Kevin Byard III is one of the most steady and tough safeties in the NFL.
The Tennessee Titans picked Byard in Round 3, 64th overall, in the 2016 NFL Draft. He played at Middle Tennessee before he joined the NFL. Byard is 5’11” and weighs 212 pounds. He now wears No. 31 for the New England Patriots.
Byard has played a key role in many NFL defenses. He brings years of gameplay, strong hands, and good tackling skills to the field.
In 167 NFL games, Byard has made 985 total tackles. That includes 661 solo tackles and 324 assists. He also has 36 picks, 81 pass breakups, 6 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 6 fumble recoveries.
Byard has also been very hard to keep off the field. He has often played all 17 games in a season. That strong track record makes him one of the NFL’s most durable safeties.
The Tennessee Titans Era: Establishing Ball-Hawking Dominance (2016–2023)
| Season | Games | Total Tackles | Solo | Assisted | Sacks | Interceptions | INT Yards | Passes Defensed | FF | FR | Defensive TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 16 | 58 | 44 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 16 | 87 | 62 | 25 | 0 | 8 | 130 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | 16 | 90 | 62 | 28 | 2 | 4 | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 16 | 84 | 60 | 24 | 0 | 5 | 79 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 111 | 79 | 32 | 0 | 1 | — | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 17 | 88 | 57 | 31 | 1 | 5 | 66 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | 17 | 108 | 69 | 39 | 0 | 4 | 57 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Mid-Career Journeys: Philadelphia Eagles & Chicago Bears (2023–2025)
| Season | Team(s) | GP | Total Tackles | Solo | Assisted | Sacks | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tennessee Titans / Philadelphia Eagles | 16 | 122 | 80 | 42 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 3 |
| 2024 | Chicago Bears | 17 | 130 | 80 | 50 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 2025 | Chicago Bears | 17 | 93 | 61 | 32 | — | 7 | — | — | 8 |
Abbreviations: GP = Games Played, INT = Interceptions, FF = Forced Fumbles, FR = Fumble Recoveries, PD = Passes Defensed.
The New England Patriots Chapter (2026 Regular Season)
Bringing a decade of professional mastery to Foxborough, Byard joined the New England Patriots for the 2026 NFL regular season. Through the first 3 regular-season games of 2026, Byard has recorded 14 total tackles, consisting of 7 solo stops and 7 assisted tackles.
2026 Weekly Defensive Breakdown
- Week 1 (@ Seattle Seahawks): Byard initiated his Patriots career with 2 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles for a total of 5 tackles.
- Week 2 (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers): Byard provided steady coverage support, recording 2 solo tackles and 2 assisted tackles.
- Week 3 (@ Jacksonville Jaguars): Byard logged 3 solo tackles and 2 assisted tackles.
As New England prepares for upcoming AFC East matchups, Byard’s field command and tackling reliability serve as essential stabilizing forces for the Patriots secondary.
Comprehensive Statistical Breakdown: Career Totals
Kevin Byard Regular Season Defensive Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | Total Tackles | Solo | Ast | Sacks | FF | FR | INT | INT Yds | TD | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | TEN | 16 | 58 | 44 | 14 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2017 | TEN | 16 | 87 | 62 | 25 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 130 | 0 | 16 |
| 2018 | TEN | 16 | 90 | 62 | 28 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 2019 | TEN | 16 | 84 | 60 | 24 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 79 | 0 | 9 |
| 2020 | TEN | 16 | 111 | 79 | 32 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2021 | TEN | 17 | 88 | 57 | 31 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 66 | 1 | 13 |
| 2022 | TEN | 17 | 108 | 69 | 39 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 57 | 0 | 6 |
| 2023 | TEN | 6 | 47 | 30 | 17 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PHI | 10 | 75 | 50 | 25 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2024 | CHI | 17 | 130 | 80 | 50 | 2.0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2025 | CHI | 17 | 93 | 61 | 32 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 91 | 0 | 8 |
| 2026 | NE | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | Total | 167 | 985 | 661 | 324 | 6.0 | 4 | 6 | 36 | 424 | 1 | 81 |
Table 2: Special Offensive & Passing Totals
| Category | Attempts / Tgts | Completions / Rec | Yards | Touchdowns | Passer Rating | | :— | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | | Passing (2018) | 1 | 1 | 66 | 1 | 158.3 | | Receiving (2019) | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | N/A |
Conclusion
Kevin Byard’s career trajectory underscores the immense value of durability, field discipline, and instinctive ball-hawking skills.
From his decorated tenure with the Tennessee Titans to impactful stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears, Byard has repeatedly proven to be an elite secondary conductor.
Now providing crucial leadership for the New England Patriots in 2026, Byard continues to build upon a legacy defined by defensive consistency and high-level tackling execution.
