Kerby Joseph

Kerby Joseph Bio

Kerby Joseph is an American professional football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Born on November 14, 2000, in Orlando, Florida, Joseph played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini where he earned All-American honors. The Detroit Lions selected Joseph in the third round (97th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. By 2024, he had established himself as one of the premier safeties in the league, leading the NFL in interceptions and earning first-team All-Pro honors. In April 2025, the Lions signed him to a four-year, $86 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid safety in NFL history at that time.

Early Life and Background

Kerby Joseph grew up in Orlando, Florida, and attended Jones High School. During his senior year at Jones High School, Joseph recorded four interceptions and seven tackles for loss while playing cornerback. He also showcased his versatility by catching five touchdown receptions as a wide receiver. Joseph was rated a three-star recruit coming out of high school.

Joseph decided to continue his football career at the collegiate level, choosing to commit to the University of Illinois over offers from Mississippi State, Syracuse, South Florida, and Florida Atlantic. He is of Haitian descent, which adds to his diverse background as an athlete.

Path to Professional Football

Joseph played for the Illinois Fighting Illini from 2018 to 2021. During his first two seasons at Illinois, he served mostly as a reserve defensive back and contributed on special teams. This developmental period allowed him to learn the intricacies of college football at the Big Ten level while refining his skills.

Going into his junior year, Joseph earned a starting role and made an immediate impact. In the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, he recorded 19 tackles. His breakout campaign came in 2021 when he was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference after finishing the season with 57 tackles, one sack, three fumble recoveries, and five interceptions. His exceptional performance earned him second-team All-American honors. After the 2021 season, Joseph declared for the 2022 NFL Draft and was invited to play in the Senior Bowl, further showcasing his talents to NFL scouts.

Kerby Joseph Career

Rookie Season (2022)

The Detroit Lions selected Kerby Joseph in the third round (97th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He became the eighth safety drafted in 2022 and was part of a notable group of five defensive backs the Lions drafted from Illinois between 2018 and 2022. On May 12, 2022, the Lions signed Joseph to a four-year, $5.04 million contract that included an $849,020 signing bonus.

Throughout training camp, Joseph competed for a role as the primary backup safety against several players. Head coach Dan Campbell named Tracy Walker and DeShon Elliott the starting safeties to begin the regular season, with Joseph serving as a backup. On September 11, 2022, Joseph made his professional regular season debut in the Lions’ home-opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Following a season-ending injury to Tracy Walker in Week 3, Joseph was named the starting strong safety heading into Week 4.

In Week 4, Joseph earned his first career start against the Seattle Seahawks. A defining moment came on November 6, 2022, when he recorded ten combined tackles, three pass deflections, and two interceptions off passes by Aaron Rodgers during a 15-9 victory against the Green Bay Packers. Joseph became the first player in NFL history to intercept Aaron Rodgers three times in a single season, helping the Lions knock the Packers out of playoff contention. His performance earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award, making him the first Lions rookie to win the award in franchise history. He finished his rookie season with 82 combined tackles (55 solo), eight pass deflections, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and four interceptions in 17 games and 14 starts.

Sophomore Season (2023)

Joseph entered training camp in 2023 as the starting strong safety. Head coach Dan Campbell named Joseph and C.J. Gardner-Johnson the starting safety tandem to begin the season. He missed two consecutive games (Weeks 3-4) due to a hamstring injury but returned to form. In Week 7, he collected a season-high ten combined tackles (nine solo) during a loss at the Baltimore Ravens. On December 24, 2023, Joseph made nine combined tackles (eight solo), two pass deflections, and two interceptions as the Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings 30-24. He finished the 2023 season with 82 combined tackles (69 solo), 11 pass deflections, and four interceptions while starting all 15 games he appeared in.

The Detroit Lions finished the 2023 NFL season with a 12-5 record, winning the NFC North division and clinching a playoff berth. Joseph started his first career postseason game on January 14, 2024, recording two solo tackles and deflecting a pass in the Lions’ 23-24 victory against the Los Angeles Rams in the Wildcard Round. He also started in the Divisional Round win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers, recording six combined tackles (four solo) in that contest.

Breakout Year (2024)

Joseph returned as the starting free safety in 2024, paired with strong safety Brian Branch. He enjoyed a remarkable season that saw him establish himself among the elite safeties in the NFL. On September 28, 2024, he collected a season-high nine combined tackles (five solo), one pass deflection, and an interception against the Seattle Seahawks. On November 3, 2024, he made four solo tackles, two pass deflections, and returned an interception thrown by Jordan Love for a 27-yard touchdown during a 24-14 victory at the Green Bay Packers, scoring his first career NFL touchdown.

In Week 17, Joseph had six combined tackles (five solo), two pass deflections, and two interceptions on passes by Brock Purdy in a 40-34 win at the San Francisco 49ers. This performance brought his interception total to nine for the season, making him the NFL interceptions leader in 2024. He started all 17 games for the first time in his career and finished with 83 combined tackles (58 solo), 12 pass deflections, nine interceptions, and one touchdown. He received an overall grade of 91.0 from Pro Football Focus, ranking first among all safeties in 2024. His coverage grade of 91.9 from PFF also ranked first among 170 safeties. Joseph earned first-team All-Pro honors for his exceptional 2024 campaign.

Detroit Lions Era (2025-Present)

On April 23, 2025, the Detroit Lions made Joseph the highest-paid safety in NFL history at that time, signing him to a four-year, $86 million contract extension that includes $36.12 million guaranteed and a $10.01 million signing bonus. This contract reflected his status as one of the premier defensive players in the league following his breakout 2024 season.

Joseph missed multiple practices during training camp with a knee injury, though head coach Dan Campbell stated it was not serious. He was named the Week 1 starter and began the season in that role. Joseph started the first six games of the 2025 season while managing the knee injury before missing the next eight games after aggravating the injury. The Lions placed him on injured reserve on December 20, 2025, bringing his season to an early conclusion.

Playing Style and Strengths

Kerby Joseph is known for his exceptional range and ball skills, which made him the NFL interceptions leader in 2024. His ability to read quarterbacks and react quickly to passes allows him to make plays on the ball consistently. Joseph’s hip fluidity enables him to transition smoothly in coverage, while his speed helps him cover significant ground on the field. Pro Football Focus ranked his overall grade and coverage grade first among all safeties in 2024, validating his reputation as an elite defensive back. His playmaking ability was demonstrated by his history-making season against Aaron Rodgers, becoming the first player to intercept the future Hall of Famer three times in a single season.

Notable Events and Milestones

Joseph achieved several significant milestones early in his career. In his rookie season of 2022, he became the first Lions rookie to win the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. His three-interception season against Aaron Rodgers helped knock the Green Bay Packers out of playoff contention. In 2023, he was part of the Lions team that won the NFC North division and made a deep playoff run to the NFC Championship Game. The 2024 season saw him lead the NFL in interceptions with nine, earn first-team All-Pro honors, and score his first career defensive touchdown. His $86 million contract extension in 2025 made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history at that time.

Kerby Joseph Career Statistics

Through his first three-plus seasons with the Detroit Lions, Kerby Joseph established himself as one of the most productive safeties in the NFL. His career totals include 265 combined tackles, 35 pass deflections, 20 interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one defensive touchdown across regular season play.

NFL Regular Season Highlights

Joseph’s rookie season in 2022 saw him record 82 combined tackles (55 solo), eight pass deflections, and four interceptions in 17 games with 14 starts. His sophomore season in 2023 produced similar numbers with 82 combined tackles (69 solo), 11 pass deflections, and four interceptions while starting all 15 games he played. His 2024 breakthrough season featured 83 combined tackles (58 solo), 12 pass deflections, nine interceptions (leading the NFL), and one touchdown in all 17 starts.

Postseason Performance

Joseph has shown up in big playoff moments for the Lions. In the 2023-2024 postseason, he started all three playoff games and recorded 10 combined tackles and 2 pass deflections across the Wildcard win over the Rams, the Divisional win over the Buccaneers, and the NFC Championship loss to the 49ers.

Kerby Joseph Personal Life

Family Background

Kerby Joseph was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. He is of Haitian descent, which reflects his family heritage. His background as an American football player from Florida has contributed to his development as an athlete, with his early years in the state’s competitive high school football environment helping shape his skills.

Education

Joseph attended Jones High School in Orlando, Florida, where he excelled as both a cornerback and wide receiver during his senior year. He then pursued higher education and played college football at the University of Illinois from 2018 to 2021, where he earned second-team All-American honors and became a first-round NFL Draft pick.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season began with tremendous promise for Kerby Joseph following his record-breaking 2024 campaign and historic contract extension. The Detroit Lions signed him to a four-year, $86 million deal in April, solidifying their commitment to their star safety for years to come. However, the season took an unfortunate turn when Joseph sustained a knee injury during training camp.

Despite the injury concerns raised during the preseason, Joseph was named the Week 1 starter and opened the season in that role. He managed to start the first six games of the season while dealing with the injury. His performance during this stretch demonstrated his value to the defense even while not at full health. The Lions’ coaching staff worked to manage his practice workload to keep him on the field.

The injury ultimately proved more problematic as the season progressed. After aggravating the injury, Joseph missed eight consecutive games. The Lions placed him on injured reserve on December 20, 2025, ending his season prematurely. Despite the setback, Joseph’s early-season contributions and his established track record of excellence suggest he will remain a cornerstone of the Lions’ defense once he returns to full health. The organization clearly values his playmaking ability and leadership, as evidenced by their significant investment in him during the 2025 offseason.