News from NFL Network indicates that Kevin Byard III, a defensive back currently without a team, has reached an accord to join the New England Patriots. This agreement is for one year and is valued at $9 million.
This transaction brings Byard back together with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. Vrabel had previously mentored him while with the Tennessee Titans, from 2018 to 2023.
At 32 years old, Byard topped the NFL in 2025 with seven interceptions. This marked the second occasion in his decade-long career that he concluded a season as the league’s leading interceptor (the first being in 2017, with eight), a feat that garnered him first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl distinctions for the third time.
His influence was evident across the Chicago Bears’ defensive backfield, where he commenced 34 games over two campaigns. The Bears had brought him on board with a two-year, $15 million deal as an unrestricted agent in 2024. Besides his seven interceptions the previous season, Byard recorded 93 tackles (matching the team-high of 61 solo efforts), broke up eight passes, and made four stops behind the line of scrimmage.
In 2025, he participated in almost all defensive plays, totaling 1,070 snaps. Notably, Byard has never been absent from a match since he joined the NFL as a third-round selection by the Tennessee Titans in 2016. He has recorded 164 uninterrupted regular season games played (including 155 starts) and 10 postseason contests.
Across six of his ten seasons, Byard has registered at least four interceptions. His total of 36 career interceptions is second only among current players, trailing Minnesota Vikings defensive back Harrison Smith, who has 39.
The initial eight years of his career were passed with the Titans. However, he was then moved mid-season to the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade during 2023.
In Chicago, Byard served as a squad leader for two consecutive campaigns.
Courtney Cronin of ESPN provided input for this dispatch.