Breeland Speaks Bio
Breeland Clyde Speaks (born December 18, 1995) is an American professional football defensive end who has played across the NFL and several spring football leagues. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round (46th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft after a standout college career at Ole Miss. Standing 6 ft 3 in and listed at 285 lb, Speaks is recognized for his pass-rushing ability and has collected notable individual honors at the professional level.
Over the course of his career, Speaks has appeared with multiple NFL organizations and has earned recognition in the UFL and USFL, including a UFL Defensive Player of the Year award. His journey from a highly recruited high school prospect in Mississippi to a championship-level NFL roster and then to spring-league stardom reflects both perseverance and on-field production.
Early Life and Background
Breeland Clyde Speaks was born on December 18, 1995, in Jackson, Mississippi. He grew up in the same city where he would later become a celebrated high school athlete. He is the son of Clyde Speaks and Brenda Speaks, who supported his early interest in football. Speaks attended Callaway High School in Jackson, where he developed into one of the top defensive prospects in the state.
During his senior season in 2013, Speaks produced an outstanding statistical line that included 118 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, three blocked kicks, five pass breakups, and an interception returned for a touchdown. That performance established him as a consensus four-star recruit and drew attention from several top college football programs across the country.
In October 2013, Speaks committed to play college football for the Ole Miss Rebels, choosing them over programs such as Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Florida State. His decision set the stage for his transition from a dominant Mississippi high school defender to a Southeastern Conference contributor.
Path to American Football
Speaks enrolled at Ole Miss and redshirted during the 2014 season, preserving a year of eligibility while adjusting to the college level. As a redshirt freshman in 2015, he played in every game of the season and earned two starts, finishing the year with 32 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery. His ability to contribute immediately hinted at the larger role he would assume in later seasons.
In 2016, Speaks served as a redshirt sophomore and recorded 28 tackles, including 11 solo stops, along with 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack. The 2017 campaign marked his breakthrough at the collegiate level. As a redshirt junior, he tallied 67 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and seven sacks, earning Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference Second-team honors.
Following his strong junior season, Speaks declared for the 2018 NFL draft and was selected in the second round, 46th overall, by the Kansas City Chiefs. That selection confirmed his standing as one of the top defensive end prospects from the SEC that year.
Breeland Speaks Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Speaks joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 and played in all 16 games as a rookie, making four starts. He recorded 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks during his first NFL season, showing enough ability to remain in the defensive rotation. His rookie campaign gave him valuable experience within a contending Chiefs roster.
In 2019, Speaks was placed on injured reserve on August 31 and missed the bulk of the season. While on injured reserve, he received a four-game suspension on December 6 for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He was reinstated on December 30 but returned to injured reserve, and although he did not play in the postseason, the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers without him. Speaks was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2018–2019)
Speaks’ tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs spanned two seasons and represented his first professional home. The Chiefs selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft, signaling their belief in his potential as a rotational pass rusher. As a rookie, he logged meaningful snaps across all 16 regular-season games and contributed four starts.
The 2019 season proved more difficult, as an early-season injured reserve designation kept him off the field for most of the year. Even though he was not on the active roster during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV run, his name is attached to a championship season. The Chiefs waived Speaks during final roster cuts in September 2020, ending his initial NFL chapter.
NFL Journeyman Years (2020–2021)
After his release from Kansas City, Speaks embarked on a journeyman stretch that took him through several NFL organizations. He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad on October 2, 2020, but was released on November 3. Shortly after, on November 17, 2020, he joined the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, and his contract with the team expired on January 11, 2021.
In January 2021, Speaks signed a reserve/futures contract with the New York Giants before being waived in May. He returned to the Dallas Cowboys on September 1, 2021, but was released on December 6. His final NFL stop of that stretch came with the Buffalo Bills, who signed him to their practice squad on December 22, 2021, and released him five days later. Across these seasons, Speaks continued to pursue a regular roster role while navigating frequent movement between teams.
Michigan Panthers Era (2023–Present)
On December 22, 2022, Speaks signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League, beginning a productive run in spring football. In his Panthers debut, he produced three sacks, seven combined tackles, and one forced fumble, immediately establishing himself as an impact defender. He was released from his contract on August 10, 2023, to sign with an NFL team.
Speaks signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on August 11, 2023, but was waived on August 27. He re-signed with the Michigan Panthers on December 19, 2023, and the following spring he was named UFL Defensive Player of the Year on June 7, 2024. His contract was terminated on August 8, 2024, after which he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and was waived on August 25. Speaks returned to the Michigan Panthers once again on February 2, 2025, was placed on injured reserve on April 7, and was activated on May 19, continuing his third stint with the club.
Driving Style and Strengths
Speaks is best known for his pass-rushing instincts and his ability to disrupt plays in the backfield. He combines a strong frame with quick first-step explosiveness, allowing him to collapse the pocket and produce tackles for loss. His production as a sack leader in both the USFL and UFL highlights his efficiency as an edge rusher.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Speaks’ career are his Super Bowl championship with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, his UFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, and his USFL sacks leader title in 2023. He also earned All-UFL and All-USFL selections, underscoring his consistency as one of the top defensive ends in spring football.
Breeland Speaks Career Wins
Speaks’ career accomplishments span the NFL, USFL, and UFL. He is a Super Bowl champion, a UFL Defensive Player of the Year, a USFL sacks leader, and a UFL sack leader, and he has earned multiple All-league honors at the professional level.
UFL and USFL Highlights
In the UFL, Speaks was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 and led the league in sacks that same season, also earning a spot on the All-UFL Team. In 2023, he was the USFL sacks leader and a member of the All-USFL Team, capping a strong debut campaign with the Michigan Panthers.
Other Awards & Performances
Speaks earned Associated Press All-SEC Second-team honors in 2017 after his seven-sack redshirt junior season at Ole Miss. He is also a Super Bowl champion from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory in the 2019 season.
Breeland Speaks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Breeland Clyde Speaks was raised in Jackson, Mississippi, by his parents, Clyde Speaks and Brenda Speaks. His upbringing in Jackson, combined with his time at Callaway High School, helped shape his path toward a football career.
Personal Life
Speaks remains connected to his Mississippi roots and continues his professional football career in the United States. Public details about his marital status and children have not been widely confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Speaks began the 2025 season with the Michigan Panthers, re-signing with the club on February 2, 2025. He was placed on injured reserve on April 7, 2025, before being activated on May 19, 2025, signaling his return to the defensive rotation midway through the spring schedule.
Coming off a 2024 campaign in which he was named UFL Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in sacks, Speaks entered 2025 with high expectations as one of the UFL’s premier pass rushers. His production across the 2023 and 2024 seasons established him as a centerpiece of the Michigan Panthers’ defense.
Looking ahead, Speaks’ outlook for the remainder of the 2025 season centers on maintaining health, building on his prior sack totals, and contributing to a contending Michigan Panthers roster. His track record of disrupting opposing backfields suggests he will remain a focal point of the team’s defensive game plan.