BuccaneersFan.com • Player Spotlight • Tampa Bay No. 29
Official team portrait: Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Safety • Special teams • Eleventh NFL season
Give the kicking game your attention
Miles Killebrew
- Born
- May 10, 1993
- Hometown
- Henderson, Nevada
- Listed size
- 6 feet 2 inches • 222 pounds
- High school
- Foothill • Henderson, Nevada
- College
- Southern Utah University • 2011–2015
- NFL entry
- 2016 Draft • Round 4 • Pick 111
- NFL teams
- Detroit → Pittsburgh → Tampa Bay
- Current team
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers • No. 29
Sources: current Buccaneers profile, team media guide and Southern Utah biography. His first college year was a redshirt season.
Sources and scope: NFL regular-season record, the first Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition, the second Pro Bowl selection and the college record.
When the punt team takes the field, keep an eye on Miles Killebrew. The Buccaneers signed him on March 12, 2026, adding a veteran whose work on coverage units and against punt protection had already earned him national recognition. Tampa Bay’s signing announcement.
For the Krewe, his arrival offers another reason to follow the kicking game closely. A sound tackle can shorten a return. A well-timed rush can reach the punter. A loose football can bring the offense back onto the field. This spotlight follows that work alongside his defensive record and the journey that began in Nevada.
Nevada → Southern Utah → Three NFL cities
From Henderson to the NFL
Foothill to Southern Utah A college opportunity through special teams.
Killebrew came from Foothill High School in Henderson, Nevada. His university biography.
He later explained that his high-school kickoff footage helped earn him a Southern Utah scholarship. That early commitment to coverage would remain central to his professional career. His account of that opportunity.
The Thunderbirds years A redshirt season, then four years on the field.
After redshirting in 2011, he appeared in 48 games from 2012 through 2015. His senior season brought 132 tackles, a team captaincy and first-team All-Big Sky recognition. The full college record; the team’s college summary.
Detroit, then Pittsburgh Five seasons with each organization.
The Lions drafted Killebrew 111th overall in 2016. After five seasons in Detroit, he signed with Pittsburgh on March 24, 2021. The transaction record.
His Steelers teammates elected him special teams captain for four consecutive seasons, 2022–2025. Pittsburgh’s 2025 captain announcement.
October 8, 2023 • Baltimore at Pittsburgh
Two points that opened the door
Blocked punt • Safety
2
POINTS FROM A SPECIAL-TEAMS PLAY
Pittsburgh went on to win 17–10.
Pittsburgh trailed Baltimore 10–3 in the fourth quarter when Killebrew broke through and blocked a punt. The football went out of the end zone for a safety, trimming the deficit to 10–5. The Steelers ultimately won 17–10. The team’s account of the play.
That season brought his first Associated Press First-Team All-Pro selection as a special teamer and his first Pro Bowl selection. The original honors report. He earned another Pro Bowl selection for the 2024 season. The second selection announcement.
Tampa Bay • 2026
A familiar coach in a new uniform
Reunited with Danny Smith
Killebrew’s move reunited him with Danny Smith, his former Steelers special teams coordinator. In Tampa Bay’s June 2026 report, he described that relationship as a major influence on his decision to join the Buccaneers.
He already knew Smith’s expectations and could reinforce the same instructions with his new teammates. For a coverage unit, that shared understanding matters when every player has a lane, a matchup and a few seconds to execute. The Buccaneers’ reunion report.
His next NFL chapter
A knee injury against Cleveland interrupted Killebrew’s final Pittsburgh season. The Steelers placed him on injured reserve on October 16, 2025. The dated team announcement.
He has appeared in all eight Tampa Bay games through November 1, 2026. The gamebooks list 146 special-teams snaps and 11 defensive snaps, illustrating where most of his current work takes place. The game-by-game record.
October 8, 2026 • Week 5 at Dallas
A coverage takeaway in Dallas
On a Dallas kickoff return, Killebrew forced KaVontae Turpin to fumble and Kevin Knowles recovered for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers won 24–16. The official play-by-play; the team’s highlight.
This was a takeaway by the coverage unit. Killebrew is credited with the forced fumble, and Knowles with the recovery. The special-teams forced fumble appears in the 2026 table below.
NFL regular season • 2016–2026
Eleven NFL seasons, three teams
Cutoff: November 1, 2026, after Week 8. The regular-season record contains 159 appearances and five starts. The tables keep defensive tackles and special-teams tackles separate. Completed seasons come from 2026 Buccaneers media guide, printed p. 159; the eight 2026 gamebooks are linked below. NFL playoff figures appear in their own table.
| Season | Team | G | GS | Solo | Ast | DEF TKL | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Detroit | 16 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 20 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | Detroit | 16 | 3 | 25 | 6 | 31 | 0.0 |
| 2018 | Detroit | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | Detroit | 15 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | Detroit | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | Pittsburgh | 17 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0.0 |
| 2022 | Pittsburgh | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 | Pittsburgh | 17 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 0.0 |
| 2024 | Pittsburgh | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 | Pittsburgh | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2026 (Wk 1–8) | Tampa Bay | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| NFL career | 3 teams | 159 | 5 | 60 | 15 | 75 | 0.0 |
G = games played; GS = starts; Solo = unassisted defensive tackles; Ast = assisted defensive tackles; DEF TKL = their total. These figures exclude coverage tackles. Career defensive totals also include three tackles for loss and two quarterback hits; the guide supplies those career totals without complete annual splits.
Interceptions, passes defended and defensive fumbles
| Season | INT | INT YDS | INT LNG | INT TD | PD | DEF FF | DEF FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 | 35 | 35 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 (Wk 1–8) | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NFL career | 2 | 42 | 35 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
INT = interceptions; INT YDS/LNG/TD = return yards, longest return and return touchdowns; PD = passes defended; DEF FF/FR = defensive forced fumbles and recoveries. A dash in INT LNG means no interception that season. The career long is a maximum. The Dallas coverage forced fumble is listed with special teams below.
Special teams: coverage tackles and punt blocks
| Season | Team | ST Solo | ST Ast | ST TKL | Punt BLK | ST Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Detroit | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | Detroit | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | Detroit | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | Detroit | 13 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | Detroit | 10 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | Pittsburgh | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | Pittsburgh | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Pittsburgh | 11 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | Pittsburgh | 8 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Pittsburgh | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 (Wk 1–8) | Tampa Bay | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Career (book series) | 3 teams | 74 | 24 | 98 | 4 | 1 |
ST = special teams; ST TKL = ST Solo + ST Ast; Punt BLK = officially credited blocked punts; ST Safety = safeties on special teams. The career coverage total in this series is 98 tackles. The four punt blocks came in 2020 (one), 2021 (two) and 2023 (one). The 2023 Baltimore block produced the safety.
One-tackle source difference: the eight cited 2026 gamebooks credit seven special-teams tackles and no defensive tackles. The current Buccaneers profile instead shows eight combined tackles, including one at Cincinnati that is absent from the Week 1 gamebook’s defense and special-teams table. These tables use the gamebooks so each tackle retains a documented phase. That produces 98 career coverage tackles; the extra profile tackle has not been assigned to either phase. Both sources were checked November 3, 2026.
Tackle sources: 2026 Buccaneers media guide, printed p. 159; current gamebooks below. Punt-block sources: Detroit’s November 2020 report; Pittsburgh’s 2021 season review; Pittsburgh’s 2023 season review. Pittsburgh’s All-Pro report explains why his 2023 New England punt deflection did not receive an official block credit.
September 13–November 1, 2026
This season, game by game
All eight rows are actual appearances. Killebrew was listed as a reserve in each game; his special-teams work contributes to the same games-played total as his defensive work.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | G | GS | DEF snaps | ST snaps | DEF TKL | ST Solo | ST Ast | ST TKL | ST FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026-09-13 | @ CIN | L 27–33 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 2026-09-20 | vs. CLE | L 19–23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 2026-09-27 | vs. MIN | L 16–23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | 2026-10-04 | vs. GB | L 14–17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 2026-10-08 | @ DAL | W 24–16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | 2026-10-18 | vs. PIT | L 19–26 (OT) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | 2026-10-25 | @ CAR | W 43–13 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 2026-11-01 | vs. ATL | W 16–0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 8 appearances | — | — | 8 | 0 | 11 | 146 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
G = appearance; GS = start; DEF/ST snaps = defensive and special-teams snaps; DEF TKL = defensive tackles; ST Solo/Ast/TKL = coverage tackles; ST FF = forced fumbles on special teams. The series totals eight appearances, 11 defensive snaps and 146 special-teams snaps. Weeks 2 and 3 were special-teams-only appearances. See the Week 1 source difference for the tackle-count qualification.
The gamebooks label snap counts unofficial. Results are from Tampa Bay’s perspective; vs. = home, @ = away, OT = overtime. CIN = Cincinnati; CLE = Cleveland; MIN = Minnesota; GB = Green Bay; DAL = Dallas; PIT = Pittsburgh; CAR = Carolina; ATL = Atlanta.
Official gamebooks: Week 1: participation / defense and coverage / snaps; Week 2: participation / defense and coverage / snaps; Week 3: participation / defense and coverage / snaps; Week 4: participation / defense and coverage / snaps; Week 5: participation / defense and coverage / snaps; Week 6: participation / defense and coverage / snaps; Week 7: participation / defense and coverage / snaps; Week 8: participation / defense and coverage / snaps. Dallas forced-fumble play: PDF p. 11.
2016, 2021, 2023 and 2024 seasons
Four trips onto the playoff field
| Date | Season | Team | Opponent | Result | GS | DEF TKL | ST TKL | DEF snaps | ST snaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-01-07 | 2016 | Detroit | @ SEA | L 6–26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 21 |
| 2022-01-16 | 2021 | Pittsburgh | @ KC | L 21–42 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 22 |
| 2024-01-15 | 2023 | Pittsburgh | @ BUF | L 17–31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2025-01-11 | 2024 | Pittsburgh | @ BAL | L 14–28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 16 |
| Playoff total | 4 appearances | — | — | — | 0 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 75 |
All four rows are verified Wild Card appearances, with no starts. The tackle totals are four on defense (two solo, two assists) and two on special teams (one solo, one assist). These games contain no credited interception, sack, pass defended, forced fumble, fumble recovery or blocked punt. The 2023 Buffalo appearance was special teams only.
January dates belong to the preceding regular season. Results are from Killebrew’s team’s perspective; @ = away. SEA = Seattle; KC = Kansas City; BUF = Buffalo; BAL = Baltimore. Snap counts are labeled unofficial. These playoff totals are separate from his regular-season record.
Original gamebooks: 2016: date and lineup / tackles / snaps; 2021: date and lineup / tackles / snaps; 2023: date and lineup / tackles / snaps; 2024: date and lineup / tackles / snaps.
Southern Utah University • 2011–2015
The Thunderbirds record
Killebrew’s college record contains 48 appearances and 356 tackles. The 2011 redshirt row contributes no game; its performance cells are marked with dashes. The 2013 and 2015 FCS playoff appearances are included in the annual totals. A career starts total is omitted because the surviving 2013 starter lists are incomplete.
| Season | G | Solo | Ast | TKL | TFL | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 (redshirt) | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | 11 | 42 | 27 | 69 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| 2013 | 13 | 32 | 22 | 54 | 4.5 | 0.0 |
| 2014 | 12 | 62 | 39 | 101 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | 12 | 74 | 58 | 132 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| College career | 48 | 210 | 146 | 356 | 9.5 | 0.0 |
G = games played; Solo + Ast = total tackles; TFL = tackles for loss, including sacks. Fractional TFL reflects shared credit. The tackle total is 210 solo + 146 assisted = 356.
Original records: revised 2012 totals in the 2013 spring prospectus, PDF p. 20; 2013 final statistics and appearances, official Big Sky record; revised 2014 totals in the 2015 opener packet, PDF p. 16; 2015 regular season in the playoff packet, PDF p. 31; 2015 playoff gamebook, PDF p. 4. Revised university packets resolve older online differences. For 2015, the complete season adds 122 regular-season tackles and 10 playoff tackles; the same method yields 2.5 TFL and two blocked kicks. The playoff subset below must not be added a second time.
Interceptions, pass breakups, fumbles and scoring plays
| Season | INT | INT YDS | INT TD | PBU | FF | FR | FR YDS | FR TD | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 (redshirt) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 49 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 89 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 105 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| College career | 3 | 105 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 138 | 2 | 3 |
INT = interceptions; INT YDS/TD = interception-return yards and touchdowns; PBU = passes broken up, excluding interceptions; FF/FR = forced fumbles and recoveries; FR YDS/TD = fumble-return yards and touchdowns; BLK = blocked kicks of any type. His 21 PBU and three interceptions equal 24 passes defended when both categories are combined.
Three defensive scoring plays: a 49-yard fumble return against New Mexico Highlands in 2012, an 89-yard fumble return against Fort Lewis in 2013, and an 85-yard interception return against Nevada in 2014. The original university records establish three, although the later Buccaneers biography lists two.
Scoring evidence: 2012 New Mexico Highlands play-by-play; Southern Utah’s 2013 and 2014 biography summaries; the original season records linked above.
He also returned a blocked punt 41 yards for a touchdown against Eastern Washington on October 27, 2012, a separate special-teams score. The original game record.
Actual FCS playoff appearances
| Date | Round | Opponent | Result | GS | Solo | Ast | TKL | TFL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-11-30 | First Round | @ Sam Houston State | L 20–51 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2015-11-28 | First Round | @ Sam Houston State | L 39–42 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 1.0 | 1 |
| Playoff subset | 2 appearances | — | — | 2 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 1.0 | 1 |
These two first-round FCS playoff appearances are already included in college career totals. Both were at Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas, and Killebrew started at strong safety in each. In 2015 he recorded 10 tackles, one tackle for loss and a blocked field goal. The two-game subset totals 15 tackles, one TFL and one blocked kick. These were FCS playoff games.
GS = starts; the remaining definitions match the college tables. Results are from Southern Utah’s perspective. He had no sack, interception, pass breakup, forced fumble or fumble recovery in these two games.
Original opponent gamebooks: 2013-11-30 official gamebook, PDF p. 4; 2015-11-28 official gamebook, PDF p. 4.
Education • Leadership • Community
The person behind No. 29
Engineering technology An earned degree from Southern Utah.
Southern Utah confirms that Killebrew graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology. The university documented that achievement when it announced his return as its 2025 commencement speaker. The university’s education record.
Back at commencement Addressing the Class of 2025.
On April 24, 2025, he delivered the keynote at SUU’s 126th annual commencement. The university also awarded him an honorary Doctorate in Public Service, recognizing his leadership and community work. This honorary award is distinct from his earned bachelor’s degree. The university’s report after the ceremony.
Recognition from Playworks Supporting children through play.
Playworks named Killebrew its Recess Superhero honoree for the October 3, 2019 Get in the Game event in Detroit. The organization’s work helps children take part in safe, inclusive play at school. The original event announcement.
Sources & statistical notes
The records behind the spotlight
- Identity and career: the current Buccaneers roster profile, 2026 team media guide and Southern Utah’s original biography. Dated team announcements establish the Tampa Bay signing, Pittsburgh captaincies, honors and 2025 injury.
- Special-teams milestones: Pittsburgh’s October 2023 Ravens review and January 2024 All-Pro report; Tampa Bay’s June 2026 Danny Smith reunion report and the Dallas gamebook and highlight.
- NFL statistics: the 2026 Buccaneers media guide and the 12 original NFL gamebooks linked above. Defensive and special-teams tackles are kept separate. The one-tackle Cincinnati difference is disclosed beside the coverage table; no unverified phase assignment has been made.
- College statistics: original Southern Utah and Big Sky records, revised university packets and two actual Sam Houston State playoff gamebooks. The 2015 regular-season packet is extended by the actual playoff record. PBU excludes interceptions, and three original defensive scoring plays are retained.
- Education and community: Southern Utah’s April 8, 2025 commencement announcement for the earned degree; its April 25 recap for the delivered keynote and honorary award; Playworks’ original 2019 event page for its recognition.
- Portrait: the current official Buccaneers player-profile image.
Updated November 3, 2026. NFL regular-season statistics stop after November 1, 2026, Week 8. Preseason is excluded. NFL playoff figures are separate; college FCS playoff figures are already included in the college season totals. Source differences are explained beside the relevant tables.