Kyle Fuller
refer to caption
Fuller with the Chicago Bears in 2019
Personal information
Born: (1992-02-16) February 16, 1992 (age 32)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Mount Saint Joseph
(Baltimore, Maryland)
College:Virginia Tech (2010–2013)
Position:Cornerback
NFL draft:2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:444
Forced fumbles:4
Pass deflections:86
Interceptions:19
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Kyle Brandon Fuller (born February 16, 1992) is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft and played college football at Virginia Tech.

Early years

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Fuller attended Mount Saint Joseph High School, where he played high school football. He recorded one interception his senior year, and played in the Maryland Crab Bowl,[1] an all-star game, despite missing most of his season with a finger injury. He had four interceptions as a junior, returning two of those for touchdowns. He also had a punt return touchdown and kick return score that season.

Fuller was also on the school's track & field team, where he competed as a sprinter and jumper. He won the long jump at the 2010 Woodlawn Warrior Invitational, with a personal-best mark of 6.41 meters.[2] At the 2010 IAAM-MIAA Champs, he took fifth in the 300-meter dash, clocking at 37.98 seconds.[3]

Considered a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Fuller was listed as the No. 43 cornerback in the nation in 2010.[4]

College career

Fuller with Virginia Tech in 2013

Fuller started seven games in 2010 as a true freshman, primarily in the Hokies’ nickel defense. He recorded 32 tackles, four for a loss, broke up six passes and forced a fumble. In 2011, as a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection at corner, he started all 14 games at two different positions. He started at nickelback/whip linebacker for seven games and corner for the other seven games. He played over 1,000 snaps on defense and 100 on special teams. He recorded 65 tackles, a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks on the season. He also added seven pass breakups, two interceptions, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In 2012, as honorable mention All-ACC at corner, he started all 13 games and recorded 52 tackles, including three for loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups. In 2013, he was one of the Hokies’ four permanent captains. He was named a third-team All-ACC selection,[5] and played in nine games, making eight starts and missing the team's final four games due to injury.[6] He recorded 24 tackles, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups in his final season.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Fuller attended the NFL Scouting Combine and performed all of the combine drills. On March 19, 2014, Fuller participated at Virginia Tech's pro day, but opted to stand on his combine numbers and only performed positional drills. He was projected to be a first round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. Fuller was ranked as the top cornerback prospect in the draft by NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock, was ranked the third best cornerback by DraftScout.com, and was ranked the sixth best cornerback by Sports Illustrated.[7][8][9]

External videos
video icon Kyle Fuller's NFL Combine Workout
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11+3⁄4 in
(1.82 m) 		190 lb
(86 kg) 		32+7⁄8 in
(0.84 m) 		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.49 s 1.50 s 2.61 s 4.19 s 6.90 s 38.5 in
(0.98 m)		 10 ft 8 in
(3.25 m)		 12 reps
All values from NFL Combine[10]

Chicago Bears

2014

Fuller with the Bears in 2019

The Chicago Bears selected Fuller in the first round (14th overall) of the 2014 NFL draft.[11] He was the second cornerback selected in the draft, behind Justin Gilbert (eighth overall, Cleveland Browns).[12] On May 14, 2014, the Bears signed him to a four-year, $9.68 million contract with a signing bonus of $5.36 million.[13][14]

External videos
video icon Bears draft Kyle Fuller 14th overall

Head coach Marc Trestman named Fuller the third cornerback on the Bears' depth chart to start the regular season, behind Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman.[15]

He made his professional regular season debut in the Bears' season-opener against the Buffalo Bills and recorded five combined tackles in their 23–20 loss. On September 14, 2014, Fuller made a season-high seven combined tackles, two pass deflections, and two interceptions during a 28–20 victory at the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football. He made his first career interception off a pass by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, that was intended for wide receiver Michael Crabtree, and returned it for a 20-yard gain in the fourth quarter. He became the first Bears' rookie to record two picks in a game since Chris Harris in 2005.[16] He was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week and became the first Bears' rookie defensive back to receive the award since Mark Carrier in 1990.[17] In Week 3, Fuller earned his first career start after Charles Tillman sustained a triceps injury and was placed on injured reserve.[18] He recorded seven combined tackles, two pass deflections, forced two fumbles, and made an interception as the Bears defeated the New York Jets 27–19 on Monday Night Football.[19] He became the first NFL player in 20 years to record three interceptions and two forced fumbles in their first three games.[20] In Week 13, he collected a season-high seven solo tackles and broke up a pass during a 34–17 loss at the Detroit Lions.[21] On December 29, 2014, the Bears fired Trestman after they finished with a 5–11 record in 2014.[22] He finished his rookie season in 2014 with 64 combined tackles (51 solo), ten pass deflections, four interceptions, and three forced fumbles in 16 games and 14 starts.[23]

2015

Fuller entered training camp slated as a starting cornerback.[24] Head coach John Fox officially named Fuller a starting cornerback to start the regular season, opposite Tracy Porter.[25] On October 18, 2015, Fuller collected a season-high eight combined tackles during a 37–34 loss at the Lions. In Week 8, he made two combined tackles, a season-high two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the Bears' 23–20 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.[26] He started all 16 games and recorded 55 combined tackles (47 solo), nine pass deflections, and two interceptions.[23] Fuller struggled through the early portion of the season, which included being responsible for two major defensive pass interference penalties, raising the possibility of being moved to safety. He eventually improved as the year progressed.[27]

2016

Throughout training camp, Fuller dealt with a knee injury. On August 18, 2016, he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair his knee injury.[28] On September 28, 2016, the Bears placed Fuller on injured reserve after being inactive for the first three games while recovering from knee surgery. On November 30, 2016, Fuller returned to practice, but was not added to the active roster and remained on injured reserve for the entire 2016 season.[29]

2017

On April 29, 2017, Chicago Bears' general manager Ryan Pace announced that the team would not pick up the fifth-year option on Fuller's rookie contract.[30]

Throughout training camp, he competed to be a starting cornerback against Marcus Cooper and Prince Amukamara. Head coach John Fox named Fuller the third cornerback on the depth chart to start the regular season, behind Cooper and Amukamara.[31][32]

Fuller started in the Bears' season-opener against the Atlanta Falcons after Prince Amukamara injured his ankle during the preseason and was inactive for the first two regular-season games.[33] Fuller recorded six combined tackles and broke up a pass in their 23–17 loss. In Week 5, he earned the start after Marcus Cooper was unable to play due to a back injury.[34] Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio chose to retain Fuller as a starting cornerback for the rest of the season. On December 3, 2017, Fuller collected a season-high seven combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during a 15–14 loss to the 49ers in Week 13.[35] He had a career year in 2017, starting all 16 games recording 69 combined tackles (61 solo), a career-high 22 pass deflections, and two interceptions.[23] He earned an overall grade of 84.3 from Pro Football Focus (PFF), which ranked 21st among all qualifying cornerbacks in 2017.[36]

2018

Fuller with the Bears in 2018

On March 6, 2018, the Bears placed the transition tag on Fuller worth $12.971 million.[37] On March 16, 2018, the Green Bay Packers extended a four-year, $56 million contract with $18 million guaranteed offer to Fuller, which the Bears then matched later that day, keeping Fuller under contract with the Bears through 2021.[38]

Fuller's 2018 season opened on a disappointing note when he dropped a potential game-sealing interception against the Packers, who eventually scored on the drive to win 24–23; after the game, he commented, "All I got to say is I got to catch it."[39] In Weeks 6 and 7 against the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, he recorded three total interceptions, two off the former's Brock Osweiler and once off the latter's Tom Brady.[40] The two picks in Miami marked the first time that a Bear recorded two interceptions in a game since Fuller's performance against the 49ers in 2014.[41]

During the remainder of the regular season, he recorded four more interceptions against Nathan Peterman of the Bills,[42] Matthew Stafford of the Lions,[43] Eli Manning of the New York Giants,[44] and Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams.[45] Fuller finished the season with 55 tackles, 21 passes defended, and shared a league-leading seven interceptions with Xavien Howard and Damontae Kazee.[46] He received an overall grade of 81.4 from PFF in 2018, which ranked as the 7th highest grade among all qualifying cornerbacks in 2018.[47]

On December 18, Fuller was selected to his first Pro Bowl. He was later also named to first-team All-Pro along with teammates Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, and Tarik Cohen.[48]

2019

Fuller in 2019

In Week 2 against the Denver Broncos, Fuller made his first interception of the season off a pass from Joe Flacco that was intended for Emmanuel Sanders in the 16–14 win.[49] In Week 3 against the Washington Redskins, Fuller intercepted a pass from Case Keenum in the 31–15 win.[50] In Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Fuller recorded a team high 7 tackles and made an interception off Philip Rivers in the 17–16 loss.[51]

Fuller ended the 2019 season with three interceptions and 12 pass breakups. His 82 combined tackles were a career best. On January 9, 2020, he was named to the 2020 Pro Bowl roster in place of an injured Jalen Ramsey after being voted as an alternate.[52][53]

2020

In Week 1 against the Lions, Fuller recorded his first interception of the season off a pass thrown by Matthew Stafford during the 27–23 comeback victory.[54] In Week 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football, Fuller forced a fumble on running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn which was recovered by teammate Robert Quinn during the 20–19 win.[55]

On March 20, 2021, Fuller was released by the Bears.[56]

Denver Broncos

Fuller signed a one-year, $9.5 million contract with the Denver Broncos on March 23, 2021.[57][58][59]

Due to poor play, Fuller did not appear in the Broncos’ Week 8 matchup against Washington, after losing possible playing time in previous weeks to Nate Hairston and Patrick Surtain II.[60]

Leading up to the 2021 trade deadline, it was widely speculated that the Broncos would trade away Fuller.[61][62] However, he ultimately was not traded. He finished the season with 51 tackles, four pass deflections and no interceptions through 16 games and 10 starts.

Baltimore Ravens

On May 24, 2022, Fuller signed with the Baltimore Ravens.[63] On September 14, the Ravens placed Fuller on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL in the Week 1 game against the Jets.[64][65]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2014 CHI 16 14 64 51 13 0.0 10 4 81 20.2 31 0 3 0 0 0
2015 CHI 16 16 55 47 8 0.0 9 2 24 12.0 15 0 0 0 0 0
2016 CHI 0 0 did not play due to injury
2017 CHI 16 16 69 61 8 0.0 22 2 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018 CHI 16 16 55 45 10 0.0 21 7 52 7.4 35 0 0 0 0 0
2019 CHI 16 16 82 72 10 0.0 12 3 37 12.3 29 0 0 0 0 0
2020 CHI 16 16 65 52 13 0.0 8 1 5 5.0 5 0 1 0 0 0
2021 DEN 16 10 51 40 11 0.0 4 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022 BAL 1 1 3 3 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 113 105 444 371 73 0.0 86 19 199 10.5 35 0 4 0 0 0

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2018 CHI 1 1 5 5 0 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 CHI 1 1 3 3 0 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 2 2 8 8 0 0.0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Personal life

Kyle's older brothers are former Virginia Tech Hokies football players, as well.[66] His eldest brother, Vincent, is a retired NFL safety who spent the majority of his career with the Tennessee Titans. His older brother, Corey, is a retired wide receiver, who previously played for the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints. Their younger brother, Kendall, is a cornerback for the Miami Dolphins. Kendall won Super Bowl LIV with the Kansas City Chiefs.

References

  1. ^ Maryland Crab Bowl rosters unveiled
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External links

2014 NFL draft first-round selections
Chicago Bears first-round draft picks
Chicago Bears 2014 NFL draft selections
NFL annual interceptions leaders
Categories