Miles Killebrew Is His Own Culture Change
May 11th, 2026
Miles Killebrew
Notice how the Bucs haven’t formally had a special teams captain in recent years?
That’s telling, even if you think naming a captain and the role of the captain are somewhat worthless football rituals.
The Bucs and their leadership didn’t think they they had a guy worthy of setting the tone for special teams. How else could the lack of a special teams captain be interpreted?
Now the Bucs have Miles Killebrew. He was signed in free agency from Pittsburgh, where he was an All-Pro special teamer, a captain and an established presence.
Killebrew just turned 33 and is coming off a blown ACL in October. Joe has no idea whether the guy will be able to play at high level. But he’s here, and he loves special teams.
Killebrew sat down with Buccaneers.com for a deep-dive chat that requires you to watch an advertisement. (Perhaps that revenue will help the Bucs open all training camp practices to the common fan.) It’s a strong interview showcasing how much the special teams ace tresures his role.
“I’ve loved it. I enjoy it. I practice it a lot in my off time,” Killebrew said of special teams. “Just like a quarterback practices throwing motion, I’m out there practicing it.”
Joe thought that was cool. Very few guys are ever heard saying they practice special teams in their free time. Joe wonders if Killebrew will assemble players in early July for a session at Ed Radice Sports Complex or at a local high school. That might be a first for the fourth-down warriors.
Also shared was credo of high-octane new Bucs special teams coach Danny Smith– “Multiple voices. Same message.” — as Killebrew explained Smith wants everyone talking and leading on his unit.
Joe sure hopes Killebrew gets healthy. After the mess that was the Bucs’ special teams last year, Killebrew feels like a one-man culture change.
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