Breeland Speaks


Breeland Clyde Speaks is an American football defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He played college football at Ole Miss, and was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Early years

Speaks attended Callaway High School in Jackson, Mississippi. During his senior season in 2013, Speaks had 118 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, three blocked kicks, five pass breakups and an interception returned for a touchdown. A consensus 4-star recruit, Speaks committed to play college football for the Ole Miss Rebels in October 2013, choosing them over Mississippi State, Arkansas and Florida State among others.

College career

Speaks redshirted in the 2014 season.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015, Speaks played in every game of the season, starting two. He totaled 32 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.
In 2016, as a redshirt sophomore, Speaks had 28 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
As a redshirt junior in 2017, Speaks totaled 67 tackles, eight tackles for loss and seven sacks. He was named to the AP All-SEC Second Team. After the season, he declared for the 2018 NFL Draft.

Professional career

2018 season

Speaks was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He played in all 16 games as a rookie with four starts, recording 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

2019 season

On August 31, 2019, Speaks was placed on injured reserve. On December 6, 2019, while on IR, he was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He was reinstated from suspension on December 30, and placed back on the injured reserve list. Without Speaks, the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers.