Kevin Strong Bio
Kevin Strong Jr. (born August 5, 1996) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the UTSA Roadrunners before graduating in 2018 and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in 2019.
Standing 6 ft 3 in and competing at around 289 lb, Strong has spent his professional career rotating through several NFL rosters and practice squads while building a reputation as an interior run defender. He later joined the Dallas Renegades in February 2026, continuing his career in the spring football league.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Strong Jr. was born on August 5, 1996, in Houston, Texas. He grew up in nearby Cleveland, Texas, where he attended Cleveland High School. Cleveland is a small community north of Houston known for producing tough, hard-working athletes, and Strong developed his physical playing style there before college scouts took notice.
Coming out of high school, Strong was regarded as a promising defensive line prospect. He chose to continue his football career at the University of Texas at San Antonio, joining a UTSA program that was still establishing itself at the NCAA Division I FBS level. His combination of size, strength, and quickness made him an ideal fit for the defensive tackle position from an early stage.
Path to American Football
Strong enrolled at UTSA in 2014 and spent five seasons with the Roadrunners. He redshirted his freshman year, which allowed him to develop physically and adjust to the speed of the college game. As he matured, he earned a starting role along the interior defensive line and became a consistent presence in the UTSA rotation.
During his junior season in 2017, Strong was named Second-team All-Conference USA after recording 27 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and three sacks. That recognition confirmed his development as one of the conference’s top interior linemen and set the stage for a senior campaign that drew attention from NFL scouts.
Strong finished his collegiate career with 106 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and two blocked kicks across 47 games played, including 40 starts. After graduating in 2018, he declared for the 2019 NFL Draft and went undrafted, opening the next chapter of his career as a free agent.
Kevin Strong Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Strong signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2019. He made his NFL debut on September 8, 2019, against the Arizona Cardinals. His rookie year was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on November 12 after a season-ending injury, finishing the year with five tackles and a pass defended in eight games played.
In 2020, Strong bounced between the active roster and the practice squad. He was waived on September 5 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. Later that season, on December 2, he was promoted back to the active roster, and in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings he recorded his first career sack on quarterback Kirk Cousins during a 37–35 loss. He was waived by Detroit again on November 20, 2021.
Tennessee Titans (2021–2022)
Strong signed with the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad on November 23, 2021, three days after his release from Detroit. The move gave him a fresh start on a competitive AFC roster.
On January 8, 2022, Strong was promoted from the practice squad to the Titans’ active roster. He contributed on the defensive line for the remainder of that season, adding depth and run-defense support as Tennessee pushed toward the postseason.
Arizona Cardinals (2023)
On March 15, 2023, Strong signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. The deal represented his first multi-team offseason opportunity and a chance to compete for a larger role in the Cardinals’ defensive line rotation.
Strong played the 2023 season in Arizona before being released on January 5, 2024. His time with the Cardinals gave him valuable experience in a new defensive scheme and helped him remain active on the league’s transactional radar heading into the next season.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2024)
After his release from Arizona, Strong remained in football shape and waited for the next opportunity. On December 3, 2024, he was signed to the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad, joining a Super Bowl-winning organization late in the season.
The Rams stint allowed Strong to re-enter the NFL environment under a respected coaching staff. Although his role was limited in the closing weeks of the 2024 season, the move positioned him for potential elevation or a future contract opportunity with Los Angeles or another club.
Dallas Renegades Era (2026–Present)
On February 24, 2026, Strong signed with the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League, the spring professional football league that merged the former XFL and USFL operations. The move marked his transition from NFL practice squads and rotational roles to a featured spot on a UFL defensive line.
Wearing number 77, Strong joined the Renegades with an active roster designation, bringing nearly seven years of professional football experience to the locker room. His UFL signing represents a new chapter where he is expected to play a central role on the interior of the Dallas defensive front.
Driving Style and Strengths
Strong is recognized as a physical, run-first defensive tackle who uses his heavy frame and low pad level to clog running lanes. Coaches have valued his ability to absorb double teams, redirect blockers, and free up linebackers to make tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Strong’s career include his first NFL sack against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17 of the 2020 season, his 2017 Second-team All-Conference USA recognition at UTSA, and his 2026 signing with the Dallas Renegades of the UFL. Across his NFL tenure he has recorded 95 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and four pass deflections.
Kevin Strong Career Wins
Strong’s career has been defined more by steady rotation and defensive line depth than by headline box-score wins. His statistical totals across the NFL include 95 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and four pass deflections, reflecting a role focused on occupying blockers and supporting the run defense.
NFL Highlights
His first career sack against Kirk Cousins during the 2020 season finale stands as a memorable early milestone. Strong also reached an active roster with three different NFL franchises (Detroit, Tennessee, and Arizona) and signed with a fourth (the Los Angeles Rams), demonstrating consistent durability and roster value across multiple organizations.
Other Performances
At the collegiate level, Strong was a Second-team All-Conference USA selection in 2017 and finished his UTSA career with 106 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks across 47 games. His professional transition to the UFL’s Dallas Renegades in 2026 adds a new competitive platform to his resume.
Kevin Strong Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public records about Kevin Strong Jr.’s immediate family are limited. He grew up in the Cleveland, Texas, area, where he developed the work ethic and physical toughness that have defined his football career.
Personal Life
Strong maintains a presence on social media and is known for embracing his nickname style on his Instagram account. He has continued his professional football journey beyond the NFL into the UFL, signaling his dedication to the sport as a long-term career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a transitional year for Strong following his January 2024 release from the Arizona Cardinals. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad on December 3, 2024, which kept him within NFL circles through the early months of the calendar year.
Although Strong did not hold a featured NFL role throughout the 2025 campaign, his late-2024 Rams signing demonstrated that he remained on teams’ radar as a dependable defensive tackle option. His experience and locker-room presence made him a reliable practice squad contributor while he waited for the right opportunity.
That opportunity arrived on February 24, 2026, when Strong signed with the Dallas Renegades of the UFL. The 2025 stretch ultimately served as a bridge between his Cardinals chapter and a more prominent starting role in the spring league, where his UTSA pedigree and multi-team NFL experience positioned him to compete for snaps from day one.
