Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph has generated a ton of ball production over his first three seasons as he leads all NFL safeties in interceptions (17) and is tied for the lead in passes defended (31) since entering the NFL in 2022.
His nine interceptions last season led the league and earned Joesph his first All-Pro nod and a lucrative contract extension this offseason that keeps him a Lion through the 2029 season.
But there's another aspect of Joseph's game he might not get enough credit for, and it's part of what makes him one of the most complete safeties in the league.
"Everybody talks about the ball production, which is obviously rare, but one of the things I'm most proud of with him is I thought he did an unbelievable job in the open field tackling last year," defensive assistant and safeties coach Jim O'Neil said recently of Joseph.
"It was even more impressive than I thought when I went back and watched the cut-ups. You're really looking for two things ... obviously a guy that can go get the ball and a guy that can erase mistakes when the ball pops. I thought he did an outstanding job of that and that was a huge point of emphasis for us coming off of his season two years ago and last year."
O'Neil said it's something they've worked with Joseph a lot on during and after practice, and it certainly showed up on the field when the Lions needed it most last season.
Joseph had the No. 1 cover grade (91.1) by any safety in the NFL last season by Pro Football Focus, but he was also graded No. 9 among all players at the position in tackling (86.9). Joseph was credited with missing just six tackles while playing 1,158 snaps last year. There were only two safeties in the NFL who played at least 1,000 snaps last season and had fewer missed tackles than Joseph's six — Josh Metellus (5) and Xavier McKinney (5).
It's the ability to be both a ball hawk and a reliable tackler that sets Joseph apart from most of his peers and what led to him to currently being the highest paid safety in the league.
He recorded 83 tackles (58 solo), 12 passes defended, nine interceptions and also added one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit last season. He was the first Lions safety since Yale Lary in 1962 to earn First-Team All-Pro honors.
View photos from offseason workouts on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez (51) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaac Ukwu (45) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Malik Taylor (86) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Kenny Yeboah (88) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker DaRon Gilbert (43) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Morice Norris (26) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Joseph's also become one of the unquestioned leaders in Detroit's secondary. During the season last year, he hired a private chef and invited all the members of the secondary over to his house every Thursday night to create camaraderie.
O'Neil said Joseph has become a key leader in the meeting room, helping to mentor young players on film habits and understanding scheme and matchups.
Joseph's ball production is elite, but so are his instincts, tackling and leadership. He has become the complete package at safety in just three short years. Now paired with third-year safety Brian Branch, the two form the best duo in the NFL at the position and are two of the big reasons why the Lions think they can make huge gains defensively in 2025 if they can stay healthier up front.
