Tag: cornerback

Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie describes technique against Eagles receivers: ‘I’m on the outside this time’

Kansas City #Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie describes technique against Philadelphia #Eagles receivers: ‘I’m on the outside this time’ | @EdEastonJr

During his Wednesday press conference, Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie opened up about his matchups with two Philadelphia Eagles offensive weapons.

“Honestly, really just looking at how they were attacking us, seeing just the things that I can improve upon as far as technique-wise,” said McDuffie. “I’m on the outside this time, so just watching more tape on A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.”

The Eagles duo of Brown and Smith led the team in receiving, and they are elite playmakers on the outside. McDuffie has carried over his All-Pro play to being the lead cornerback on defense, moving from the inside as a slot corner last season.

“I say it’s one of the games where it’s just a man-on-man; it’s who, at the end of the day, is going to do their best technique-wise and who’s going to make the most plays? We love these challenges,” said McDuffie. “We love being in these moments when you get to go against two top receivers really in the league, and I know at the backend we’re excited to go out there and compete.”

Kansas City notably defeated Philadelphia in Super Bowl LVII but was beaten last season at Arrowhead Stadium. Sunday’s matchup could depend on the execution of the secondary and the many schemes Steve Spagnuolo devised.

Twitter reacts to Pat Surtain winning Defensive Player of the Year

Broncos CB Pat Surtain has been named the Defensive Player of the Year. Here’s how Twitter reacted to the news.

Denver Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain was named the NFL’s 2024 Defensive Player of the Year during NFL Honors on Thursday night.

Here’s a sampling of how fans and pundits reacted to the news on Twitter/X.

Surtain, 24, is the seventh cornerback in NFL history to win the award and the second Bronco to take home the honor, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar (1978).

Already considered the game’s best cornerback, Surtain is now recognized as the best defensive player in the NFL.

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Pat Surtain makes NFL history with Defensive Player of the Year award

Pat Surtain is just the seventh cornerback to win Defensive Player of the Year, and he’s the second Bronco, joining Randy Gradishar (1978).

Denver Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain has been named the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced during NFL Honors on Thursday evening.

Surtain, 24, is just the seventh cornerback to ever win the award and the second Bronco in franchise history to take home the honor, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar (1978).

The previous six cornerbacks to win the award were Stephon Gilmore (2019), Charles Woodson (2009), Deion Sanders (1994), Rod Woodson (1993), Lester Hayes (1980) and Mel Blount (1975). Of those defensive backs, only Gilmore (an active player) and Hayes are not in the Hall of Fame.

Surtain also earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2024, becoming the third cornerback in club history to receive that honor multiple times, joining Louis Wright and Champ Bailey.

PS2 ranked first in passing yards allowed (306), yards allowed per coverage snap (0.6) and target rate (10.9) in 2024 among qualified cornerbacks (at 400 coverage snaps), according to NFL NextGen Stats.

Surtain totaled four interceptions and 11 pass breakups in 2024, marking his fourth-straight year with double-digit PBUs. His four takeaways tied a career-high, and his 100-yard pick-six last fall was a career-long.

Surtain is widely considered the best cornerback in the NFL, and this season, he was the best defensive player in the league.

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Pat Surtain can right the wrong of Champ Bailey’s 2006 DPOY snub

Eighteen years after Champ Bailey was snubbed for Defensive Player of the Year, Broncos CB Pat Surtain is the favorite to win the award.

Champ Bailey was an elite shutdown cornerback, with the best two-year stretch of his career coming with the Denver Broncos from 2005-2006.

Bailey led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 2006, including a 70-yard pick-six. In addition to the 10 takeaways, Bailey also totaled 86 tackles, 21 pass breakups and one forced fumble that season.

Bailey was the NFL’s best cornerback, earning a first-team All-Pro nod and a Pro Bowl selection. He also should have won Defensive Player of the Year, but voters gave that honor to former Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jason Taylor instead.

Taylor totaled 13.5 sacks in 2006 (the same total as Nik Bonitto in 2024). He also forced nine fumbles and scored two defensive touchdowns. Taylor finished first in DPOY voting and Bailey ended up second.

Eighteen seasons later, current Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain could right the wrong of Bailey being snubbed in 2006.

Surtain is considered the favorite to win DPOY after totaling 11 pass breakups and four interceptions in 2024 while only allowing 306 passing yards, fewest among qualified cornerbacks this season.

Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024, but he did not post any takeaways or defensive touchdowns. Hendrickson is likely Surtain’s biggest competition for the award.

The DPOY award will be announced during NFL Honors tonight.

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Pat Surtain responds to Champ Bailey and reacts to possibility of DPOY award

Champ Bailey’s praise “means a lot” to Pat Surtain, who also said it would be “a huge honor” to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Hall of Famer and former Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey recently said current cornerback Pat Surtain is “on a Hall of Fame path.”

Surtain responded to Bailey’s praise during an interview promoting Tide evo with Broncos Wire’s Brandon Walker last week.

“I mean, it means a lot, especially coming from a guy like him who’s done that in a high-level,” Surtain said. “When you get respect from your peers, that’s the highest honor you could get. It means a lot coming from him specifically.”

Surtain also had the chance to address the possibility of becoming only the seventh cornerback and second Bronco (the other being Randy Gradishar in 1978) in the history of the league to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

“Shoot man, it’d mean a lot,” Surtain said of potentially winning DPOY. “Especially knowing that the margin is pretty slim for cornerbacks to win it, but yeah, it’d be a huge honor. It was something that I worked for. It was a big goal of mine to reach that at the end of the year so it’ll definitely be a huge honor to add to my accolade sheet.”

Surtain spoke to Broncos Wire while promoting Tide evo, a laundry detergent that leverages tens of thousands of minuscule fibers, creating layers of soap without unnecessary liquid and fillers.

Surtain isn’t the only Bronco who was nominated for season-long Associated Press awards following the 2024 season. Sean Payton was also nominated for Coach of the Year and quarterback Bo Nix was nominated for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The winners will be announced during “NFL Honors” on Thursday night.

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Jets to hire ex-NFL defensive back Chris Harris (no, not that one)

The Jets will hire ex-NFL defensive back Chris Harris as their DBs coach and passing game coordinator. He’s not to be confused with CHJR.

Former NFL defensive back Chris Harris just landed a new coaching position. No, not CHJR.

The New York Jets hired former NFL safety Chris Harris, 42, as their new defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator. He spent eight years in the NFL as a defensive back, spending time with four teams.

Harris then switched to coaching after hanging up his cleats and the Jets mark his fifth stop as a coach. Before landing in New York, he previously served as the Tennessee Titans’ defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach.

The Jets’ Harris is not to be confused with former NFL cornerback Chris Harris Jr., 35. CHJR played cornerback from 2011-2022, spending the majority of his career with the Denver Broncos. He won Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos and earned four Pro Bowl nods and three All-Pro selections during his time in Denver.

The younger Harris might become a coach one day, but it’s not the former Broncos cornerback that was just hired by the Jets.

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Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie explains mindset during blitz calls: ‘I have the biggest smile’

Kansas City #Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie explains mindset during blitz calls: ‘I have the biggest smile’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC Championship last Sunday, in large part due to how they ended the game against the Buffalo Bills. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive blitz calls were a considerable discussion from the night, as Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie explained during his press conference on Thursday.

“Whenever coach Spags (Steve Spagnuolo) calls a blitz, I’m usually pretty confident; especially late in the games, he does it very well where you never know what side the blitz is coming,” said McDuffie. “I heard the linemen actually check the protection the other way, and right after that, I was like, ‘We got them.'”

McDuffie, who was named to his second consecutive AP All-Pro team this season, was one of the blisters from the secondary that ended a promising Josh Allen drive.

“I always tell people, ‘I have the biggest smile on my face when I’m blitzing,'” said McDuffie. “That’s my dead giveaway if you line up against me. When you blitz, there are holes in the defense. Some guys may be put in awkward situations, so whenever (Spagnuolo) sends a blitz with the game on the line, you know he trusts the back end and trusts the people blitzing.”

The Chiefs hope to bring this confidence and success defensively in their Super Bowl LIX matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Pat Surtain thinks Pro Bowl has changed for the better

The NFL’s Pro Bowl format “has changed for the better,” Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain said ahead of the flag football game.

As Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain prepares for his third straight Pro Bowl appearance, he reflected on how pro football’s all-star affair has changed for the better.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it,” Surtain said in an interview promoting Tide evo with Broncos Wire’s Brandon Walker. “I think the flag football adds a little bit more fun to it, as they got their own set of rules to it. (It) allows the fans to be involved as well too, and I just think the whole platform and the whole environment of the Pro Bowl has changed for the better, so obviously a cool experience.”

Surtain spoke with Broncos Wire to promote Tide evo, which is currently only available in Colorado. The cornerback proved to be a perfect spokesperson for the laundry detergent.

“We just started this promotion, and we are promoting this new product called Tide evo detergent … and all you gotta do is dump it in the washer and watch as it cleans up your clothes and the magic happens,” Surtain said. “It’s as simple as that.”

The company says the new product is a type of Tide that is a category of clean that leverages tens of thousands of minuscule fibers, creating layers of soap without unnecessary liquid and fillers.

“It’s only selling in Colorado right now, and we’re trying to promote this product to branch it out all over the place, so it’s a good product to use,” Surtain said. “It’s a very good product and you can use it whenever. I’ll just say to all my Colorado folks out here to go ahead and get you some Tide evo. It’s as simple as that for your use, and is a good product to use for sure.”

The 2025 Pro Bowl marks just the third year where flag football has been the focus for the NFL’s all-star game. Peyton Manning and Eli Manning will coach the AFC and NFC teams, respectively.

Since this is the NFL’s star-studded, all-star affair, Surtain also spoke about some of the best wide receivers in the game today.

“It’s a good amount of them,” Surtain said. “I say (Bengals wide receiver) Ja’Marr (Chase); he had a good year, obviously (with the) triple crown. You know you got guys like (Vikings receiver) Justin Jefferson, of course (Dolphins receiver) Tyreek Hill, who’s done it consistently, and CeeDee Lamb, I think those guys have done it; Davante Adams. Those are the guys that I would consider the top of the game right now.”

Surtain will be joined by Broncos returner Marvin Mims and pass rusher Nik Bonitto at the Pro Bowl Games this year. The Pro Bowl’s skills challenges and flag football game will be televised from 3-6 p.m. ET (1-4 p.m. MT) on ESPN and ABC on Sunday, Feb. 2.

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Broncos drafted 2 players from last year’s Senior Bowl

Following the 2024 Senior Bowl, the Broncos drafted QB Bo Nix and CB Kris Abrams-Draine.

The 2025 Senior Bowl is set for this afternoon and the Denver Broncos will undoubtedly have scouts in attendance.

Last year, the Broncos got a close look at Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine in Mobile, Alabama.

Nix only got two series in the 2024 Senior Bowl and he went 4-of-5 passing for 21 yards with one touchdown, his side’s only TD of the game.

Denver later used its first-round draft pick to select Nix in the 2024 NFL draft. He went 10-7 as a rookie last season, breaking all of the team’s major rookie passing records in 2024.

The Broncos later used a fifth-round pick to select Abrams-Draine. After being a healthy scratch for the first half of his rookie season, KAD ended up dressing for five games last fall, earning one start. He totaled nine tackles, two pass breakups and one interception on 123 snaps in 2024.

Denver will now look for more talent at this year’s Senior Bowl. The game will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. MT) on NFL Network.

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Champ Bailey says Broncos CB Pat Surtain is on a Hall of Fame path

“I told people when he was drafted, he’s on a Hall of Fame path,” Champ Bailey said of Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain.

Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey believes current Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain will one day join him in Canton.

“I think he’s far ahead of me as far as his demeanor, his professionalism, his technique,” Bailey said in a recent interview promoting Trulieve with Ryan Gaydos of Fox News Digital. “When he came into the league, you could tell he was going to be good right away.”

After recording four interceptions in 2024 and allowing the fewest passing yards among qualified cornerbacks, Surtain is considered a frontrunner to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award.

“He looks like a 10-year vet playing like a guy in his prime,” Bailey told Gaydos. “The sky’s the limit for him. I told people when he was drafted, he’s on a Hall of Fame path. It’s all about his good health. If he stays healthy, he will be a Hall of Famer and, hopefully, he’ll be Defensive Player of the Year this year. Definitely pulling for that.”

From the moment the Broncos drafted Surtain in 2021, he has received support from Bailey. The Hall of Famer has consistently praised PS2, and he dubbed him the best cornerback in the NFL last summer.

Bailey was in attendance for Surtain’s 100-yard pick-six against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5 last season, and he will undoubtedly continue supporting Denver’s star cornerback in the years to come.

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