Kyle Love

Kyle William Love (born November 18, 1986) is a former American football nose tackle. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Love has also had played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, and Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Mississippi State.

Kyle Love
refer to caption
Love with the Patriots in 2011
No. 74, 98, 99, 93, 77
Position:Nose tackle
Personal information
Born: (1986-11-18) November 18, 1986
Seoul, South Korea
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:315 lb (143 kg)
Career information
High school:North Clayton
(College Park, Georgia)
College:Mississippi State
Undrafted:2010
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:147
Sacks:15.0
Forced fumbles:4
Fumble recoveries:5
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Love was born in South Korea, where his father was stationed as an officer in the United States Army. He attended North Clayton High School in College Park, Georgia, where he was a four-year starter on the school's football team as a two-way lineman playing both offensive guard and defensive tackle. He was honored as the team's offensive lineman of the Year in 2003, and as defensive lineman of the Year in 2004. He would have two offers from University of Memphis and Mississippi State University

College career

Following high school, Love attended Mississippi State University, where he played in seven games as a reserve defensive lineman as a true freshman in 2006, finishing the season with seven tackles. In 2007, Love started 9 of 13 games at defensive tackle, recording 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, and a fumble recovery. As a junior in 2008, Love made two starts along the defensive line, appearing in 12 games overall and finishing with 14 tackles and two sacks. Love started 12 games as a senior in 2009, recording a career-high 19 tackles.

Professional career

2010 season

After going undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft, Love signed with the New England Patriots. He became one of two undrafted rookies to make the Patriots' 2010, opening day roster (the other was linebacker Dane Fletcher), and made his NFL debut as a reserve in Week 2 against the New York Jets. He was then inactive until Week 10, when he filled in for an injured Myron Pryor as a defensive line reserve. Love made his first career start in the Patriots' season finale against the Miami Dolphins. He finished his rookie season with seven tackles and one sack in nine games played.

2011 season

Love took a bigger role in the Patriots' defense in 2011, as he was active for all 16 games. In the Patriots' 3–4 defense, they often used Love at nose tackle, moving Vince Wilfork to defensive end. He started 13 regular-season games, becoming a regular season in the Patriots' Week 4 game against the Oakland Raiders. Love finished the season with 33 tackles and three sacks; Love played for the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in a losing effort New York Giants, he recorded a tackle in the game.[1]

2012 season

Love played all 16 games combining with Vince Wilfork as a double defensive tackle combo. Love had 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks during the 2012 season. The Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship for the second straight year but lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 28–13. The Patriots waived Love on May 15, 2013, with a non football injury/illness designation soon after he was diagnosed with diabetes.[2]

Jacksonville Jaguars

Love was claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars on May 16, 2013.[3] He was released on September 1, 2013.

Kansas City Chiefs

Love signed with the Chiefs on November 19, 2013.[4] Love was released by the Chiefs on December 3, 2013.[5]

Jacksonville Jaguars (second stint)

Love was signed once again by the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 23, 2013. During the 2013 season with the 2 teams he played for, he played in 2 total games with 4 tackles.

Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)

After not being offered a contract by the Jaguars, Love re-signed with the Chiefs on May 19, 2014. He released on August 30, 2014.[6]

Carolina Panthers

Love signed with the Carolina Panthers on December 15, 2014.[7] He played in the Panthers postseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks and recorded a tackle.

Love appeared in 15 games for the Panthers during the 2015 regular season and tied his career high with three sacks. Love appeared in all three of the Panthers postseason games. He recorded a tackle and a sack in the NFC Championship against the Arizona Cardinals. On February 7, 2016, Love was part of the Panthers team that played in Super Bowl 50. In the game, Love recorded a tackle as the Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10.[8][9][10]

On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Panthers as part of final roster cuts.[11] He was re-signed on September 27, 2016.[12]

On March 15, 2017, Love signed a two-year contract extension with the Panthers.[13] He played in all 16 games in 2017, recording 16 combined tackles and a career-high 3.5 sacks. In 2018, he played in 16 games with two starts, recording 19 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a career-high three forced fumbles.

On April 15, 2019, Love re-signed with the Panthers.[14]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Love was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 16, 2020.[15] He was released on September 3, 2020.[16]

On March 26, 2021, Love announced his retirement from professional football on Instagram.[17]

Personal life

Kyle and his wife Constance were married in July 2011, the couple met while both attending Mississippi State University. The couple has three children together, a son Ashton and two girls Ava and Aliva. He also played the cello in Atlanta. His teacher was Jesse Peterson.[17]

References
  1. "Super Bowl XLVI - New York Giants vs. New England Patriots - February 5th, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  2. Hughes, Luke (May 15, 2013). "Patriots Release Defensive Lineman Kyle Love Soon After He Was Diagnosed With Diabetes". NESN.com.
  3. Sessler, Marc (May 16, 2013). "Kyle Love claimed off waivers by Jacksonville Jaguars". NFL.com.
  4. Ferrin, Reid (November 19, 2013). "Chiefs Sign DT Kyle Love, Release Toribio". Chiefs.com.
  5. Twitter: KCChiefs_Reid #Chiefs sign DT Jerrell Powe, release DT Kyle Love and add FB Toben Opurum to the team's practice squad roster, the club announced today.
  6. Thorman, Joel (August 30, 2014). "Chiefs roster cuts 2014: Tyler Bray to IR, Ryan Succop released". ArrowheadPride.com. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  7. Alper, Josh (December 15, 2014). "Panthers sign Kyle Love, reinstate Frank Alexander". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  8. "Super Bowl 50 - Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers - February 7th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  9. "NFL Players | Past & Current NFL Players". NFL.com.
  10. "Super Bowl 50 - National Football League Game Summary" (PDF). NFL.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  11. Henson, Max. "Panthers trim roster to 53". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018.
  12. "Panthers sign DT Kyle Love, S Michael Griffin". Panthers.com. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  13. Henson, Max (March 15, 2017). "Panthers re-sign Kyle Love". Panthers.com.
  14. Strickland, Bryan (April 15, 2019). "Kyle Love returns to Panthers on one-year deal". Panthers.com.
  15. "Bucs Sign Veteran DL Kyle Love". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  16. "Bucs Release DL Kyle Love". www.buccaneers.com. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  17. "Former Mississippi State DL Kyle Love announces retirement from NFL". saturdaydownsouth.com. March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
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