Devon Key Bio
Devon Key is an American professional football safety and special teamer for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Born on October 28, 1997, in Lexington, Kentucky, Key has built a professional career as an undrafted free agent, moving through three NFL organizations before establishing himself in Denver. He played college football for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers from 2016 to 2020 and entered the league in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Devon Key was born on October 28, 1997, in Lexington, Kentucky, where he grew up and developed his early interest in football. He attended Bryan Station High School in Lexington, playing on both offense and defense as a prep prospect. Recruiting services Rivals.com, 247Sports.com, and Scout.com rated him as a two-star recruit coming out of high school.
Following his senior year, Key accepted a scholarship offer from Western Kentucky University, where he spent his first year in 2016 as a redshirt. The move gave him time to develop physically and learn the defensive system before competing for a starting role. His hometown roots in Lexington and his connection to the University of Kentucky through family helped shape his early football identity.
Path to American Football
Key’s path to the NFL ran through the Conference USA ranks at Western Kentucky, where he steadily increased his responsibility. As a redshirt-freshman in 2017, he opened the season as a starting safety, finishing with 94 tackles to rank second on the team and 16th in the conference. He recorded his first career interception in the end zone on November 11 at Marshall and posted a career-high 12 tackles earlier that season at Illinois.
As a sophomore, Key started all 12 games and led the team’s defensive backs with 71 tackles while adding a team-leading three interceptions. His first interception of that year, against Maine, was returned 45 yards for a touchdown, and he was recognized as All-Conference USA honorable mention. By the end of his senior season in 2020, he had broken the FBS-era Western Kentucky team record for career tackles with 350, and he was named second-team All-Conference USA.
Devon Key Career
Early Career (2021)
After going unselected in the 2021 NFL draft, Devon Key signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. He was released at the initial roster cuts and immediately re-signed to the team’s practice squad the following day. The Chiefs later signed him to a reserve/future contract on February 2, 2022, keeping him in the organization through the offseason.
On August 30, 2022, Key was waived by Kansas City as the team trimmed its roster. The brief Chiefs stint gave him his first taste of an NFL training camp and practice environment after his college career at Western Kentucky.
Denver Broncos Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Key signed with the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad on November 15, 2022, but was released a week later. On December 20, 2022, he signed with the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, then signed a reserve/future contract with Denver on January 9, 2023. The Broncos waived him on August 29, 2023, and re-signed him to the practice squad, before signing another reserve/future deal on January 8, 2024.
Key made the Broncos’ 53-man roster to open the 2024 season and played in his first NFL game in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. He earned his first career start in Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens, filling in for an injured Brandon Jones. Serving as Denver’s second-string free safety and a core special teamer, he recorded 33 tackles and a sack across the season.
On March 4, 2025, the Broncos assigned Key an exclusive-rights free agent tender, keeping him under contract for the 2025 season. After a standout year as a special teams ace, he was recognized as a first-team All-Pro selection.
Driving Style and Strengths
Devon Key’s professional value is rooted in his reliability on special teams and his positional versatility in the secondary. Listed at 6 feet 0 inches and 208 pounds, he fits the build of a hard-hitting safety who can contribute on coverage and return units. His path from practice-squad signee to core special teamer reflects strong preparation and consistent performance.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Key’s most notable milestones are breaking Western Kentucky’s FBS-era career tackles record with 350 stops and earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2025. He also appeared in his first NFL start against the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 and recorded his first career sack during that same Broncos season.
Devon Key Career Wins
Devon Key’s professional ledger is built on team success and individual recognition rather than a long list of personal statistical titles. As a core special teamer and rotational safety for the Denver Broncos, he has contributed to divisional play and postseason contention. His first-team All-Pro selection in 2025 stands as the most prominent career award of his NFL tenure.
NFL Highlights
Key has posted 61 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass deflection through the 2025 NFL season. His first NFL start came in Week 9 of the 2024 season against the Baltimore Ravens, and he recorded his first career sack during that same campaign. The first-team All-Pro honor in 2025 marked his most significant league-wide recognition to date.
Other Wins & Performances
At the college level, Key earned second-team All-Conference USA honors in 2020 after a senior season in which he set the Western Kentucky FBS-era career tackles record. Earlier in his Western Kentucky career, he posted three interceptions in 2018, including a 45-yard pick-six against Maine, and earned All-Conference USA honorable mention.
Devon Key Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Devon Key comes from a football family rooted in the Lexington, Kentucky, area. His father, Donte, played for the University of Kentucky, giving Devon an early connection to the sport through his family’s background. His younger brother, Dane, formerly played as a wide receiver at the University of Kentucky and also plays for the Denver Broncos.
Personal Life
Key and his girlfriend welcomed a son in August 2020, and the couple has since had another child. He maintains a presence on social media, with public accounts on X and Instagram under familiar handles. His family ties to Kentucky football and to the Broncos organization remain a defining part of his personal story.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season marked the arrival of Devon Key as a recognized special teams leader for the Denver Broncos. Operating as a second-string free safety and core special teamer, he delivered one of the most productive seasons of his career and earned first-team All-Pro recognition. His production supported Denver’s defensive and special teams units across the year.
Key’s 2025 statistical line included 61 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass deflection, reflecting his role in both the defensive backfield and on special teams. The All-Pro selection underscored the league’s view of him as one of the top special teamers in the NFL that season. On March 6, 2026, the Broncos assigned him an exclusive-rights free agent tender worth $1.075 million, keeping him under contract.
Looking ahead, Key is positioned to remain a foundational special teams player and rotational safety in Denver. His combination of tackling production, coverage skill, and special teams tackling fits the modern role of a hybrid safety. Continued health and consistency could push him toward a longer-term contract and an expanded defensive role in future seasons.
