# Kyle Dugger

Kyle Dugger (born March 22, 1996) is an American professional football safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Lenoir–Rhyne.

## Early life

Dugger primarily played basketball at Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. Dugger did not start on the football team until his senior year. Lenoir–Rhyne, an NCAA Division II program in North Carolina, was one of three schools that offered Dugger, along with NCAA Division III member Berry College and NAIA member Reinhardt University.

## College career

After redshirting his freshman year, Dugger became an immediate starter in the Bears secondary his redshirt freshman year. He played cornerback during his redshirt freshman season but switched to safety before his sophomore season, which he also redshirted due to a meniscus injury. He recorded three interceptions and three fumble recoveries during his junior season.
Dugger utilized his athleticism during his senior year, at one point returning two punts for touchdowns within a seven-minute span against Virginia–Wise. For his play in his senior season, Dugger was awarded the Cliff Harris Award in 2019, given to the best small-school defensive player. Dugger also participated in the 2020 Senior Bowl, where scouts praised his field instincts.
Scouts praised Dugger for his speed on the field, projecting him at either safety, cornerback or returner in the NFL.

## Professional career
### Pre-draft

Dugger was placed onto preseason watch lists prior to his senior season. The majority of draft analysts projected Dugger to be a late second round or early third round pick. Dugger was ranked as the 2nd best strong safety in the draft by Draftscout.com. Pro Football Focus and USA Today listed Dugger as the 5th best safety in the draft while Sports Illustrated ranked him as the 6th best safety.
Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
| 6 ft 0+7⁄8 in (1.85 m) | 217 lb (98 kg) | 32+7⁄8 in (0.84 m) | 10+3⁄8 in (0.26 m) | 4.49 s | 1.61 s | 2.65 s | 42.0 in (1.07 m) | 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) | 17 reps | 23 |
| All values from NFL Combine |||||||||||

### 2020 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots selected Dugger in the second round (37th overall) of the 2020 NFL draft. Dugger was the second safety drafted in 2020, one selection behind Xavier McKinney. His selection marked the first time in 18 years a player from Lenoire-Rhyne was drafted since John Milem in 2002. Dugger became the highest drafted player in school history, surpassing Milem who was a 5th round pick, and was only the 7th player drafted from his alma mater since the NFL Draft was established in 1936. He was the first player chosen in that draft who played outside Division I FBS. The Patriots drafted Dugger to be the possible successor to Devin McCourty.

### 2020 season

On May 20, 2020, the New England Patriots signed Dugger to a four-year, $8.33 million contract that includes $4.60 million guaranteed upon signing and a signing bonus of $3.61 million.
Throughout training camp, Dugger competed against veterans Adrian Phillips, Terrence Brooks, and Cody Davis to be the primary backup safety after the role was left vacant after longtime Patriots' safety Duron Harmon was traded to the Detroit Lions during the off-season. On July 19, 2020, starting strong safety Patrick Chung announced his decision to opt-out of the 2020 NFL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Head coach Bill Belichick named Dugger the backup strong safety, behind Adrian Phillips, to begin the regular season.
On September 13, 2020, Dugger made his regular season debut during a 21–11 victory against the Miami Dolphins. Dugger was inactive for two games (Weeks 7–8) due to an ankle injury. On November 15, 2020, Dugger earned his first career start as a free safety while usual starter Devin McCourty started at nickelback. He made a season-high 12 combined tackles (seven solo) during a 23–17 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. As a rookie, Dugger appeared in 14 games and started seven, while making 64 combined tackles (43 solo) and one tackle for a loss. The New England Patriots finished the 2020 NFL season with a 7-9 record and did not qualify for the playoffs.

### 2021 season

Throughout training camp, Dugger learned to play multiple roles at free safety and nickel following the retirement of Patrick Chung. He competed to be the primary backup free safety against Jalen Mills. Head coach Bill Belichick listed Dugger as a backup free safety behind Devin McCourty to start the regular season. In nickel situations, that garnered the necessity of a fifth defensive back, Dugger would play free safety with the versatile veteran McCourty at nickel.
On September 12, 2021, Dugger earned his first start of the season as a free safety and made seven combined tackles (six solo) and one tackle for a loss during a 17–16 lodd over the Miami Dolphins in their home opener. In Week 5, Dugger made a season-high ten combined tackles (five solo) during a 25–22 victory at the Houston Texans. On October 17, 2021, Dugger recorded eight solo tackles, a pass deflection, and made his first career interception off of a pass by quarterback Dak Prescott that was intended for wide receiver Cedrick Wilson during a 29–35 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The next week, Dugger recorded his second straight game with a pick, intercepting quarterback Mike White in the 54–13 win over the New York Jets. On December 2, 2021, the New England Patriots officially placed Dugger on the COVID-19/Reserve list and he would remain inactive for their Week 13 victory at the Buffalo Bills. On January 2, 2022, Dugger made two combined tackles (one solo), a pass deflection, and set a career-high with his fourth interception of the season off a pass by Trevor Lawrence as the Patriots routed the Jacksonville Jaguars 50–10. The following week, he was sidelined for a 24–33 loss at the Miami Dolphins due to a hand injury. He finished the 2021 NFL season with a total of 92 combined tackles (70 solo), five pass deflections, and a career-high four interceptions in 15 games and 13 starts.
The New England Patriots finished the 2021 NFL season second in the AFC East with a 10–7 record and qualified for a Wildcard berth. On January 15, 2022, Dugger started in his first career appearance in a playoff game and recorded four combined tackles (three solo) as the Patriots were routed 17–47 at the Buffalo Bills.

### 2022 season

In Week 17, Dugger intercepted a pass from Teddy Bridgewater and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown in a 23–21 win over the Miami Dolphins, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He led the league with three defensive touchdowns (two interceptions, one fumble recovery), and finished second on the team with 78 tackles.

### 2024 season

On March 5, 2024, the Patriots placed the transition tag on Dugger, giving them the right to match any offer from another team.
On April 9, 2024, the New England Patriots signed Dugger to a four-year, $58 million contract extension that includes $32.50 million guaranteed and $29.75 million guaranteed upon signing.