Why Detroit Lions star Kerby Joseph deserves to win Defensive Player of the Year award

DETROIT – Detroit Lions star free safety Kerby Joseph is making a lot of noise on and off the field this season as he was left off the 2025 Pro Bowl roster.

On the field, Joseph led the league in interceptions with nine, with his last two coming at the hands of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy during their Week 17 shootout on Monday Night Football.

The three-year veteran played in all 17 games this season while leading the injury-depleted Lions defense onto the playing field.

This season, he had 83 tackles, 58 of which were solos and 25 being assisted. He also gained 99 yards on his nine interceptions and one touchdown.

His performance led him to finish first in fan voting at free safety, ahead of notable NFC players like Xavier McKinney of the Green Bay Packers, Camryn Bynum of the Minnesota Vikings, and Reed Blankenship of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Hard-hitting Brian Branch finished second in fan voting at strong safety and was one of seven players to be named to the Pro Bowl, while 11 others have been voted as alternates.

After the decision, Joseph posted to X with the infamous Swaggy P “Confusion post” to describe his feelings about being snubbed.

The free safety has recorded a multi-pick game in each of the first three seasons of his career (2022-24).

The multi-pick game against the 49ers was the first time a Lions' player achieved such success since Yale Lary (1952-53, 1956).

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His play has led many pundits, like former offensive lineman and current football analyst Brian Baldinger, to brag about his performance.

Former safety and current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said, “Kerby Joseph, he’s going to be a Pro Bowler or an All-Pro this season. He also said that he had become a helluva pro and that he just love to see it.

Even former Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky asked, “Who has a greater claim to Defensive Player of the Year than Joseph?”

Team reporter Nolan Bianchi posted to X that Joseph had a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 91.5 in addition to nine interceptions, which led all NFL defensive backs.

While sitting on the Detroit Pistons “Verified Podcast,” when asked about the possibility of becoming a Pro Bowler prior to the roster selection, Joseph said he’d love to make the squad.

“Man, I’d love to be a Pro Bowler. But I want to be a Super Bowler. I’m trying to make it to the ‘Zuper Bowl,’ but I feel like making it to the Pro Bowl is a huge accomplishment.

Coming into the league, this is my third year, so I’m really like getting my name out there and getting my foot in the door within each year; I feel like it’s just a huge accomplishment, for real. It’s everything that I hoped for.”

Kerby Joseph

Joseph has been named as a second alternate, but he still has a chance to make the All-Pro team for the 2025 season.

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All indications point to him making the second-team defense ahead of their first-round bye, as he and the Lions have clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC.