The Bucs made a move to address their special teams unit, and it is a familiar face to special teams coordinator Danny Smith.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Thursday afternoon, in the middle of the team’s press conferences, that the team is signing veteran safety Miles Killebrew to a one-year deal worth about $1.8 million.
All-Pro special teamer Miles Killebrew is signing with the Bucs on a one-year deal at around $1.8M, per source.
Reuniting with special teams coordinator Danny Smith from their Pittsburgh days.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 12, 2026
Miles Killebrew Will Add Playmaking To Bucs Special Teams
Danny Smith ran the Steelers special teams unit for the past 13 seasons, and in coming to the Bucs, Miles Killebrew will once again lead Smith’s group.
New Bucs S/ST ace Miles Killebrew – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Doug Engle
Killebrew earned two straight trips to the Pro Bowl in 2023 and 2024 with the Steelers, and the 32-year-old is an intriguing addition. The reserve safety logged 622 special teams snaps during those years and was well on his way toward another productive season in 2025 until he tore his ACL in Week 6.
Despite suffering that injury, Killebrew checks a lot of boxes as an impactful player who will help rally the troops.
He currently leads all active players with four blocked punts, and since entering the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2016, Killebrew has 86 tackles on special teams, which is the fifth-most in that span. Getting a dynamic playmaker on the unit is something that has not been seen in a long time. Smith knows how to scheme things up in that regard, with Pittsburgh blocking 21 kicks since he took the job in 2013.
Bucs ST Coordinator Danny Smith – Photo by IMAGN Images – Brian Fluharty
Killebrew’s last contract was for two years and $6.5 million, so landing him for roughly half that annual figure could prove to be quite a bargain if he can help spark a turnaround. Given the news earlier on Thursday that defensive back Christian Izien is signing with the Lions, he could even become a bit of a factor in the secondary.
He is expected to be ready to play around May or June, and it provided Smith with someone he knows who could teach his principles from a player perspective. Killebrew did serve as a Steelers special teams captain from 2022-2024.
After years of special teams misfires, the Bucs now seemingly have the right coach and ace to turn a chronic liability into a weekly advantage. In a league where hidden yards swing close games, giving Danny Smith a trusted weapon in Miles Killebrew could finally make that transformation real.
Adam Slivon has covered the Bucs for four seasons with PewterReport.com as a Bucs Beat Writer, Social Media Manager, and Podcaster. Adam started as an intern during his time at the University of Tampa, where he graduated with a degree in Sport Management in May 2023.
In addition to his regular written content, he appears every Thursday on the Pewter Report Podcast, has a weekly YouTube Top 10 Takeaways video series, and leads the managing of the site's social media platforms.
As a Wisconsin native, he spent his childhood growing up on a farm and enjoys Culver's, kringle, and a quality game of cornhole. You can find him most often on X @AdamLivsOn.
