Kendal Vickers Bio
Kendal Bryant Vickers (born May 23, 1995) is an American professional football defensive tackle who has played across both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). Over the course of his career he has suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Edmonton Eskimos, Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, and New Orleans Saints, building a reputation as a dependable interior presence on defensive lines.
After beginning his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee, Vickers entered the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and has since worked his way through practice squads, short-term contracts, and active roster opportunities in multiple leagues. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 295 pounds, he has carved out a journeyman career defined by persistence and a willingness to contribute on both defense and special teams.
Early Life and Background
Kendal Bryant Vickers was born on May 23, 1995, in Havelock, North Carolina. Havelock, a small coastal city near Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, is well known in the region for producing competitive football talent, and Vickers grew up immersed in that tradition. He attended Havelock High School, where he played football and developed into a promising defensive lineman.
His high school performances drew the attention of college recruiters, and he ultimately committed to the University of Tennessee to continue his football career at the collegiate level. The combination of size, strength, and motor he displayed as a teenager laid the foundation for the professional journey that followed.
Path to American Football
Vickers enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 2013 and spent five seasons with the Volunteers program, competing under head coach Butch Jones during his collegiate development. He worked his way through the depth chart on the defensive line, gaining valuable experience against top-tier Southeastern Conference (SEC) competition.
After completing his college career in 2017, Vickers declared for the 2018 NFL Draft but went undrafted. Rather than ending his football aspirations, that status pushed him to pursue opportunities as an undrafted free agent, beginning a professional path that has taken him across multiple teams and even into the Canadian Football League as he searched for the right fit.
Kendal Vickers Career
Early Career (2018)
Kendal Bryant Vickers signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018, marking his first professional contract. He spent the offseason and training camp with the organization before being waived on August 31, 2018, as part of final roster cuts.
Shortly after his release, Vickers was signed by the Tennessee Titans to their practice squad on December 24, 2018. His stay in Tennessee was brief, however, as he was released on January 7, 2019, prompting him to look north of the border for his next opportunity.
Edmonton Eskimos Breakthrough (2019)
On May 19, 2019, Kendal Bryant Vickers signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, giving him a chance to see the field regularly. He appeared in games throughout the season and recorded 12 tackles along with two sacks while contributing on the defensive front.
His performance north of the border was steady enough to attract renewed NFL interest, and Edmonton released him on January 20, 2020, to allow him to pursue opportunities back in the United States. That offseason move set the stage for the most extended stretch of his NFL career to that point.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2020–2022)
Vickers signed a reserve/futures contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on January 22, 2020, and made the team’s 53-man roster out of training camp. He made his official NFL debut on September 13, 2020, against the Carolina Panthers, playing nine snaps on defense and one snap on special teams in a Week 1 victory.
During the 2020 season, he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 18 before being activated three days later. In Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, Vickers recorded his first career sack, bringing down quarterback Justin Herbert during a 30–27 overtime loss. He signed a one-year contract extension with the Raiders on March 2, 2021, was waived on August 31, 2021, and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He was promoted to the active roster on November 10, 2021, before being released by the Raiders on December 6, 2022.
Buffalo Bills Era (2022–2023)
On December 8, 2022, Kendal Bryant Vickers was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad, only to be released on December 21 of that same year. He later signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023, beginning another stretch of opportunity in western New York.
On August 29, 2023, Vickers was waived by the Bills and re-signed to the practice squad. He was elevated for the Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he made two tackles across 46 defensive snaps in his Bills debut, before being released on October 31, 2023.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2023)
On November 2, 2023, Vickers was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, marking yet another stop in his journeyman NFL path. He finished the season with the organization but was not signed to a reserve/future contract once the year concluded.
As a result, Vickers became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract and entered the 2024 offseason searching for his next professional opportunity.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024)
On May 13, 2024, Kendal Bryant Vickers signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, joining the team for training camp and the preseason. He was released on August 28, 2024, and quickly re-signed to the practice squad, where he continued to develop and stay ready for elevation.
Vickers played in one game for the New Orleans Saints before being released on December 18, 2024, closing out his most recent NFL chapter and leaving his career status open entering 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Across his stops in the NFL and CFL, Kendal Bryant Vickers has been valued as a rotational interior defensive lineman who can play the run and rush the passer in short bursts. His size at 6 feet 3 inches and 295 pounds allows him to hold up at the point of attack, while his CFL experience helped sharpen his pass-rush instincts, contributing to his two career sacks in each league.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Vickers’ career are his first NFL sack of Justin Herbert in 2020 with the Las Vegas Raiders and his productive 2019 season with the Edmonton Eskimos, where he posted 12 tackles and two sacks in the Canadian Football League. His repeated movement between active rosters and practice squads also stands as a testament to his perseverance in a highly competitive professional environment.
Kendal Vickers Career Wins
While Kendal Bryant Vickers is a defensive tackle whose statistical résumé centers on tackles and sacks rather than wins and losses, his career has featured steady contributions across multiple franchises. He has recorded two NFL sacks and two CFL sacks to go along with 10 total NFL tackles and 12 CFL tackles, along with one forced fumble in the Canadian game.
Edmonton Eskimos Highlights
During the 2019 CFL season with the Edmonton Eskimos, Kendal Bryant Vickers appeared in regular-season games and finished with 12 tackles and two sacks while also forcing one fumble. His release in January 2020 came specifically so he could pursue opportunities back in the NFL, a sign that his play in Edmonton had earned him further attention.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his Eskimos tenure, Vickers has tallied two NFL sacks and 10 total tackles across stints with the Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills, and New Orleans Saints. He has also contributed on special teams when called upon, including in his NFL debut against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 of the 2020 season.
Kendal Vickers Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Kendal Bryant Vickers’ immediate family is limited, with no widely verified details about his parents or siblings available in confirmed sources. His upbringing in Havelock, North Carolina, however, is closely tied to the strong football culture of that region.
Personal Life
Beyond his career as a professional defensive tackle, Vickers keeps much of his personal life private, and no verified public information about a spouse or children is currently available. His social media presence, including an Instagram account, offers occasional glimpses into his life away from football.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Kendal Bryant Vickers is coming off a 2024 campaign in which he signed with the New Orleans Saints on May 13, 2024, played in one game, and was released on December 18, 2024. That trajectory leaves his 2025 status open, with the possibility of another short-term contract, practice squad opportunity, or even a return to the Canadian Football League still on the table.
Given his history of moving between practice squads and active rosters, Vickers remains a candidate to surface on a team in need of interior defensive line depth at any point during the 2025 league year. His mix of NFL and CFL experience, combined with his ability to play on special teams, makes him a practical option for clubs seeking a veteran rotational piece.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see whether Vickers lands with another NFL franchise, joins a CFL team for a second stint, or steps away from professional football altogether as the calendar moves through 2025. Regardless of the outcome, his career stands as an example of persistence through the ups and downs of life as an undrafted professional.