Kyler Fackrell
{{Short description|American football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kyler Fackrell
| image = Kyler Fackrell.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Fackrell in the 2017 NFL preseason
| current_team =
| number = 51, 52
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|11|25}}
| birth_place = Mesa, Arizona, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 245
| high_school = Mesa (Mesa, Arizona)
| college = Utah State
| draftyear = 2016
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 88
| highlights = * First-team All-MWC (2015)
| pastteams = * Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2020}})
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2021}})
- Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
| status =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 162
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 23.5
| statlabel3 = Pass deflections
| statvalue3 = 4
| statlabel4 = Interceptions
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue5 = 3
| statlabel6 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue6 = 2
| statlabel7 = Touchdowns
| statvalue7 = 1
| pfr = FackKy00
}}
Kyler Bruce Fackrell (born November 25, 1991) is an American former professional football linebacker. He played high school football at Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona, before attending Utah State and playing for their football team on a scholarship. At Utah State, he was a four-year starter at linebacker where he was named to multiple All-Conference teams. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Early life
Fackrell attended Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona.{{Cite news |last=Obert |first=Richard |date=April 29, 2016 |title=Former Mesa coach saw NFL future for Packers 3rd-round pick Kyler Fackrell |work=The Spectrum & Daily News |url=https://www.thespectrum.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/04/30/former-mesa-coach-saw-nfl-future-packers-3rd-round-pick-kyler-fackrell/83739816/ |access-date=October 18, 2018}} He played linebacker, quarterback, and wide receiver for the Jackrabbits football team. In his senior year, he played three games at quarterback, 11 as a receiver, and played in all 14 games at linebacker. His team finished second in the state playoffs. He had 68 tackles (25 solo), eight passes defensed, two interceptions and forced a fumble on the defensive side of the ball. On offense, he had 36 receptions totaling 662 yards and five touchdowns; he also had 22 rushes for 159 yards and three touchdowns. As a quarterback, he completed 22 of 38 passes for 334 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. In addition to football, he also lettered in basketball and volleyball.{{Cite web |title=Kyler Fackrell |url=http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kyler_fackrell_759412.html |access-date=July 20, 2016 |publisher=Utah State University |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113041757/http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kyler_fackrell_759412.html |url-status=dead }}
Fackrell was not highly recruited coming out of high school and was only offered one division-one scholarship from Utah State. Utah State decided to offer him a scholarship because one of his high school coaches knew an assistant coach there, which caused the university to take a look at him. Additionally, his father played for Utah State as a defensive end and his mother was a cheerleader.{{Cite news |last=Cripe, Chad |date=December 15, 2015 |title=Utah State NFL prospect Kyler Fackrell had one scholarship offer |work=Web |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/football/article49992560.html |access-date=July 20, 2016}}
College career
Fackrell took a year off after high school and made a living painting houses while deciding whether or not to go on a Mormon mission. He ultimately decided to accept the scholarship to play football for the Utah State Aggies and received redshirt status his first year. In his first year of eligibility, he started all 13 games for the Aggies and had a career-high in sacks against San Jose State University; the team set a school single-game record with 13 total sacks in the game. He went on to block a field goal against New Mexico State. He finished the year as the first player in the school's history to be named a Freshman All-American and the fourth to win All-Conference First-team honors.{{Cite press release |title=FWAA Names 2012 Freshman All-American Team |publisher=Football Writers Association of America |url=http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2012/allamerica130107.html |access-date=July 21, 2016}}{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=2012 All-WAC Football Honors |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/latc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/2012AllWAC.pdf |access-date=July 21, 2016 |publisher=WAC |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121448/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/latc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/2012AllWAC.pdf |url-status=dead }}
As a sophomore, Fackrell continued to impress as he again started all 14 games and led the team with 13 tackles for loss and also had two forced fumbles and five sacks. He had a career-high in tackles against BYU and was the Mountain West Conference's Defensive Player of the week. During the game against Hawaii, he intercepted a pass and returned it 99 yards for his first career touchdown; the return ranks as the third longest in school history. During a game later that year against Weber State, he caught a 4-yard pass and became the first person since 1964 in Utah State's history to have an offensive and defensive touchdown in the same season. His efforts earned him a spot on the All-Conference Second-team.{{Cite news |date=December 10, 2013 |title=Mountain West Announces 2013 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors |work=Web |agency=Mountain West Conference |location=Colorado Springs, Colorado |url=http://www.themw.com/news/mw_13_m-footbl_allconf_rel_12-10-13_1e9tvr |url-status=dead |access-date=July 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814151126/http://www.themw.com/news/mw_13_m-footbl_allconf_rel_12-10-13_1e9tvr |archive-date=August 14, 2016}}
Fackrell's junior season was cut short by injury in the second quarter in the season opener against the Tennessee Volunteers as he suffered an ACL injury. He missed the rest of the year.{{Cite news |last=Corbin, Michael |date=May 7, 2016 |title=Kyler Fackrell, Packers hope 2014 ACL injury is behind him |pages=1 |work=Web |agency=Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel |location=Green Bay, Wisconsin |url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/kyler-fackrell-packers-hope-2014-acl-injury-is-behind-him-b99720184z1-378489666.html |access-date=July 21, 2016}}
Coming back from the injury the next season, Fackrell started all 13 games and ranked first in the country with five fumble recoveries. On top of that, he also ranked first on the team with 15 tackles for loss and broke the school-record for 12 quarterback hurries; he also finished second in the season with 4 sacks. Two of those forced fumbles happened in a game against Boise State and he added a defensive touchdown when he recovered one of them in the endzone. He was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week two times that season. He finished his last year with the Aggies by being named a fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele and a First-team Conference selection.{{Cite web |last=Steele, Phil |year=2015 |title=Phil Steele's 2015 Postseason All-American Team |url=https://www.philsteele.com/All_Conference/2015/2015%20Postseason/All-American.html |access-date=July 21, 2016 |website=Web |publisher=Phil Steele's College Football Preview |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130143/http://philsteele.com/All_Conference/2015/2015%20Postseason/All-American.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last=Steele, Phil |year=2015 |title=Phil Steele's 2015 Postseason All-Mountain West Team |url=https://www.philsteele.com/All_Conference/2015/2015%20Postseason/MW.html |access-date=July 21, 2016 |website=Web |publisher=Phil Steele's College Football Preview |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911144513/https://www.philsteele.com/All_Conference/2015/2015%20Postseason/MW.html |url-status=dead }}
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
Fackrell was projected by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com to be a third round pick. He stated that he possessed "premium" athleticism and cited his multiple-sport career and high school. He also complimented his tackling ability and believed he was capable of becoming a pass rusher and mentioned his good cover ability.{{Cite web |last=Zierlein, Lance |title=Kyler Fackrell, Utah State |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/kyler-fackrell?id=2555340 |access-date=July 21, 2016 |website=Web |publisher=National Football League}} However, concerns were also brought up about his age, as he was one of the oldest players in the draft, and was coming back from an injury. One American Football Conference (AFC) scout mentioned that he was really talented but he can no longer play in space since his injury. Another AFC scout also mentioned that he had not been the same since the injury. During the NFL Combine, Fackrell commented that doctors were very interested in his knee. He also commented that scouts did not seem concerned about his age at first, but as the draft neared it became a larger concern.
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5
| weight = 245
| dash = 4.72
| ten split = 1.61
| cone drill =
| vertical = 34.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 1
| bench = 15
| arm span = 33+1/4
| hand span = 10+1/8
| wonderlic = 32
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kyler-fackrell/32194641-4335-5963-baa6-187c3472147d |title=Kyler Fackrell Combine Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=November 2, 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Brugler, Dane |title=Kyler Fackrell, OLB |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1850983/kyler-fackrell |access-date=July 21, 2016 |website=Web |publisher=CBS Sports}}}}
=Green Bay Packers=
Fackrell was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round with the 88th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. The pick was criticized by ESPN Staff writer Rob Demovsky for failing to address what was believed to be the biggest need at inside linebacker.{{Cite news |last=Demovsky |first=Rob |date=April 29, 2016 |title=Packers pick outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell in third round; ignore inside linebacker |pages=1 |publisher=ESPN |location=Green Bay, Wisconsin |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/74260/packers-pick-outside-linebacker-kyler-fackrell-in-third-round-ignore-inside-linebacker |access-date=July 21, 2016}} When Fackrell found out he was drafted by the Packers, he and his wife fell to their knees in celebration.{{Cite news |last=Hodkiewicz, Wes |date=May 14, 2016 |title=Belief in Kyler Fackrell was no joke |pages=1 |work=Web |agency=Green Bay Packers |location=Green Bay, Wisconsin |url=http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-player-feature/article-1/Belief-in-Kyler-Fackrell-was-no-joke/b6fe97e2-5a47-48e0-aead-a07bd9fe20c5 |access-date=July 21, 2016 |archive-date=July 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720045152/http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-player-feature/article-1/Belief-in-Kyler-Fackrell-was-no-joke/b6fe97e2-5a47-48e0-aead-a07bd9fe20c5 |url-status=dead }} Fackrell was believed to be drafted by the Packers in part because of Julius Peppers' age and the fact he was entering the final year of his contract.{{Cite web |last=Demovsky, Rob |date=May 20, 2016 |title=The Intimidators: Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers meet Packers rookie Kyler Fackrell |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/green-bay-packers/post/_/id/30197/the-intimidators-clay-matthews-julius-peppers-meet-packers-rookie-kyler-fackrell |access-date=July 21, 2016 |website=Web |publisher=ESPN |pages=1}}
On September 25, 2016, Fackrell registered his first career sack on Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in a 34–27 victory.{{Cite web |title=Matthew Stafford wrapped up by Kyler Fackrell for sack |url=http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000708964/Matthew-Stafford-wrapped-up-by-Kyler-Fackrell-for-sack |publisher=National Football League |type=Video}}
On September 10, 2017, in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, Fackrell recovered a Russell Wilson fumble, which was forced by teammate Mike Daniels, in a 17–9 win.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers – September 10th, 2017 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201709100gnb.htm |access-date=October 6, 2017 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}
On September 30, 2018, Fackrell registered a career-high three sacks in the fourth quarter on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in a 22–0 win.{{Cite news |last=Wilde |first=Jason |title=After 3 sacks against Bills, Packers linebacker Kyler Fackrell looks to build after being 'rewarded with the results' |work=Madison.com |url=https://madison.com/wsj/sports/football/professional/after-sacks-against-bills-packers-linebacker-kyler-fackrell-looks-to/article_d1e8a7f4-8b89-5044-baf4-f90e8a30760c.html |access-date=October 18, 2018}} He had another three-sack performance on November 15 in a 27–24 loss to the Seahawks, and registered an additional four tackles for loss and four hits on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.{{Cite web |title=Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks – November 15th, 2018 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201811150sea.htm |access-date=October 19, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He finished the 2018 season with a career-high 42 tackles, and a team-leading 10.5 sacks.{{Cite web |title=Kyler Fackrell 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FackKy00/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=October 19, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=New York Giants=
On March 26, 2020, Fackrell signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants.{{Cite web |title=5 things to know about LB Kyler Fackrell |url=https://www.giants.com/news/kyler-fackrell-nfl-bio-stats-green-bay-packers-blake-martinez-utah-state |access-date=April 2, 2020 |website=giants.com}}
In Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, Fackrell recorded his first sack as a Giant on Mitchell Trubisky during the 17–13 loss.{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2020 |title=Trubisky 2 TD passes, Barkley hurt as Bears edge Giants |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401220281 |access-date=September 20, 2020 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}
In Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, Fackrell intercepted a pass thrown by Dak Prescott and returned it for a 46-yard touchdown during the 37–34 loss.{{Cite web |title=New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys – October 11th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202010110dal.htm |access-date=October 11, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
In Week 6 against the Washington Football Team, Fackrell recorded a strip sack on Kyle Allen which was recovered and returned by teammate Tae Crowder for a 43 yard touchdown during the 20–19 win.{{cite news |last1=Rock |first1=Tom |title=Tae Crowder's fumble recovery TD, 2-point conversion stop lift Giants over Washington for their first win |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/giants-washington-football-team-tae-crowder-daniel-jones-1.50040585 |access-date=October 18, 2020 |work=Newsday |date=October 18, 2020}}
On December 1, 2020, Fackrell was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury.{{cite web |title=Transactions: 3 Giants activated off COVID-19 list; Kyler Fackrell to IR |url=https://www.giants.com/news/kyler-fackrell-kaden-smith-matt-peart-dante-pettis-covid-19-list |website=www.giants.com |access-date=2 December 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Simmons |first1=Myles |title=Giants place Kyler Fackrell on IR, activate three off COVID list |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/12/01/giants-place-kyler-fackrell-on-ir-activate-three-off-covid-list/ |website=ProFootballTalk |access-date=2 December 2020 |date=1 December 2020}} On January 2, 2021, Fackrell was activated off of injured reserve.{{cite news |author=Eisen, Michael |title=LB Kyler Fackrell & DB Madre Harper activated, FB Eli Penny to IR among roster moves |url=https://www.giants.com/news/lb-kyler-fackrell-db-madre-harper-activated-fb-eli-penny-to-ir-among-roster-move |website=Giants.com |date=January 2, 2021 |access-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128012615/https://www.giants.com/news/lb-kyler-fackrell-db-madre-harper-activated-fb-eli-penny-to-ir-among-roster-move |url-status=dead }}
=Los Angeles Chargers=
On March 24, 2021, Fackrell signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2021 |title=Chargers Agree to Terms with Outside Linebacker Kyler Fackrell |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/kyler-fackrell-linebacker-agree-to-terms-free-agency-2021 |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Chargers.com}} He was placed on injured reserve on December 11.{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2021 |title=Chargers Make Roster Moves Ahead of Sunday's Game |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-moves-ahead-of-week-14-giants |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Chargers.com}} He was activated on January 8, 2022.{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2022 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Activate Kyler Fackrell |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-activate-kyler-fackrell |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Chargers.com}}
=Las Vegas Raiders=
On March 21, 2022, Fackrell signed a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.{{Cite web |date=March 21, 2022 |title=Raiders sign LB Kyler Fackrell |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-sign-lb-kyler-fackrell-nfl-2022-free-agency |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Raiders.com}} He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on July 29, 2022.{{cite web|title=Raiders sign RB Austin Walter|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-sign-running-back-austin-walter-2022-nfl-training-camp|website=Raiders.com|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=July 31, 2022|archive-date=July 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731083008/https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-sign-running-back-austin-walter-2022-nfl-training-camp|url-status=dead}} He was released on August 31, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Bouda |first=Nate |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Raiders release LB Kyler Fackrell from IR |url=https://nfltraderumors.co/raiders-release-lb-kyler-fackrell-from-ir/ |access-date=September 7, 2020 |website=NFL Trade Rumors.com}}
=Baltimore Ravens=
On September 7, 2022, Fackwell was signed to the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens practice squad{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-outside-linebacker-kyler-fackrell-practice-squad |title=Ravens Sign Veteran Outside Linebacker to Practice Squad |last=Brown |first=Clifton |website=BaltimoreRavens.com |publisher=Baltimore Ravens |date=September 7, 2022 |access-date=September 7, 2022}} but was then released on September 19, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/josh-ross-placed-injured-reserve-ravens|title=Ravens Place Linebacker Josh Ross on Injured Reserve |last=Mink |first=Ryan|date=September 19, 2022|access-date=September 19, 2022|website=Baltimore Ravens.com}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Regular season statistics | ||||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Year | rowspan=2|Team | rowspan=2|GP | rowspan=2|GS | colspan=5 |Tackles | colspan=6 |Interceptions | colspan=2 |Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Solo | Ast | Sck | SFTY | PDef | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | FF | FR |
| 2016 | GB
| 13 || 0 || 18 || 16 || 2 || 2.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 2017 | GB
| 16 || 2 || 28 || 22 || 6 || 3.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 | |||||||||||
| 2018 | GB
| 16 || 7 || 42 || 29 || 13 || 10.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | GB
| 16 || 0 || 23 || 13 || 10 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||
| colspan="2"|Total || 61 || 9 || 111 || 80 || 31 || 16.5 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="17"|Source: [http://www.nfl.com/player/kylerfackrell/2555340/careerstats NFL.com] |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Postseason statistics | ||||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Year | rowspan=2|Team | rowspan=2|GP | rowspan=2|GS | colspan=5 |Tackles | colspan=6 |Interceptions | colspan=2 |Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Solo | Ast | Sck | SFTY | PDef | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | FF | FR |
| 2016 | GB
| 3 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | GB
| 2 || 0 || 3 || 2 || 0 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||
| colspan="2"|Total || 5 || 0 || 4 || 3 || 1 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="17"|Source: [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FackKy00.htm pro-football-reference.com] |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Sports links}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160113041757/http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kyler_fackrell_759412.html Utah State Aggies bio]
{{Packers2016DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fackrell, Kyler}}
Category:Players of American football from Mesa, Arizona
Category:Mesa High School alumni
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Utah State Aggies football players
Category:Green Bay Packers players
Category:New York Giants players