Kendall Fuller Bio
Kendall Christopher Fuller is an American professional football cornerback who has built a steady, decade-long career in the National Football League. Born on February 13, 1995, in Baltimore, Maryland, he first gained national attention as a five-star high school recruit and as a playmaking cornerback for the Virginia Tech Hokies. After being selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, he went on to play for the Washington Redskins, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Washington Football Team and Commanders, and the Miami Dolphins. He is best remembered for sealing Super Bowl LIV with a late interception, the crowning moment of a career defined by toughness, ball skills, and team-first play.
Early Life and Background
Kendall Christopher Fuller was raised in the greater Baltimore area and attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland, where he quickly emerged as one of the most dynamic two-way players in the region. On varsity, he was teammates with Stefon Diggs and Blake Countess, and as a senior he was named the U.S. Army All-American Defensive Player of the Year and the Maryland Gatorade Football Player of the Year. That season he totaled 44 receptions for 695 yards and seven touchdowns on offense while adding three interceptions, eight pass breakups, and 28 tackles on defense.
Fuller was also a track and field athlete, competing in hurdles and jumps. He posted bests of 17.94 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles, 47.81 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles, 6.48 meters in the long jump, and 13.71 meters in the triple jump. Rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was ranked the second-best cornerback and ninth-best overall player in his high school class. In July 2012, he committed to Virginia Tech over offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and South Carolina, choosing to follow his older brothers into the Hokies program.
Path to American Football
Fuller’s path to the NFL ran straight through Blacksburg, Virginia, where he joined a Virginia Tech program stocked with family talent. He appeared in 13 games as a true freshman in 2013, starting 12 of them, and made an immediate impact with 58 tackles and six interceptions. That production earned him ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, Freshman All-American honors, and second-team All-ACC recognition. As a sophomore in 2014, he returned as a starter and was named first-team All-ACC and a Second-team All-American, cementing his status as one of the top cornerback prospects in college football.
Although Fuller suffered a torn meniscus during his final college season, he had already been projected as a potential first-round pick. On December 15, 2015, he declared for the 2016 NFL Draft and attended the NFL Scouting Combine, where he was limited to medical checks because of the knee injury. He entered the draft ranked as the fifth-best cornerback by DraftScout.com, the ninth-best by analyst Mike Mayock, and the tenth-best defensive back by Sports Illustrated.
Kendall Fuller Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
The Washington Redskins selected Kendall Fuller in the third round, 84th overall, of the 2016 NFL Draft, making him the 14th cornerback taken that year. He signed a four-year, $3.12 million rookie contract that included a signing bonus of $718,424. After a torn ACL limited his training camp, he was inactive for the first three games of 2016, but he worked his way into a starting role by Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns. He finished his rookie season with 42 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and six starts across 13 games, showing the kind of physicality that would become his trademark.
In 2017, Fuller opened training camp in a battle for the starting nickelback role and won the job behind Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland. He delivered one of the strongest seasons of his career, recording 55 combined tackles, ten pass deflections, and four interceptions in 16 games, and he received a career-best 90.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. His first career interception came against the Oakland Raiders, and he added timely picks against the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants, including a game-sealing interception of Eli Manning with 1:16 remaining.
Kansas City Chiefs Breakthrough (2018–2019)
On March 14, 2018, the Washington Redskins traded Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for quarterback Alex Smith, and the move helped reshape both franchises. Fuller entered Chiefs training camp competing with Steven Nelson, David Amerson, and others, and head coach Andy Reid named him a starting cornerback alongside Nelson. In his first season in Kansas City, he set a career high with 82 combined tackles and added 12 pass deflections and two interceptions, anchoring a secondary that helped the Chiefs post a 12-4 record and a first-round bye. He started at cornerback in the Divisional Round win over the Indianapolis Colts and in the AFC Championship Game overtime loss to the New England Patriots.
Fuller’s 2019 season was interrupted by a fractured right thumb, but he still posted 49 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and his first career sack while moving into a nickel role under new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Chiefs again finished 12-4 and rolled through the playoffs, defeating the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans to reach Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers. With the Chiefs leading 31-20 and 68 seconds remaining, Fuller intercepted a pass from Jimmy Garoppolo intended for Deebo Samuel, sealing a 31-20 championship victory. That interception earned him his first and only Super Bowl ring and remains the signature moment of his career.
Washington Football Team and Commanders Era (2020–2023)
On March 16, 2020, the Washington Redskins signed Kendall Fuller to a four-year, $40 million contract with $23.50 million guaranteed. Reunited with the franchise that drafted him, he was named a starting cornerback by head coach Ron Rivera and paired with Ronald Darby. Although he missed the first two games with a knee injury, he quickly found a groove, recording a career-high two interceptions against the Baltimore Ravens and finishing the year with 50 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, and four interceptions in 14 starts.
Fuller remained Washington’s top cornerback across the next three seasons. In 2021, he recorded 77 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, an interception, and a sack in 16 starts, including a crucial two-point conversion interception to seal a win over the Seattle Seahawks. The 2022 season produced his first two career touchdowns, both on interceptions returned for scores, and he started all 17 games for the first time. In 2023, he logged 79 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, and two interceptions in 15 starts before a knee injury ended his season early. Across his four-year return to Washington, Fuller started 64 regular-season games and became a respected veteran presence in the secondary.
Miami Dolphins Era (2024–2025)
On March 18, 2024, the Miami Dolphins signed Kendall Fuller to a two-year, $15 million contract that included a $10 million signing bonus. Head coach Mike McDaniel installed him as a starting cornerback opposite Jalen Ramsey, and he opened the year competing with Kader Kohou for the role. His 2024 season was disrupted by two concussions, including a Week 3 head injury at the Seattle Seahawks and another in Week 10 at the Los Angeles Rams. He finished with 50 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, and a fumble recovery in 11 starts before being released by the Dolphins on February 14, 2025.
On October 14, 2025, Fuller signed with the Detroit Lions’ practice squad, and on October 27, 2025, he was released by the Lions. Across his NFL career through the 2025 season, Fuller has recorded 536 total tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 82 pass deflections, 16 interceptions, and 2 touchdowns.
Driving Style and Strengths
Fuller is widely regarded as a smart, physical cornerback whose strengths lie in zone coverage, tackling in space, and diagnosing routes before they develop. He has thrived in slot and outside roles alike, and his ball production, including 16 career interceptions and 82 pass deflections, has been built on quick reads and reliable hands. His willingness to play through injuries, including a fractured wrist in 2018, multiple knee issues, and two concussions in 2024, has made him a respected locker-room leader on every team he has joined.
Notable Events and Milestones
Fuller’s career-defining moment came on February 2, 2020, when his late interception of Jimmy Garoppolo sealed the Kansas City Chiefs’ 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. He is also one of only a handful of players in NFL history to record two interceptions returned for touchdowns in the same season, a feat he accomplished in 2022. His 90.6 Pro Football Focus grade in 2017 and his 16 career interceptions underscore his long-term impact as a playmaking cornerback.
Kendall Fuller Career Wins
Although the NFL measures success in championships, division titles, and individual awards rather than traditional wins, Kendall Fuller has built a résumé of high-level team success. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, reached the AFC Championship Game in 2018, and helped multiple teams clinch playoff berths and first-round byes. His consistent coverage, run support, and timely takeaways have been central to several winning seasons across the Washington, Kansas City, and Miami organizations.
NFL Highlights
Fuller has recorded 16 career interceptions, 82 pass deflections, and 2 touchdowns through the 2025 season, with his most productive interception year coming in 2017 when he picked off four passes for the Redskins. He has reached the postseason in multiple seasons, including the Chiefs’ 2018 AFC Championship run and their 2019 Super Bowl-winning campaign. His most memorable single play remains the late Super Bowl LIV interception off Jimmy Garoppolo, while his first career interception came on September 24, 2017, against the Oakland Raiders and Derek Carr.
Other Wins and Performances
Fuller’s college résumé includes ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2013, First-team All-ACC and Second-team All-American in 2014, and Freshman All-American honors in 2013. He is one of the few players in recent NFL history to be part of a true football family, with three older brothers, Vincent, Corey, and Kyle, all having played at Virginia Tech and in the NFL.
Kendall Fuller Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kendall Fuller comes from one of the most accomplished football families in recent memory. His three older brothers, Vincent Fuller, Corey Fuller, and Kyle Fuller, all played college football at Virginia Tech and went on to play in the NFL. Growing up in that environment helped shape his competitiveness and gave him a direct path into the Hokies program, where the family legacy continues to influence how he approaches the game.
Personal Life
Fuller has generally kept his personal life out of the public eye, focusing his public profile on football, family, and team work. He is known to be close with his brothers and the extended Fuller football family, and he has credited that support system for helping him navigate the ups and downs of a long NFL career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a transitional one for Kendall Fuller. After being released by the Miami Dolphins on February 14, 2025, he spent the early part of the year as a free agent before joining the Detroit Lions’ practice squad on October 14, 2025, and being released on October 27, 2025. As of late October 2025, his role with an NFL team remains uncertain, and his path back onto a 53-man roster will likely depend on injury needs around the league.
Looking back at the most recent full season, Fuller’s 2024 campaign with the Miami Dolphins was limited by two concussions that sidelined him for stretches of the schedule. Even in a reduced role, he produced 50 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, and a fumble recovery in 11 starts. His experience and football IQ continue to make him an attractive option for teams seeking veteran cornerback depth, and any return to the field in 2025 would be built on the same coverage instincts and toughness that have defined his career.