Miles Killebrew Bio
Miles Killebrew is an American professional football safety and special teamer who plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds and entered the league after being selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Over the course of his career, Killebrew has built a reputation as a hard-hitting defensive back and one of the league’s most reliable special teams contributors, recognized with Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors.
Early Life and Background
Miles Killebrew was born on May 10, 1993, in Henderson, Nevada, and was raised in the same city by his parents, Lisa and David Killebrew. Growing up in the Las Vegas suburbs, he developed an early passion for football and trained with a focus on physical, run-support play at the back end of the defense. He attended Foothill High School in Henderson, where his combination of size and toughness first began to draw the attention of college recruiters.
Killebrew credits his family with grounding him throughout his early development and frequently points to his parents for instilling the work ethic that has defined his professional path. Killebrew and his family spent a few years living in Indiana during his childhood, and the household supported the Indianapolis Colts. The family later returned to Henderson, where Killebrew continued to sharpen his football skills before heading off to college.
Path to American Football
After completing his high school career at Foothill, Killebrew accepted a scholarship to play for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, a Football Championship Subdivision program competing in the Big Sky Conference. He developed into a four-year starter and a tackling machine, reaching triple digits in stops in each of his final two seasons with 101 tackles in 2014 and 132 tackles in 2015. He also showed coverage ability, recording three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in 2014, along with seven pass breakups in 2015.
Killebrew earned All-Big Sky recognition every season, collecting honorable mention in 2012 and 2013, second-team honors in 2014, and first-team recognition in 2015. His combination of size, production, and physicality drew NFL scouting interest, and he was invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. At Southern Utah’s first-ever Pro Day on March 30, 2016, he timed 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 2.63 seconds in the 20-yard dash, and 1.58 seconds in the 10-yard dash, improving on his earlier marks.
Miles Killebrew Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
The Detroit Lions selected Killebrew in the fourth round with the 111th overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft. He signed a four-year, $2.34 million contract that included a signing bonus of $578,564 and began his rookie season as the Lions’ third strong safety behind veterans Tavon Wilson and Rafael Bush. His early impact came mostly on special teams, though he made his defensive mark on December 4, 2016, intercepting Drew Brees for his first career interception in a victory over the New Orleans Saints.
In 2017, Killebrew opened the season with a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown off Carson Palmer during a Week 1 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He continued to rotate between safety duties and special teams roles, gradually establishing himself as a reliable downhill defender against the run.
Detroit Lions Linebacker Conversion (2018–2020)
The arrival of head coach Matt Patricia in 2018 prompted Killebrew to convert to linebacker under a new defensive scheme. Across the 2018 and 2019 seasons, he recorded 27 combined tackles in 28 games while serving primarily as a special teams anchor and rotational defender. Detroit picked up his fifth-year option after the 2019 campaign, keeping him with the team through the 2020 season, when he added 12 tackles before becoming a free agent.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2021–Present)
Killebrew signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 24, 2021, and immediately delivered some of the most memorable special teams plays of his career. In the 2021 season opener against the Buffalo Bills, he blocked a punt from Matt Haack that was recovered for a Steelers touchdown, and later that season he blocked another punt against the Los Angeles Chargers. On March 11, 2022, he signed a two-year, $4 million contract extension, cementing his role in Pittsburgh.
During the 2023 season, Killebrew continued to produce on special teams, blocking a punt against the Baltimore Ravens that led to a Steelers safety in a Week 5 victory. He closed the year with 21 solo tackles, five assisted tackles, one tackle for loss, and a blocked punt, and appeared in the Steelers’ postseason game against the Buffalo Bills. On March 18, 2024, Killebrew signed another two-year extension, was named a team captain in September, and earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection as a special teamer after recording 13 combined tackles across 17 games.
In 2025, Killebrew recorded five tackles across Pittsburgh’s first five contests. On October 15, 2025, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that Killebrew had suffered a significant knee injury during the team’s Week 6 victory over the Cleveland Browns, and he was placed on injured reserve the following day.
Driving Style and Strengths
Killebrew is best known for his physical, downhill tackling style and his willingness to take on lead blockers in the running game. His large frame and aggressive temperament translate effectively to special teams, where his block-shedding ability and field awareness have produced multiple blocked punts. He pairs that physicality with consistent tackling technique and a team-first mentality that has earned him captaincy recognition in Pittsburgh.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Killebrew’s interception return for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in 2017 and his three blocked punts for the Steelers stand out as defining plays. He was named first-team All-Pro in 2023 and earned Pro Bowl selections in both 2023 and 2024, validating his status as one of the league’s premier special teamers.
Miles Killebrew Career Wins
Killebrew’s professional resume is highlighted less by traditional win totals than by his individual production, with his greatest victories coming in the form of turnovers forced, punts blocked, and postseason recognition. His honors include a first-team All-Pro selection in 2023 and consecutive Pro Bowl nods in 2023 and 2024.
NFL Highlights
Killebrew’s first NFL interception came against future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees in 2016, and his first career touchdown came on a 35-yard pick-six off Carson Palmer in 2017. With the Steelers, he has blocked punts in three different seasons, including highlight plays against the Buffalo Bills in 2021, the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021, and the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, each of which led directly to Steelers points.
Other Performances
At the college level, Killebrew earned first-team All-Big Sky honors in 2015 after racking up 132 tackles and seven pass breakups for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. His combination of college production and special teams impact at the professional level has marked him as one of the more durable role players of his draft class.
Miles Killebrew Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Miles Killebrew was raised by his parents, Lisa and David Killebrew, in Henderson, Nevada. The family lived in Indiana for a few years during his childhood, where they became fans of the Indianapolis Colts, and he has cited Troy Polamalu, Earl Thomas, and Bob Sanders as his football role models.
Personal Life
Killebrew graduated from Southern Utah University on April 30, 2016, with a degree in engineering technology, receiving the call from the Lions about his draft selection on the way to his graduation ceremony. A Detroit-based brewery, Fort Street Brewery, honored him in June 2016 by creating a beer called Killebrew IPA as a playful nod to his surname.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began as a continuation of Killebrew’s steady special teams role with the Pittsburgh Steelers, as he posted five tackles across the team’s first five games. He remained a respected voice in the locker room after being named a captain in 2024 and continued to contribute on coverage units while offering veteran leadership.
His season was interrupted in Week 6 when he suffered a significant knee injury during the Steelers’ victory over the Cleveland Browns, leading to a placement on injured reserve on October 16, 2025. The injury marked the first major absence of his Pittsburgh tenure and shifted the special teams workload to younger contributors.
Looking ahead, Killebrew remains under contract with Pittsburgh through the 2025 season, and his recovery timeline will shape the Steelers’ plans at the safety and special teams positions for the remainder of the year.