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Kyle Dugger

Kyle Dugger (born March 22, 1996) is an American professional football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 220 pounds, Dugger was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round (37th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft after attending Jones County Junior College and a standout college career at Lenoir-Rhyne University, a Division II program. On October 30, 2025, the Steelers acquired Dugger and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick from the Patriots in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, marking a significant mid-season roster move for Pittsburgh amid injuries at the safety position. Dugger's path to the NFL was unconventional, hailing from Decatur, Georgia, where he initially focused on basketball before transitioning to football at Whitewater High School. At Lenoir-Rhyne, he excelled as a versatile defensive back, earning All-South Atlantic Conference honors and helping lead the Bears to a 13-1 record in his senior year of 2019, with 31 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups. His selection as the first Division II player drafted by the Patriots since 2014 highlighted his athleticism, including a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, which propelled him from an overlooked prospect to a second-round pick. In his professional career with the Patriots, Dugger quickly established himself as a key contributor, starting 11 games as a rookie in 2020 and recording 58 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble while also contributing on special teams. Over five seasons in New England, he amassed 373 total tackles, 10 interceptions, and 3.5 sacks, showcasing his ability to play both safety positions and even line up at linebacker in certain packages. In April 2024, Dugger signed a four-year contract extension worth $58 million, with the potential to reach $66 million through incentives, underscoring his value to the team before the 2025 trade. Since joining the Steelers, Dugger has provided immediate depth and versatility to a secondary dealing with injuries, including to safety DeShon Elliott, as Pittsburgh aims to bolster its playoff push in the 2025 season.

Early years

Family background and childhood

Kyle Dugger was born on March 22, 1996, in Decatur, Georgia. He was raised in a family deeply rooted in athletics, particularly basketball, which profoundly influenced his early interests. Dugger's mother, Kimberly Oates Dugger, is a Hall of Fame basketball player at Fort Valley State University, where she led NCAA Division II in rebounding during the 1989 season and earned multiple accolades as a power forward. His father, James Dugger, served in the United States Marine Corps, instilling a sense of discipline in the household. Dugger has an older brother, Patrick, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound athlete who played college basketball at LaGrange University and later pursued professional opportunities overseas. This basketball-centric family dynamic emphasized competitive sports from a young age, with no other siblings mentioned in public records. In his early childhood in the Decatur area, Dugger was immersed in local Georgia communities where basketball dominated his activities, fostering initial hoop dreams aligned with his family's legacy. He participated in youth basketball programs and recreational play, which honed his athletic skills and competitiveness. While football exposure came later, Dugger engaged in introductory community sports that included both basketball and football, building a broad foundation in physical development and teamwork within metro Atlanta's vibrant youth sports scene. No major relocations disrupted his youth, allowing consistent growth in this supportive environment. This family-driven athletic upbringing laid the groundwork for his later pursuits in high school sports.

High school career

Kyle Dugger attended Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Georgia, graduating in 2014 after enrolling in 2010. During his high school years, he emerged as a multi-sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball, and track, which helped build his versatility and physical conditioning. In football, Dugger primarily played as a safety and cornerback, though he did not become a starter until his senior year. That season, he recorded 80 tackles, three interceptions, and five pass breakups, earning All-County honors as a defensive back. His late-blooming frame—he stood at 5-foot-9 as a junior but grew to 6 feet by senior year—limited his earlier prominence on the team, but his athleticism shone in standout games, including key defensive plays that highlighted his speed and instincts. Dugger also excelled in basketball as a point guard, averaging 7.6 points, 3.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game across his career, which ranked him among the top performers in steals in Georgia's Division AAAAA. He received All-County recognition for his contributions to the team, using his quickness and court vision to facilitate plays and disrupt opponents. His track involvement further enhanced his speed and endurance, rounding out a well-developed athletic profile despite not receiving widespread attention initially. Dugger's recruitment was modest due to his smaller stature and late start in football, with only a few offers from Division II programs like Lenoir-Rhyne and NAIA school Reinhardt, alongside limited interest from others such as Wingate and Valdosta State. Despite the modest recruitment, Dugger signed with Division II program Lenoir-Rhyne University.

College career

Lenoir–Rhyne University

Dugger enrolled at Lenoir–Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina, in 2014 as a freshman, redshirting his initial year before becoming a key contributor to the Bears' football program. He majored in engineering physics, completing his bachelor's degree in 2020 while balancing academics with his athletic commitments. In his senior season of 2019, Dugger solidified his status as a defensive leader despite a finger injury limiting him to seven games. He tallied 31 tackles, including 15 solo stops, two interceptions, and six pass breakups, while also excelling on special teams with 12 punt returns for 175 yards and two touchdowns. His disruptive play, including contributions to the Bears' forced fumbles (part of his career total of six), anchored a stout defense that emphasized run support and coverage versatility. Dugger's standout performance earned him prestigious accolades, including the Cliff Harris Award as the nation's top small college defensive player, First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honors for the second straight year, and consensus Division II All-American selection as both a safety and return specialist. He was also named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, recognizing the outstanding defensive player in Division II football. These honors highlighted his versatility, physicality, and impact beyond raw numbers. Under Dugger's leadership, the Lenoir–Rhyne defense played a pivotal role in the team's remarkable 13–1 record, culminating in an appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs where the Bears advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual national champion West Florida. His preparation and on-field presence drew significant attention from NFL scouts, positioning him as one of the top defensive backs from the Division II level.

Professional career

Pre-draft process and NFL Draft

Following his standout senior season at Lenoir–Rhyne University, where he earned first-team All-American honors as a defensive back, Kyle Dugger entered the 2020 NFL Draft process as a projected mid-round prospect. His Division II background raised concerns about competition level among some scouts, but his exceptional athleticism and versatility—highlighted by strong performances at the Senior Bowl—positioned him as a high-upside safety with potential to play multiple roles in the secondary. Mock drafts frequently slotted him in the mid-second round, with rankings as one of the top five safeties overall. Dugger participated in the NFL Scouting Combine on February 27, 2020, in Indianapolis, where he measured 6 feet 1 inch tall and 217 pounds, with 32⅞-inch arms and 10⅛-inch hands. He recorded a 4.49-second 40-yard dash, a 42-inch vertical jump, a 17-repetition bench press, and a 134-inch broad jump, earning a 9.56 Relative Athletic Score and the highest athleticism score (99) among safeties per Next Gen Stats. These results elevated his draft stock, showcasing his explosiveness and physical tools despite his smaller-school pedigree. At Lenoir–Rhyne's Pro Day on March 10, 2020—held before widespread COVID-19 disruptions—Dugger impressed with strong showings in position drills, shuttle runs, and interviews, including sessions with the New England Patriots and other teams evaluating his football IQ and special teams potential. He followed up with private workouts and virtual meetings as the draft process shifted online, further demonstrating his adaptability and tackling prowess on film. The New England Patriots selected Dugger in the second round, 37th overall, on April 24, 2020, marking the first time a Lenoir–Rhyne player was drafted since defensive end John Milem in 2000. As the highest-drafted player in program history and the only Division II safety taken in the second round since 2007, his selection underscored the Patriots' emphasis on athletic traits to rebuild their secondary.

2020 season

Following his selection by the New England Patriots in the second round (37th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, Dugger signed a four-year rookie contract worth $8,331,902, including $4,608,287 in guaranteed money and a $3,619,564 signing bonus. The deal reflected the value placed on his athleticism and versatility from a Division II program, positioning him as a key addition to a secondary needing depth post-Stephon Gilmore's departure. Dugger quickly adapted to the NFL under head coach Bill Belichick, who praised his ability to play multiple roles across the defense and special teams amid a COVID-19-shortened training camp and preseason. He appeared in 14 games, starting seven at safety, and recorded 64 combined tackles (43 solo), two interceptions, and one forced fumble. His snap count increased progressively, reaching over 50 defensive snaps in several late-season games, as Belichick utilized his physicality near the line of scrimmage and in coverage to bolster a transitioning unit. A standout moment came in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals, where Dugger forced a fumble on running back Kenyan Drake that linebacker Raekwon McMillan returned 23 yards for a touchdown, contributing to a defensive effort that helped secure a 20-17 overtime victory. This play exemplified his instinctive playmaking, which Belichick highlighted as a reason for his rapid integration despite the challenges of a pandemic-disrupted rookie year.

2021 season

In his second NFL season, Kyle Dugger transitioned to a more prominent role on the New England Patriots' defense, leveraging the confidence gained from his rookie-year contributions on special teams. He appeared in 15 regular-season games with 13 starts, registering 92 total tackles (70 solo), four interceptions for 100 yards, and five pass deflections. Dugger's versatility shone in key moments, including an interception off Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 6 that helped secure a 35-29 victory, followed by another pick against New York Jets quarterback Mike White the next week. He added a 37-yard interception return against the Cleveland Browns in Week 10, setting up a touchdown, and capped the regular season with his fourth interception in a Week 17 win over the Miami Dolphins. His hard-hitting style bolstered the Patriots' run defense, where he frequently stuffed plays at or near the line of scrimmage, contributing to the unit ranking ninth in the NFL against the rush (112.5 yards allowed per game). Dugger faced injury hurdles, including a hamstring issue that made him questionable for Weeks 5 and 6, and a knee problem listed in Week 7, yet he missed only two regular-season games—one due to the hamstring and another after being placed on the COVID-19 reserve list in early December. He returned strong for the postseason, playing all snaps in the Patriots' wild-card playoff loss to the Dolphins. The team finished 10-7, securing the AFC's No. 6 seed before falling 26-20 in Miami, where Dugger tallied four tackles.

2022 season

In 2022, Kyle Dugger entered his third NFL season with the New England Patriots fully recovered from the ankle injury that sidelined him for four games the previous year. He appeared in 15 games, starting all of them, and recorded 78 total tackles (50 solo), three interceptions for 55 yards and two touchdowns, eight passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery for a touchdown, and one sack. These figures marked a significant uptick in his ball production compared to his first two seasons, highlighting his growth as a versatile defender. Dugger's role expanded under defensive play-caller Steve Belichick, who served as the outside linebackers coach and assumed responsibility for calling the Patriots' defensive schemes. He frequently lined up in hybrid safety-linebacker positions, leveraging his 6-foot-2, 216-pound frame to contribute against both the run and pass, while playing approximately 85% of the team's defensive snaps across his 15 appearances. According to Pro Football Focus, Dugger earned an overall grade of 78.4, ranking eighth among safeties with at least 700 snaps; this included a top-10 coverage grade of 78.3 and a top-20 run-defense grade of 76.7, with strong tackling efficiency. His highlights included three defensive touchdowns—one via fumble return and two pick-sixes, notably a 39-yard interception return against Miami's Teddy Bridgewater in Week 17—underscoring his impact in the secondary. The Patriots finished the 2022 season with an 8-9 record, placing third in the AFC East and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. Dugger's consistent production helped anchor a defense that ranked ninth in points allowed (20.4 per game), though the unit struggled with consistency amid broader team challenges.

2023 season

In the 2023 season, Kyle Dugger started all 17 games for the New England Patriots, serving as a key anchor in the secondary during a challenging year that ended with a 4-13 record. Building on his positional versatility from the prior season, Dugger demonstrated leadership by stepping into a more prominent role as the unit's veteran presence following Devin McCourty's retirement, helping to guide younger players amid defensive inconsistencies that contributed to the team's poor performance. Dugger achieved career highs in several categories, recording 109 combined tackles (71 solo), 1.5 sacks, two interceptions for 35 yards, and seven pass deflections. His interceptions came in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins (15 yards) and Week 9 versus the Washington Commanders (20 yards), while his sacks included a full sack on Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in Week 8 and a half-sack in Week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. One of his standout performances was in Week 4 at Dallas, where he tallied 15 tackles (12 solo), showcasing his run-support reliability near the line of scrimmage. Throughout the season, Dugger's contributions extended beyond statistics, as he mentored emerging talents in the secondary, emphasizing communication and scheme adherence to mitigate coverage lapses that plagued the Patriots' defense, which ranked near the bottom of the league in points allowed. His consistent play helped stabilize the back end despite the unit's overall struggles, underscoring his evolution into a foundational leader for the group.

2024 season

Dugger entered the 2024 season as a key anchor in the New England Patriots' secondary, building on his versatile performance from the prior year that included multiple roles in run defense and coverage. He started all 13 games he appeared in, serving as a defensive captain and logging significant snaps near the line of scrimmage as well as in deep safety positions. Early in the campaign, Dugger established himself as a reliable tackler, leading the team with 10 total tackles in a Week 3 loss to the New York Jets on September 19. His contributions helped stabilize a defense that ranked among the league's better units against the run initially, with Dugger's physicality evident in forcing a fumble during the season. Through those 13 appearances, Dugger amassed 81 total tackles (55 solo), one sack, one forced fumble, and four passes defensed. Midseason evaluations highlighted his impact, with Pro Football Focus ranking him among the top-10 safeties entering the year and noting his strong run-defense grade early on, though his overall performance was hampered by an emerging injury. Another standout effort came in Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals on December 15, where he again led the Patriots with 10 tackles in a road victory. These moments underscored his role as an early-season leader on a Patriots defense that contributed to the team's 4-13 overall record. Dugger's season was ultimately cut short by a persistent right ankle injury, initially diagnosed as a mild sprain in Week 2 but later revealed to be a high-ankle sprain that worsened over time. He aggravated the injury during a Week 8 walkthrough practice following a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, leading to missed games in Weeks 8 through 10 against the Jets, Titans, and Bears. Despite pushing through discomfort for much of the year without being placed on injured reserve, Dugger underwent tightrope surgery on January 9, 2025, to repair the damage after the season concluded. He played the 2024 campaign under a four-year, $58 million contract extension signed in April, which included $32.5 million in guarantees.

2025 season

In late October 2025, Kyle Dugger was acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers via trade from the New England Patriots, in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, with the Steelers sending back a 2026 seventh-round selection. The deal was facilitated by a pre-trade restructuring of Dugger's existing four-year, $58 million contract extension originally signed with New England in 2024, allowing Pittsburgh to assume just $650,000 in base salary for the remainder of the 2025 season while the Patriots covered the bulk of his approximately $10.3 million in remaining compensation, including bonuses. This move addressed injuries in Pittsburgh's secondary, particularly with safety DeShon Elliott sidelined, and provided Dugger a fresh opportunity following his recovery from a 2024 lower-body injury that had hampered his mobility. The restructuring also voided the final two years of his contract, making him a free agent after the 2025 season. Dugger quickly integrated into the Steelers' defense under head coach Mike Tomlin, practicing for the first time with the team on Thursday, October 31, before making his debut in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts on November 2. In that 27-20 victory, he logged 4 tackles (1 solo) while playing 45 defensive snaps, contributing to a unit that forced two turnovers and limited Indianapolis to 3.2 yards per carry on the ground. His performance earned high praise from Tomlin, who awarded him a game ball postgame for seamlessly adapting to the Steelers' aggressive, versatile defensive scheme despite having just three days to learn the playbook. Through 10 games in the 2025 season (seven starts: four with New England and three with Pittsburgh) as of November 19, 2025, Dugger has recorded 29 combined tackles (13 solo, 16 assisted), one interception, and two pass deflections, maintaining his role as a starting strong safety. A highlight came in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals on November 16, where Dugger recorded three tackles, two pass deflections, and a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown off quarterback Joe Flacco, helping secure a 34-12 victory. With the Steelers holding a 7-4 record and the top spot in the AFC North as of November 19, 2025, Dugger has already emerged as a vocal leader in the secondary, complementing All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick by handling run support and deep coverage responsibilities in Tomlin's system.

Personal life

Family and marriage

Kyle Dugger is in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Kaiann, whom he has been with since at least his time with the New England Patriots. The couple welcomed their first child, son Zairo Christian Dugger, in early December 2021; Zairo was born six weeks premature, weighing 6 pounds 8 ounces, and spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit. Dugger was unable to attend the birth due to a COVID-19 quarantine following a game, an experience he described as far from ideal, but he met Zairo after an eight-day isolation period. Dugger has emphasized fatherhood as his top priority, often crediting Zairo with providing motivation and perspective amid the demands of his NFL career; during offseasons, the family spends time in Charleston, South Carolina, near extended relatives, allowing Dugger to handle early-morning feedings and daily care for his son. In 2022, Zairo joined Dugger at Patriots training camp, offering a positive outlet during challenging practices. By 2023, Dugger continued to highlight family as central to his life off the field. Dugger maintains a low public profile regarding his personal relationships, with limited details shared beyond team-affiliated reports. He grew up in a basketball-oriented family in Decatur, Georgia, influenced by his mother, Kimberly Oates Dugger, a former college player inducted into the Fort Valley State Hall of Fame.

Community involvement

Dugger has engaged in various community initiatives through the New England Patriots organization since his rookie year in 2020. As a representative of the team, he has participated in hospital visits to support pediatric patients, including a notable appearance at Franciscan Children's Hospital in Boston during the 2024 offseason, where he interacted with children, discussed shared interests like sneakers, and donated toys, craft supplies, and blankets to enhance their experiences. In 2023, Dugger served as an ambassador for Fuel Up to Play 60, the NFL's campaign in partnership with the Dairy Council to promote physical activity, healthy eating, and wellness among elementary school students across the United States, emphasizing youth sports access and nutrition education. He also made a community appearance at a Defense Commissary Agency facility that year, connecting with military families as the son of a retired Marine, through the NFL's partnership with the agency. Dugger's involvement extended to educational support in 2025, when he joined teammate Mack Hollins and the Patriots Foundation to donate school supplies to Mattahunt Elementary School in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood, aiding students' preparation for the academic year and recognizing the school's staff for their efforts in improving student outcomes. These activities reflect his commitment to giving back to communities in Massachusetts, aligning with the Patriots' broader philanthropic goals.

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