't see how the timing would make sense for anyone who is involved. "I think we got a lot of guys on our team that probably can do it," Byard said. "I'm not sure he's going to want to do it, but I think Caleb would be an excellent flag football team quarterback. Especially with the broken plays and being able to scramble around, do those type of things. I think it is a blessing for sure." Advertisement It's going to be interesting to see how the NFL and their top players come together to decide on how they'll play in the 2028 Olympics. While it would be beneficial for the worldwide reach of the league and sport, it also comes with risk of top players being banged up before the regular season. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears' Kevin Byard sounds off on NFL players playing in Olympics
