By Blessing 
Kerby Joseph Reflects on Future After Signing Extension with Lions
Sitting inside the Meijer Performance Center with a pen in hand and a fresh contract in front of him, Kerby Joseph paused. It wasn’t just another signature—it was the culmination of a dream turning into reality.
“I really sat there and took a breath in and just realized, ‘OK, this is what it is,’” Joseph said Thursday, reflecting on the moment he extended his commitment to the Detroit Lions.
Joseph officially inked a four-year contract extension that will keep him in Honolulu blue through the 2029 season. The 2022 third-round draft pick (No. 97 overall) is now part of a growing core of homegrown talent being rewarded by the Lions’ front office. Following in the footsteps of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, and Alim McNeill, Joseph becomes another key figure in general manager Brad Holmes’ clear strategy: draft well, develop talent, and keep the culture intact.
“It’s a sense of security,” Joseph said. “Brad (Holmes) does a great job, like he said, he likes to keep his guys. Keeping that culture, keeping the locker room how it is, I feel that’s a huge thing.”
Joseph’s journey from a Day 2 pick to one of the league’s top defensive backs is a testament to that culture. On the field, he’s more than earned the faith Detroit has placed in him. Just last season, he led the NFL with nine interceptions—including a pick-six against the rival Packers—and was named a first-team All-Pro. That honor hadn’t been given to a Lions safety since Yale Lary in 1962.
Teamed up with Brian Branch—who just made his first Pro Bowl—Detroit boasts one of the league’s most dangerous safety duos. Branch’s versatility and Joseph’s knack for reading the game make them a nightmare for opposing offenses. And with the arrival of DJ Reed and young talents like Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., the Lions’ secondary is built to last, even after the offseason departures of Ifeatu Melifonwu and Carlton Davis III.
Holmes made it clear back in January that Joseph wasn’t just another name on the roster—he’s a key piece of the team’s identity.
“He fits our culture,” Holmes said. “It’s hard to find ballhawk guys that will tackle like how he does, and I think that’s what makes him unique… obviously we want to keep the good players here. He’s one that has proven that he’s a Detroit Lion.”
Joseph, meanwhile, never doubted that a deal would eventually come together. Talks picked up soon after the season ended, and it all came together just as he’d hoped.
His performance in 2024 was as complete as it was impressive: 83 total tackles (58 solo), 12 passes defended, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit. Those numbers build on the solid foundation he laid in his first two seasons, where he posted 82 tackles each year. He’s also joined elite company as the first safety since Ed Reed (2002–04) to notch at least four interceptions in each of his first three seasons.
But for Joseph, the numbers only tell part of the story.
“I just have a certain passion for this game I feel like I could never let go,” he said. “It’s a mentality within myself, you know, now I’m trying to PR (beat his personal record). I got nine (interceptions), I gotta get 10, get some sacks in there, going against myself.”
The drive to constantly outdo himself keeps Joseph pushing forward, setting new goals and reaching for greatness. He’s not just trying to have a good season—he’s aiming for immortality.
“I’m always going to strive for the greatest, striving to beat great records… it’s only up from here. And I don’t see myself ever stopping.”
What lies ahead for Joseph isn’t just about stat sheets or accolades. It’s about legacy—one he wants to build in Detroit. He’s already got two major goals clearly in focus: win a Super Bowl and earn a gold jacket.
“Man, I want to be the best,” Joseph said. “I need to be the best. I need to put on the gold jacket. I feel like it’s everything I’ve ever worked for all my life.”
He paused for a moment, imagining the finish line.
“I just feel that gold jacket, you mix that in with a Super Bowl, Super Bowl Champion, I feel like that’s a great little mix right there. You can’t ever take that away from me.”
And now, with a long-term deal in hand and a team built to contend, Kerby Joseph has a real shot at making that dream come true—right where it all began.