Jayron Kearse

Two weeks before his freshman season began, Kearse was a candidate to play nickel back in Clemson's five-DB formations, but a shoulder injury caused him to miss the end of fall camp and the opener against the University of Georgia, so fellow freshman strong safety Korrin Wiggins moved to nickel and Kearse settled in as Travis Blanks’ backup. In the following three games of the season, Kearse logged some spare playing time in home blowouts over South Carolina State in week 2 and Wake Forest in week 4 until he was thrust into 75 snaps during Clemson's 49–14 win over the Syracuse Orange in week 5, recording eight tackles and his first career interception.[4]

The following week, he started against Boston College and contributed with 4 tackles. However, in week 7, Kearse played just three snaps against Florida State. In the next two weeks, at Maryland and Virginia, a knee injury to Travis Blanks gave Kearse more playing time and he recorded 2 interceptions.

In the season finale against South Carolina, he played all 81 snaps and had 10 tackles.[5] In the 2014 Orange Bowl 40-35 win against Ohio State, he had 9 tackles and one key interception.

As a true freshman, he played in 12 games with three starts, compiling 55 tackles (0.5 for loss), a career-high four interceptions (led the team) and one forced fumble.

As a sophomore in 2014, he became a full time starter at strong safety (12 out of 13 starts). He recorded 67 tackles (5 for loss), two interceptions, 7 pass breakups, three sacks and one fumble recovery.[6][7]

Against the #1 ranked Florida State University, he had 4 tackles and one interception. He had 4 tackles and one fumble recovery in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl against Oklahoma University.

As a junior in 2015, he used his uncommon size for a safety to provide a physical presence in the Clemson secondary. He registered 87 tackles (6.5 for loss), one interception, 8 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He received second-team All-American honors from the Associated Press.

Against Georgia Tech, he shared player of the game honors after setting a career-high 3 tackles for loss. He made 10 tackles in the 2015 Orange Bowl against Oklahoma University. He tallied 3 tackles in the National Championship Game loss against the University of Alabama

After the 2016 national championship game, Kearse announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft, with many mock drafts projecting him as a late 1st round selection.

Kearse was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round (244th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft,[10] dropping after posting a 4.62 time in the 40-yard dash and being criticized for taking bad tackling angles. He mentioned in the media that he watched hopelessly as he was passed on by NFL teams round after round. "I threw the caps on the ground after I was drafted." Kearse said. "The Vikings gave me a shot. 31 passed on me, so 31 got thrown on the ground. The Vikings are the lucky ones. I'm definitely going to make the other 31 pay.”[11]

As a rookie, he was one of the three tallest safeties in the league at 6-foot-4 and joined his former college teammate, cornerback Mackensie Alexander, who was taken by the Vikings in the second round.[12]

Kearse saw his first significant action of the 2016 season in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles, playing 52 of 58 snaps on defense and recording two tackles after starter Andrew Sendejo went down with an ankle injury after intercepting a pass. He made his first career start the following week against the Chicago Bears. Overall in 2016, Kearse appeared in all 16 games with one start, collecting 6 defensive tackles and 6 special teams tackles (tied for sixth on the team).

In 2017, Kearse played mostly on special teams. He appeared in 15 regular season games and 2 playoff contests. He tallied 13 defensive tackles (one for loss) and 14 special teams tackles (fourth on the team). His first career tackle-for-loss came against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15.

In 2018, he appeared in 16 games with one start. He played mostly as a slot cornerback in the team's "big nickel" package. He made his first career pass breakup against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4. He had a career game in Week 7 against the New York Jets, recording five tackles (one for loss), a half sack, and one quarterback hit. He followed this up the next week against New Orleans Saints, collecting five tackles for a second week in a row. Overall in 2018, Kearse posted 32 tackles (one for loss), a half sack, 2 quarterback hurries, 2 pass breakups and 18 special teams tackles (which led the team).

In 2019, he appeared in 15 games with 3 starts at free safety. He also played in one playoff contest. In Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, he had a career-high nine tackles and one pass breakup. He made his first career interception in Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys, when he caught a last-second Hail Mary pass attempt to close out a 28-24 win. In Week 11 against the Denver Broncos, he prevented a potential game-winning touchdown, covering rookie tight end Noah Fant on two consecutive pass attempts in the end zone, helping to seal a 27–23 comeback victory. He registered 28 tackles, one quarterback hurry, 6 pass breakups and one special teams tackle during the season.

During his time with the Vikings, Kearse appeared in 62 games with five starts (only missed two games), while making 62 tackles, one interception, eight pass breakups, and 39 special teams tackles.

On March 27, 2020, Kearse signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Detroit Lions.[13] On July 31, 2020, he was suspended for the first three games of the 2020 season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.[14] He was reinstated from suspension and activated on October 1, 2020.[15] In Week 9, against his former team the Minnesota Vikings, Kearse was named the full-time starter at strong safety. He tied his career-high of nine tackles in Week 10 against Washington Football Team.

Kearse was inactive for the Week 16 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, after reportedly leaving the hotel room without permission and being late to a bed check on a road trip, which violated the team rules.[16] On December 28, 2020, he was waived by the Lions before the season finale.[17]

With Detroit, Kearse appeared in 11 games with 7 starts, posting 59 tackles, one quarterback hit, 2 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and 3 special teams tackles.

On December 31, 2020, Kearse was signed to the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad.[18] His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on January 25, 2021.[19]

Kearse signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys on March 30, 2021.[20][21] He was named the Cowboys starting strong safety, starting 15 games and recording 101 tackles (nine for loss), one sack, two interceptions, and 10 passes defensed, all career-highs.

On March 21, 2022, Kearse signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension with the Cowboys.[22]