Kyle Dugger

Kyle Dugger is an active American professional football player who plays as a safety in the National Football League (NFL). Best known for his hard-hitting tenure with the New England Patriots, he currently plays for the Cincinnati Bengals following a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Kyle Dugger was born on March 22, 1996, in Decatur, Georgia, USA. The Safety stands 185 cm tall, and his weight was last listed at 98 kg.

He attended Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. Interestingly, he primarily played basketball during high school and did not start on the football team until his senior year. Lightly recruited, he committed to play college football for Lenoir-Rhyne University, an NCAA Division II program in North Carolina, where he played from 2014 to 2019.

Following a phenomenal senior season, he was awarded the Cliff Harris Award in 2019, an honor given to the nation's absolute best small-school defensive player.

Personal Life

Dugger's journey to the NFL is a testament to perseverance. Coming out of high school, he only received three college offers—none from Division I programs—before betting on himself at the Division II level and working his way into becoming a highly coveted, early-round NFL draft pick.

Professional Career

He was drafted by the New England Patriots during the 2020 NFL Draft. They selected him in the second round, making him the 37th overall pick. He made history as the highest-drafted player ever from his alma mater and the first player chosen in that draft who played outside of Division I FBS.

During his early professional career, Dugger quickly became a foundational piece in the Patriots' defensive secondary. He made his first career interception in 2021 off of quarterback Dak Prescott. Dugger had a massive breakout year during the 2022 season, showcasing his elite playmaking skills by leading the entire NFL with three defensive touchdowns (two interceptions and one fumble recovery returned for scores). His heroics that year also earned him an AFC Defensive Player of the Week nod.

Recognizing his immense value, the Patriots placed the transition tag on him in early 2024 before ultimately signing him to a massive four-year, $58 million contract extension. However, midway through the 2025 season, the Patriots traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Following his stint in Pittsburgh to close out the year, he joined the Cincinnati Bengals for the 2026 season.

Career Highlights:

• 2022 – NFL leader in defensive touchdowns
• 2019 – Cliff Harris Award