Keidron Smith Bio
Keidron Ameer Smith is an American professional football safety for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Boca Raton, Florida, he played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and the Kentucky Wildcats before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Across his first three professional seasons, he has been a member of the Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, and most recently the New York Jets.
Early Life and Background
Keidron Ameer Smith was born on November 1, 1999, in Boca Raton, Florida, and grew up in nearby West Palm Beach. He attended Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, where he developed into a standout two-sport athlete in football and basketball. As a senior, he helped lead Oxbridge to the state championship game and finished his high school career with seven interceptions and five touchdowns on defense.
For his play that season, Smith was named The Palm Beach Post’s 2017 defensive player of the year. In basketball, he also scored more than 1,000 career points, reflecting the athleticism that would later define his football career. Rated as a three-star recruit, he committed to play college football for the Ole Miss Rebels of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Path to American Football
Smith’s path to the professional level began at Ole Miss, where he appeared in all 12 games as a freshman in 2018 and recorded 47 tackles with four pass breakups. As a sophomore in 2019, he started eight games and posted 48 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a team-leading eight pass breakups, showing steady development as a defensive back. In the shortened 2020 season, he played in 10 games and tallied 64 tackles, six passes defended, and his first collegiate interception.
For his 2021 season, Smith switched positions from cornerback to safety, starting seven of 13 games and finishing with 64 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and two interceptions. He earned the Chucky Mullins Courage Award, given to the Ole Miss upperclassman defensive player who best embodies courage, leadership, perseverance, and determination. After the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal, using an extra year of eligibility granted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and transferred to the Kentucky Wildcats for his final college campaign.
Keidron Smith Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Smith’s first four college seasons at Ole Miss built the foundation for his professional future. He appeared in 47 games across that span, starting 23, and became a reliable presence in the Rebels’ secondary. Across his Ole Miss career, he recorded 224 tackles, 21 passes defended, five interceptions, and five forced fumbles, totals that reflected his development from a true freshman into a senior leader.
His move from cornerback to safety in 2021 marked a turning point, allowing him to use his tackling ability and field awareness closer to the line of scrimmage. The Chucky Mullins Courage Award recognized both his on-field production and his leadership in the locker room, helping establish the profile that would later attract NFL scouts.
Kentucky Wildcats Breakthrough (2022)
In his lone season at Kentucky in 2022, Smith started 12 of 13 games and produced 46 tackles, five passes defended, and two interceptions. His veteran presence helped stabilize the Wildcats’ secondary, and his performance earned him second-team All-SEC honors, his first major conference recognition.
Following the college season, he was invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and, after impressing there, was selected for the 2023 Senior Bowl. Those all-star appearances gave him a late platform to show NFL evaluators that he could thrive in a professional defensive system, even without the benefit of a high draft pedigree.
Denver Broncos Era (2023–2025)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Smith signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. He was released on August 28, 2023, as part of final roster cuts, and signed with the Washington Commanders practice squad on September 6, 2023, before being released on October 9, 2023. On December 19, 2023, he joined the Denver Broncos practice squad, was briefly released and re-signed in late December, and signed a reserve/future contract with Denver on January 9, 2024.
After a strong 2024 preseason, Smith made the Broncos’ 53-man roster on August 27, 2024. He was waived on November 12, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad two days later, then signed another reserve/future deal on January 13, 2025. The Broncos waived him again on August 26, 2025, only to bring him back to the practice squad the following day, keeping him in the organization through the early part of the 2025 season.
New York Jets Era (2025–Present)
On December 15, 2025, Smith was signed by the New York Jets off the Broncos’ practice squad. The move reunited him with general manager Darren Mougey, with whom he had previous ties from his time in Denver’s personnel orbit. His addition gave the Jets additional depth in the secondary as they pushed toward the later stages of the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith’s game is built on physical tackling, range as a deep safety, and the versatility to line up over the slot or near the line of scrimmage. His background as a converted cornerback shows up in his coverage instincts, while his 6-foot-2 frame and aggressive run-support style allow him to match up with tight ends and running backs. Coaches have consistently highlighted his preparation and special-teams value as strengths that have helped him survive multiple rounds of roster cuts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Smith’s career are his Chucky Mullins Courage Award at Ole Miss and his second-team All-SEC selection at Kentucky in 2022. He has also appeared in both the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and the 2023 Senior Bowl, postseason all-star events typically reserved for top senior prospects. Making an NFL 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2024 stands as another significant milestone in his young professional journey.
Keidron Smith Career Wins
Detailed win totals for Keidron Ameer Smith are not consistently available across public sources. His professional career has been defined more by roster survival, special-teams play, and depth contributions than by headline statistics, so a verified win-and-loss summary is not presented here.
Other Wins & Performances
At the high school level, Smith helped Oxbridge Academy reach the Florida state championship game as a senior and earned The Palm Beach Post’s 2017 defensive player of the year award. At Kentucky, his second-team All-SEC selection in 2022 stands as the most prominent individual performance recognition of his career.
Keidron Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Keidron Ameer Smith’s immediate family is limited, and a detailed family background is not presented here.
Personal Life
Smith stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 209 pounds, the kind of frame that has allowed him to contribute on defense and on special teams. He was born and raised in South Florida and has built his professional career around the same region, with stops in Miami, Washington, Denver, and now New York. Verified details about a spouse, children, or parents are not available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Smith’s 2025 campaign began with the Denver Broncos, who waived him on August 26 before re-signing him to the practice squad the following day. He remained on Denver’s practice squad through the early portion of the regular season, continuing to develop within the team’s defensive system. On December 15, 2025, the New York Jets signed him off the Broncos’ practice squad, adding him to their secondary for the stretch run.
His move to New York placed him in a familiar personnel setting, reuniting him with Darren Mougey. While exact snap counts and statistical totals for the 2025 season are not fully verified, Smith’s role as a depth safety and special-teams contributor gave the Jets additional flexibility during the late-season schedule. His ability to play multiple positions in the secondary has been a key reason he has remained on an NFL roster.
Looking ahead, Smith is expected to compete for a larger defensive role in 2026, building on the experience of his 2024 and 2025 seasons. Continued progress on special teams and in sub-package defensive looks will likely determine whether he carves out a longer-term role in New York or remains a depth piece.