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The Bucs brought in a familiar face for their new special teams coordinator.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continued shaping their roster this offseason with a move that could have a significant impact on special teams, signing veteran safety Miles Killebrew. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler was the first to report the signing with the team. While Killebrew is officially listed as a safety, he has built his reputation across the NFL primarily through his elite work on special teams.
Over the course of his career, Killebrew has consistently been one of the league’s most productive special teams players, known for his physicality, tackling ability, and knack for making momentum-changing plays in the kicking game. That impact reached its peak in 2023 when Killebrew earned First-Team All-Pro honors as a special teamer while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers under longtime special teams coordinator Danny Smith. Now the two can continue their connection as they will be reunited in Tampa Bay after Smith joined the Buccaneers staff this offseason.
The familiarity between the two could make Killebrew an especially important addition. Smith is widely respected around the league for his aggressive, detail-oriented approach to special teams, and bringing in a player who already thrived in his system should help set the tone for the unit. For the Buccaneers, the move signals a clear effort to improve an area that lacked consistency last season, an area that directly impacted game outcomes through blocked field goals and kicks.
Killebrew’s experience, leadership, and proven production should give Tampa Bay an immediate boost in that phase. Whether it’s covering kicks, setting blocks on return units, or making key tackles in the open field, he has repeatedly shown the ability to impact games in ways that don’t always appear in traditional statistics. With Smith now leading the group and trusted veterans like Killebrew helping establish the standard.