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‘I’ve Loved It’: Buccaneers’ Killebrew Embraces Unsung Role
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- ‘I’ve Loved It’: Buccaneers’ Killebrew Embraces Unsung Role
(Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
New Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive back Miles Killebrew probably didn't come to the NFL looking to become a special teams superstar.
In college, Killebrew developed into a star defensive back at Southern Utah, becoming a first-team all-Big Sky performer as a senior in 2015.
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From there, the Detroit Lions drafted Killewbrew in the fourth round, and he spent his five seasons in Detroit at safety and linebacker, which his 6-foot-2, 222-pound frame allowed him to do.
But it became apparent that Killebrew had another talent.
Killebrew had 15 special teams tackles in 2019, which ranked fourth in the NFL, and followed that up with 13 the next year.
After the 2020 season, Killebrew moved on to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In his five seasons in Pittsburgh, Killebrew became known for something he only did once with the Lions: blocking punts.
He's embraced that role.
"I've loved it. I enjoy it. I practice it a lot in my off time," Killebrew told Buccaneers.com. "Just like a quarterback practices throwing motion, I'm out there practicing it."
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It all started during his first regular-season game.
The Steelers opened their 2021 season against the Buffalo Bills, and Killebrew blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown. That play ended up being the difference in a 23-16 win, and considering the Steelers ended up making the postseason by a single game, it's safe to say it was pretty important.
The Buccaneers were on the wrong end of a close divisional race last season, finishing 8-9 and losing out on the NFC South championship to the Carolina Panthers on a tiebreaker.
The Bucs also didn't block a single punt in 2025 and had had two of there's blocked, so a guy like Killebrew could have been the difference in retaining the south vs. staying at home for the playoffs.
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Head coach Todd Bowles was well aware that Tampa wasn't good enough on special teams, and thus fired coordinator Thomas McCaughey and hired Danny Smith.
Smith had been the Pittsburgh Steelers' special teams coordinator for 13 seasons before head coach Mike Tomlin resigned in January.
The Bucs hired Smith, and soon enough, Killebrew came over.
Under Smith's tutelage, Killebrew made it to two Pro Bowls, was a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and blocked three punts between 2021 and 2024, which were tied for the most in the NFL.
Add in his one blocked punt with the Lions, and Killebrew has four career blocked punts, which is tied for the most of any active NFL player.
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Killebrew didn't get much of a chance to add to his resume in 2025, suffering a season ending injury Oct. 12 against the Cleveland Browns.
But when Killebrew is healthy, he's among the best in the world at what he does.
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