Kwon Alexander Bio
Kwon Alexander is an American professional football linebacker who has played in the National Football League since being selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Born on August 3, 1994, in Oxford, Alabama, Alexander played college football for the LSU Tigers before beginning his professional career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over his NFL tenure, Alexander has been recognized as a dynamic defender, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 and leading the league in solo tackles during the 2016 season. His career has spanned seven teams, including recent stints with the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions.
Early Life and Background
Kwon Alexander grew up in Oxford, Alabama, where he attended Oxford High School. As a high school athlete, Alexander showcased exceptional defensive abilities on the football field while also excelling in track and field. During his junior year in 2010, he recorded 144 tackles, 17 sacks, and six forced fumbles, helping lead Oxford to a 12-2 record and an appearance in the AHSAA Class 6A state semi-finals. A knee injury during his senior season in 2011 limited his playing time, but his prior accomplishments earned him recognition as a finalist for the High School Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s top linebacker.
Alexander established himself as one of Alabama’s top prospects, earning a four-star rating from major recruiting services. He was ranked as the state’s number three prospect by ESPN.com and received additional high rankings from Rivals.com and 247Sports.com. Nationally, he was regarded as a top-20 linebacker prospect. His athletic versatility was evident in track and field, where he posted personal-best times of 11.24 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 22.99 seconds in the 200-meter dash at the 2011 AHSAA 6A Section 4 meet.
Path to the NFL
Alexander committed to play college football at Louisiana State University, where he attended from 2012 to 2014. As a true freshman, he appeared in seven games with two starts, recording 12 tackles. His sophomore season saw him start nine of 13 games while accumulating 65 tackles. During his junior year, Alexander led the team with 92 tackles and added 1.5 sacks, earning First-team All-SEC honors. His standout performance prompted him to enter the 2015 NFL draft after three seasons with the Tigers.
Prior to the draft, Alexander impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine, finishing second among all linebackers in the 40-yard dash, sixth in the bench press and short shuttle, and ninth in the three-cone drill. At LSU’s pro day, he performed positional drills for representatives from all 32 NFL teams. Projected as a third-round pick, he was ranked as the second-best outside linebacker prospect by NFL analyst Charles Davis and the seventh-best linebacker by Matt Miller of NFLDraftScout.com.
Kwon Alexander Career
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2015-2018)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Kwon Alexander in the fourth round with the 124th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. The Buccaneers traded their fourth and seventh-round picks to the Oakland Raiders to move up four spots to secure Alexander. He signed a four-year, $2.75 million contract on May 12, 2015, and entered training camp competing for the starting strongside linebacker position before transitioning to middle linebacker. Head coach Lovie Smith named Alexander the starting middle linebacker alongside Lavonte David.
Alexander made his NFL debut and first start in the season-opener against the Tennessee Titans, recording five combined tackles and a pass deflection. He recorded his first NFL interception in Week 3 against the Houston Texans and his first sack in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. During Week 9, Alexander delivered a standout performance with 11 combined tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception against the Atlanta Falcons, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He finished his rookie season with 93 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, three sacks, and two interceptions in 12 games, earning PFWA All-Rookie Team recognition.
In 2016, Alexander started all 16 games and ranked fourth in the league with 145 combined tackles, adding seven pass deflections, three sacks, and an interception. He returned an interception 38 yards for his first NFL touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams and recorded a career-high 21 combined tackles in Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys. During the 2017 season, he recorded 97 combined tackles, four pass deflections, and a career-high three interceptions in 12 starts before earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Alexander’s 2018 season was cut short when he suffered a torn ACL in Week 7, finishing with 45 tackles, two sacks, and two pass deflections in six games.
San Francisco 49ers (2019-2020)
On March 13, 2019, Alexander signed a four-year, $54 million contract with $25.50 million guaranteed with the San Francisco 49ers. During the season opener against his former team, Alexander was ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit against Jameis Winston. He bounced back the following week with an interception against Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals. Alexander recorded his first forced fumble of the season in Week 7 against the Washington Redskins, but a torn pectoral injury against the Arizona Cardinals ended his season. He was placed on injured reserve and was designated for return on January 2, 2020. Alexander returned to help the 49ers reach Super Bowl LIV, where he recorded a tackle and a pass deflection in the 31-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
New Orleans Saints (2020-2021)
On November 2, 2020, the 49ers traded Alexander to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a fifth-round conditional pick and linebacker Kiko Alonso. He became a starter in Week 10 and held that role for seven games before suffering a torn Achilles in Week 16, resulting in his placement on injured reserve on December 28. The Saints released Alexander on March 16, 2021, but re-signed him to a one-year, $1.12 million contract in August. He was placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury in September and activated in October.
Recent Seasons (2022-2024)
Alexander joined the New York Jets on August 2, 2022, signing a one-year, $1.27 million contract. He played in all 17 games with 12 starts, recording 69 tackles. On July 30, 2023, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year, $1.31 million contract. Alexander made a game-sealing interception against the Tennessee Titans in Week 9 before suffering another torn Achilles in Week 10 against the Green Bay Packers, ending his season and tenure with the Steelers.
On September 25, 2024, Alexander was signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad. In three games with two starts, he recorded eight tackles and a forced fumble before joining the Detroit Lions practice squad on November 29. He was released and re-signed to the Lions practice squad multiple times during his tenure.
Playing Style and Strengths
Alexander is known for his speed, instincts, and versatility as a linebacker. His exceptional pursuit ability and tackling skills have made him a disruptive force throughout his career. He demonstrates a nose for the ball, evidenced by his career totals of 643 tackles, 13 forced fumbles, and nine interceptions. Alexander’s ability to read plays and close on ball carriers has contributed to his success in creating turnovers.
Notable Achievements and Milestones
Alexander’s career highlights include his Pro Bowl selection in 2017, leading the NFL in solo tackles during the 2016 season, and earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 2015. His performance against the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, which earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week, stands as one of his most memorable individual games. Alexander’s Super Bowl LIV appearance with the 49ers in 2020 represents his deepest playoff run.
Kwon Alexander Career Statistics
Alexander has accumulated 643 total tackles, 13.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 34 pass deflections, 9 interceptions, and 1 defensive touchdown across his NFL career spanning the Buccaneers, 49ers, Saints, Jets, and Steelers.
Career Highlights
His most productive season came in 2016 with Tampa Bay, where he ranked fourth in the NFL with 145 combined tackles. Alexander’s 2017 Pro Bowl selection marked his first career Pro Bowl honor. In 2015, his rookie campaign included 93 tackles and earned him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. His 2014 First-team All-SEC selection at LSU preceded his NFL career.
Team Performance Notes
Alexander has contributed to teams that reached the playoffs multiple times, most notably the 49ers run to Super Bowl LIV in 2020. His versatility has allowed him to make immediate impacts with each organization he has joined, despite facing significant injuries throughout his career.
| Season | Team | Games | Tackles | Sacks | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 12 | 93 | 3.0 | 2 |
| 2016 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 16 | 145 | 3.0 | 1 |
| 2017 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 12 | 97 | 0.0 | 3 |
| 2018 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6 | 45 | 2.0 | 0 |
| 2019 | San Francisco 49ers | 4 | 27 | 0.0 | 1 |
| 2020 | Multiple Teams | 13 | 85 | 1.5 | 1 |
| 2022 | New York Jets | 17 | 69 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 10 | 49 | 1.0 | 1 |
Kwon Alexander Family
Personal Life
Alexander experienced significant personal tragedy during his rookie NFL season when his younger brother, Broderick Taylor, was murdered in 2015, just two days before a game against the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the devastating loss, Alexander played the following game and recorded a standout performance. He has not publicly disclosed information about a spouse or children.
2025 Season Outlook
As Alexander enters the 2025 season, his NFL future remains uncertain following an inconsistent 2024 campaign split between the Broncos and Lions. At 31 years old, his career has been defined by both impressive production and significant injuries, including multiple torn Achilles and a torn ACL. His ability to contribute as a starting or rotational linebacker will depend on his health and opportunities with interested teams during the 2025 season. Teams seeking veteran linebacker depth may view Alexander as a potential value signing if he can remain healthy and demonstrate the playmaking ability that characterized his early career success.