Tag: safety

Chiefs S Justin Reid reveals extra motivation for Super Bowl LIX: ‘We gotta win’

Kansas City #Chiefs safety Justin Reid reveals extra motivation for Super Bowl LIX: ‘We gotta win’ | @EdEastonJr

The build-up for Super Bowl LIX is well underway, with the Kansas City Chiefs pursuing history against the Philadelphia Eagles. The players are gearing up to enhance their legacies in the biggest game of the year, with more than the Lombardi trophy on the line.

Chiefs safety Justin Reid has known nothing but success with the Chiefs throughout his tenure, and this year’s Super Bowl has extra meaning for the new father and Louisiana native. Reid spoke with reporters about the many tickets he purchased for friends and family before the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

“Those ticket prices are running up, man, said Reid. “Like, I got 30 of them. We’re excited to play, and we’re chasing glory, but we gotta win just for me to break even.”

Reid’s revealing comments at the press conference were met with plenty of laughter as the veteran defensive back continued to produce on the field this season. The veteran defensive back has been among the team leaders in tackles during the postseason. Reid remains one of the pass rushers out of the secondary during special Steve Spagnuolo blitz schemes.

Saints safety Will Harris ranked among the top-100 free agents of 2025

New Orleans Saints safety Will Harris has been listed as one of the top 100 pending free agents for the 2025 offseason by Pro Football Network:

The New Orleans Saints have a whopping 19 pending free agents entering the 2025 offseason, and bringing some back will be a key to success. One of the players who may be worth retaining is safety Will Harris, who had a very solid season for the Saints in 2024 and got significant playing time throughout the year. This success led to him being listed on the ProFootballNetwork top 100 pending free agents list for the 2025 offseason, coming in at No. 92. Here is what they had to say about Harris and his free agency:

“After five seasons in Detroit, Harris had a career-high five passes defended during his first season with the Saints. The former third-round pick doesn’t have much ball production otherwise, with just three career picks, but possesses the type of frame (6’1”, 207 pounds) that many defensive coordinators covet.

Harris has vacillated between safety and slot cornerback in his career, though he was primarily the former in 2024 (52% of his snaps came as a deep safety). Harris has played the majority of his snaps at safety in 2019, 2021, and 2024, while his other three seasons (2020, 2022, 2023) have seen him primarily line up in the slot.

The former third-round pick will play most of next season at age 29, but his uncertain positional home makes him a tough projection when it comes to locking down a long-term deal.”

In addition to that, he was listed as the fifth-best safety free agent in the upcoming offseason, behind only Justin Reid, Harrison Smith, Trevon Moehrig, and Julian Blackmon. It is clear that he is valued relatively highly by the PFN crew, and after a season like he had in 2024, it is a valid belief as he enters free agency once again to find a team to play for in 2025.

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Steve Atwater elected to National High School Football Hall of Fame

Broncos great Steve Atwater was recently elected to the National High School Football Hall of Fame. Congrats, 27!

Former Denver Broncos star safety Steve Atwater was recently elected to the National High School Hall of Fame.

Atwater joined the Broncos in 1989 and spent ten years in the Mile High City, helping them win Super Bowl championships in 1997 and 1998. He also nabbed three All-Pro nods and eight Pro Bowls during his career.

While Atwater has the hardware and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to claim, he doesn’t take getting nominated to the High School Football Hall of Fame for granted. He explained more to the Denver Broncos‘ official website: 

“They’re nice accolades. It’s nice to be recognized for being good at something. I definitely appreciate it, and I know that that’s only a part of the person that I am.

I’m also a father, a husband, a friend, an uncle. I take all those roles very seriously, too. So, it is kind of cool. I know a lot of my friends and my family, they get a kick out of these types of things. It’s pretty cool.”

Congrats to Atwater for another tremendous honor.

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Broncos added 3 players after last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl

The Broncos signed three players who participated in last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl, including LB Levelle Bailey and RB Blake Watson.

The 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl will be played in Arlington, Texas tonight and the Denver Broncos will undoubtedly have scouts in attendance.

Last year’s all-star game included an impressive group of running backs headlined by Jonathon Brooks, Tyrone Tracy, Isaac Guerendo, Carson Steele, Frank Gore Jr. and Blake Watson.

Following the 2024 NFL draft, Denver signed Watson as a college free agent. He ended up dressing for two games as a rookie and rushed four times for 10 yards and two first downs.

The Broncos also signed linebacker Levelle Bailey after the draft. Bailey led the West team with four tackles in last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl. He also broke up a pass. Bailey dressed for 10 games last fall and totaled five tackles while also playing 52% of the snaps on special teams.

Additionally, Denver signed safety Omar Brown last spring after he recorded two tackles in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Brown ended up not making the Broncos’ roster in a crowded safety room, but he now plays for the Green Bay Packers.

To view the rosters for the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl, click here.

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Bills safety Micah Hyde officially retires from NFL

Bills safety Micah Hyde officially retires from NFL

As expected, Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde announced his retirement following the loss in the AFC championship game.

Hyde, a 34-year-old former fifth-round pick from the University of Iowa, re-joined the Bills in December of this season to serve in more of an advisory role for the stretch run.

When he re-joined the team he vowed that he would retire after the last game of the season. Now, his All-Pro playing career has officially come to an end.

Hyde joined the Bills as a free agent in 2017, signing a 5-year, $30 million contract. He became a vital piece of a Bills defense that was starting to turn the franchise around. He was an All-Pro in his first year in Buffalo and went on to start in 95 regular season games and 9 postseason games. He recorded 456 tackles, 18 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, 9 fumbles recovered, and two All-Pros.

Before Buffalo, he was drafted in the fifth round by the Green Bay Packers in 2013 where he spent the first four years of his career. Misused as a slot corner in Green Bay, Hyde was able to find his home on the backend of the Bills’ secondary.

Hyde played a big part in the Bills’ transformation into Super Bowl contenders, even if they weren’t able to bring one home during his tenure.

Perhaps he’ll consider re-joining the team in the future as a secondary coach.

Daniel Jeremiah’s first 2025 NFL mock draft has Broncos picking a DB

The Broncos select safety Nick Emmanwori in Daniel Jeremiah’s first 2025 NFL mock draft.

In his first 2025 NFL mock draft, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has the Denver Broncos using their first round pick to select a South Carolina safety.

Jeremiah’s mock draft projects defensive back Nick Emmanwori landing with the Broncos at pick No. 20 in the first round.

“Emmanwori gave me some Derwin James vibes when I studied him,” Jeremiah wrote on NFL.com. “I love his instincts and production.”

Emmanwori totaled 88 tackles, four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), three tackles behind the line and two pass breakups in 13 games as a junior last fall. Safety is a key position of need for Denver this offseason, so the pick wouldn’t be shocking.

Of note, Jeremiah’s mock has Penn State tight end Tyler Warren going off the board at No. 7 to the New York Jets and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty going to the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. 12.

Jeremiah has the Broncos passing on Michigan tight end Colston Loveland (Los Angeles Chargers at No. 22). He also has Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka falling out of the first round.

To view Jeremiah’s complete first-round mock draft, visit NFL.com.

The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin from April 24-26. Denver holds seven picks, including selections in the first four rounds.

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Ex-Broncos safety tweets that his comeback will be personal

“This comeback personal, trust,” former Broncos safety Caden Sterns tweeted.

It looks like Caden Sterns plans to continue his NFL career, and his comeback attempt will be personal.

“This comeback personal, trust,” Sterns tweeted last week.

The 25-year-old safety spent was picked by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Texas. He appeared in 21 games for the Broncos before suffering a torn patellar tendon in Week 1 of the 2023 season. That knee injury derailed his career.

The Broncos cut Sterns last summer and he was initially picked up by the Carolina Panthers, but they waived him after he failed a physical. Sterns then went on a roller coaster ride with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles signed, cut, signed, cut, signed, cut, signed and cut Sterns in eight transactions from Aug. 11 to Oct. 10. He’s been a free agent since the fall and was not signed to a reserve/future contract at the end of the 2024 season.

After a tough 2024, Sterns aims to bounce back in 2025.

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Chiefs Dave Toub credits veteran DB for success on blocked field goals: ‘He studies tape’

Kansas City #Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub credits Justin Reid for success on blocked field goals: ‘He studies tape’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ success on special teams throughout the season has been credited to their special teams coordinator, Dave Toub. During Thursday’s press conference, Toub revealed the secret to their string of blocked field goals this season: veteran safety Justin Reid.

“He (Justin Reid) studies a lot of tape. He’s the main reason why we’re getting these blocks because he gets off – such a great get off on the edge and it makes everybody respond to that and it opens up gaps for Leo (Chenal) who is like a couple men down – a couple spots down from him,” said Toub. “He studies tape, he watches the snapper’s movements. Could be a squeezing of the hand, it could be a dip of the hips, whatever it is to indicate that the snap is imminent. He has a great get-off; I mean, he was tied to the football just about in that game – on two of them. It made a difference.”

Reid has not only led the secondary and occasionally kicked off during games, but his contributions to field goal block coverage have helped win games and were essential in the divisional round block against the Houston Texans. He will again be counted on for those big moments this Sunday in the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills.

Chiefs S Justin Reid appreciates consistent battles vs. Bills: ‘It feels like a divisional game’

Kansas City #Chiefs safety Justin Reid appreciates consistent battles vs. the Buffalo #Bills: ‘It feels like a divisional game’ | @EdEastonJr

The routine meetings between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills, regardless if it’s the regular season or playoffs, have consistently lived up to the hype. Veteran safety Justin Reid shared his thoughts on the rivalry during a conversation with reporters on Wednesday.

“It feels like a divisional game. I mean, we know them really well, and they know us really well,” said Reid. In the offseason, both of us are preparing for each other because we know we’re going to come against each other, probably twice, like it feels like every year.”

Reid finished last Saturday’s victory over the Houston Texans with seven tackles, a pass deflection, and pass rush moments against C.J. Stroud. He understands the challenge with Buffalo will be much different on Sunday with MVP candidate Josh Allen.

“It’s one of the best matchups to play because they’re such a talented football team, they have so much firepower, (offensive coordinator) Joe Brady’s done an awesome job with Josh Allen and that offense, gotten them fired up, and their defense is playing amazing, too,” said Reid. “Always a tough challenge, but one that we’re excited for, week-in and week-out, and it’ll be another storybook show for all the viewers watching on TV.”

The AFC Championship game will close out the championship Sunday as the NFC will start the day and have one-half of the Super Bowl already set.

Justin Simmons sounds noncommittal on re-signing with Falcons in 2025

Justin Simmons sounds noncommittal on re-signing with the Falcons in 2025. Should the Broncos bring him back?

After signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons last August, veteran safety Justin Simmons is now scheduled to become a free agent in March.

Simmons, 31, was asked after Atlanta’s season wrapped up if he wants to re-sign with the Falcons in 2025. There was no immediate “I’d like to.” Rather, the safety sounded noncommittal on his status in Atlanta.

“That’s a really good question,” Simmons said, via Terrin Waack of the Falcons’ official website. “It’s hard. Honestly, I haven’t even thought about it. The mindset coming into [Week 18] was, we’re going to take care of business … [and make the playoffs]. So, I honestly haven’t given that a thought.”

Simmons did go on to say that he loved Atlanta and he said the team is in good hands, but he did not specifically say that he wants to return. Make of that what you will.

Meanwhile, former Denver Broncos safety and ex-Simmons teammate Su’a Cravens has hinted on social media that Simmons is open to returning to the Broncos. Brandon Jones had an excellent season in 2024 but P.J. Locke struggled, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver add a safety in 2025.

Perhaps a reunion with the Broncos could be in play for Simmons. NFL free agency will begin on March 12.

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