Devon Key Bio
Devon Key (born October 28, 1997) is an American professional football safety and special teamer for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent following the 2021 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 207 pounds, Key has carved out a role as a core special-teams contributor and a depth defensive back for one of the league’s most storied franchises.
After beginning his professional career on practice squads in Kansas City and Atlanta, Key joined the Denver Broncos in late 2022 and has remained with the organization since. His path from unheralded recruit to NFL roster member reflects steady development and perseverance through the league’s transaction cycle.
Early Life and Background
Devon Key was born on October 28, 1997, in Lexington, Kentucky, where he grew up immersed in a football-centric environment. He attended Bryan Station High School in Lexington, playing on both offense and defense as a multi-position athlete. Coming out of high school, Key was rated a two-star prospect by recruiting services such as Rivals.com, 247Sports.com, and Scout.com, meaning he was considered a developmental prospect rather than a high-profile national recruit.
Football runs deep in the Key family. Devon’s father, Donte, played college football for the University of Kentucky, providing an early blueprint for the younger Key to follow. His younger brother, Dane, also played as a wide receiver at the University of Kentucky, continuing the family’s connection to the sport at the collegiate level.
Following his senior year of high school, Key accepted a scholarship offer from Western Kentucky University, where he would spend the next five years developing his game. The decision to attend Western Kentucky, a Conference USA program, gave him the opportunity to play early and refine his skills in a defensive back role.
Path to American Football
Key arrived at Western Kentucky University in 2016 and spent his first year as a redshirt, preserving a year of eligibility while learning the Hilltoppers’ defensive system. As a redshirt-freshman the following season, he stepped into a starting safety role from the opening game and immediately produced. He finished the year with 94 tackles, 44 solo and 50 assisted, ranking second on the team and 16th in the conference. Key recorded at least nine tackles in five different games, picked off his first career pass in the end zone against Marshall on November 11, and posted a career-high 12 tackles at Illinois on September 9.
His development continued as a sophomore, when he started all 12 games and compiled 71 tackles to lead the team’s defensive backs. He also recorded a team-leading three interceptions that season, returning his first pick, against Maine, for a 45-yard touchdown. He added interceptions in the final two games of the year and earned All-Conference USA honorable mention recognition.
As a junior, Key started 13 games and made 93 tackles, third on the team, while adding another interception return touchdown, this one against Arkansas in November, and again earning All-Conference USA honorable mention. In his senior season he started every game and broke the FBS-era Western Kentucky team record for career tackles, finishing with 350 career stops after a 92-tackle final campaign. He was named second-team All-Conference USA following the season, capping one of the most productive careers in program history.
Devon Key Career
Early Career (2021-2022)
After going unselected in the 2021 NFL draft, Devon Key was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. He was released at final roster cuts but signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad the very next day, keeping him within the organization. On February 2, 2022, he signed a reserve/future contract with Kansas City, a deal designed to keep him under team control through the offseason. On August 30, 2022, Key was waived by the Chiefs as the team shaped its regular-season roster.
Key found his next opportunity on November 15, 2022, when he was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. That stint proved brief, as he was released from the practice squad a week later. The quick turn of events was characteristic of life on an NFL practice squad, where roster movement is constant.
Denver Broncos Era (2022-Present)
On December 20, 2022, Key was signed to the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, beginning a tenure that has continued to the present day. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023, securing his place in the organization through the next offseason. On August 29, 2023, Key was waived by the Broncos and re-signed to the practice squad, once again navigating the cutdown process.
Key signed another reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024, and made the Broncos’ 53-man roster to start the 2024 season. He played in his first NFL game in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, and made his first career start in Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens, filling in for an injured Brandon Jones. Serving as Denver’s second-string free safety and a core special-teamer, Key recorded 33 tackles and a sack over the course of the season, demonstrating the kind of reliability teams seek in reserve defenders.
On March 4, 2025, the Broncos assigned Key his exclusive-rights free agent tender, keeping him under contract through the 2025 season. The tender reflects the team’s confidence in his continued value on special teams and as a depth piece in the secondary.
Driving Style and Strengths
Key’s professional profile is built on toughness, tackling consistency, and special-teams reliability. At 6 feet tall and roughly 207 pounds, he brings a compact, physical build suited to run support and downhill tackling. His path from two-star recruit to record-setting college tackler and eventual NFL starter underscores a patient, developmental approach that prioritizes fundamentals and football intelligence over raw athletic traits.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Key’s career are his Western Kentucky FBS-era record of 350 career tackles, his two career interception return touchdowns in college, and his first NFL start against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9 of the 2024 season. Earning an exclusive-rights free agent tender from Denver in March 2025 marked another milestone, signaling the franchise’s investment in his continued development.
Devon Key Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Although not from a racing family, Key’s background is deeply tied to football. His father, Donte Key, played college football for the University of Kentucky, giving Devon an early connection to the sport at a major program. His younger brother, Dane Key, formerly played wide receiver at the University of Kentucky, extending the family’s football lineage into the Southeastern Conference.
Personal Life
Devon Key and his girlfriend welcomed a son in August 2020, and the couple has since had another child. He maintains an active presence on social media, with accounts on X and Instagram, where he shares updates from his professional and personal life.
2025 Season Performance
Devon Key enters the 2025 season firmly in the Denver Broncos’ plans after the team assigned him an exclusive-rights free agent tender on March 4, 2025. The tender keeps him under contract through the 2025 campaign and reflects the organization’s view of him as a reliable reserve safety and core special-teamer. His 2024 production, 33 tackles and a sack in a depth role, established a baseline the Broncos will look to build on.
With Brandon Jones returning from injury, Key is expected to reprise his role as Denver’s second-string free safety while remaining a fixture on special-teams units. His experience filling in for Jones during the 2024 season provided valuable in-game reps that should accelerate his comfort in larger defensive packages. Continued growth in coverage and run support will shape his trajectory within the Broncos’ secondary.
Looking ahead, Key’s path to a larger role depends on his ability to translate practice-squad perseverance into consistent defensive contributions. The 2025 season represents an opportunity to entrench himself as a trusted multi-phase contributor in Denver, and his history of steady progress suggests he is well-positioned to take advantage of that opportunity.