Kindle Vildor

Kindle Vildor
refer to caption
Vildor with the Titans in 2023
No. 29 – Detroit Lions
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1997-12-11) December 11, 1997 (age 26)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:North Clayton (College Park, Georgia)
College:Georgia Southern (2016–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / round: 5 / pick: 163
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2024
Total tackles:110
Sacks:1.0
Pass deflections:13
Interceptions:1
Forced fumbles:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Kindle Lee Vildor (born December 11, 1997) is an American professional football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Southern and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. He has also played for the Tennessee Titans.

Early life

Vildor was born in the DeKalb County, Georgia section of Atlanta and grew up in College Park, Georgia. He attended North Clayton High School.[1] A 2-star cornerback recruit, he committed to Georgia Southern over offers from Troy, Tulane, Western Kentucky, and Wyoming, among others.[2]

College career

Vildor started the final three seasons of his collegiate career.[3] He had 42 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and also lead the team with 11 passes broken up and four interceptions and was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference in his junior season.[4] Vildor was named first-team All-Sun Belt for a second straight season and a Pro Football Focus All-American as a senior after recording 27 tackles, two interceptions and six passes broken up.[5][6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 9+7⁄8 in
(1.77 m) 		191 lb
(87 kg) 		32+1⁄4 in
(0.82 m) 		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.44 s 1.60 s 2.62 s 4.28 s 7.14 s 39.5 in
(1.00 m)		 11 ft 1 in
(3.38 m)		 22 reps
All values from NFL Combine[7][8]

Chicago Bears

Vildor was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 163rd pick in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft.[9] He signed a four-year rookie contract with the team on July 21.[10] Vildor mostly played on special teams during the 2020 season. In the Bears' Week 15 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Vildor made his first NFL start at corner back. In 2020, Vildor played in all 16 games while starting in 1 and had 17 combined tackles and 1 pass defended. In the Bears' Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Vildor got his first career sack on Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley. Overall in 2021, Vildor played in 17 games starting in 12 of them with 46 combined tackles, a sack, and 4 passes defended.

Vildor entered the 2022 season as a starting cornerback alongside Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. In a Week 5 game against the Minnesota Vikings, he got his first career interception off of Kirk Cousins. He finished the season with 34 tackles, five passes defensed and one interception through 11 games and nine starts. On December 23, 2022, Vildor was placed on season–ending injured reserve with an ankle injury he had suffered in late November.[11]

Vildor was waived on August 29, 2023.[12]

Tennessee Titans

On August 30, 2023, Vildor was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans.[13] He was released on October 14.[14]

Philadelphia Eagles

On October 20, 2023, Vildor was signed to the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles.[15] He was released on November 13.[16]

Detroit Lions

On November 14, 2023, the Detroit Lions signed Vildor to their practice squad.[17] He was signed to the active roster on December 5.[18] In the final game of the Lions season, while nearly intercepting a long pass from San Francisco's Brock Purdy, the ball hit Kindle directly in the facemask of his helmet and deflected upward to be caught by Brandon Aiyuk, eventually leading to a touchdown and continuing an unlikely 49er comeback drive in the NFC Championship loss.[19]

On April 3, 2024, Vildor re-signed with the Lions.[20]

References

  1. ^ Vinel, Chris (March 1, 2020). "Kindle Vildor won't wear Michael Vick's number, but his dream is within reach". SI.com. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kindle Vildor, 2016 Cornerback - Rivals.com". rivals.com.
  3. ^ Rose, Bob (April 9, 2020). "New Orleans Saints Draft Gem: CB Kindle Vildor". SI.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  4. ^ Brown, Mike (October 31, 2019). "Vildor embracing role as leader". Statesboro Herald. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  5. ^ "Kindle Vildor, an All-American, takes center stage on PFF's 2018 All-Sun Belt selections | College Football and NFL Draft". Pro Football Focus. December 4, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  6. ^ Baxley, McClain (April 25, 2020). "Georgia Southern's Kindle Vildor and Tyler Bass taken in the NFL Draft Saturday". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  7. ^ "Kindle Vildor Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  8. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  9. ^ Ellis, Cam (April 25, 2020). "2020 NFL Draft: What's next for Bears after drafting CB Kindle Vildor?". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  10. ^ Mayer, Larry (July 21, 2020). "Bears sign all seven of their 2020 draft picks". Chicago Bears. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  11. ^ Alper, Josh (December 23, 2022). "Bears put Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor on IR". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  12. ^ "Roster Moves: Bears reach NFL's 53-man roster limit". ChicagoBears.com. August 29, 2023.
  13. ^ Wyatt, Jim (August 30, 2023). "Titans Claim CB Kindle Vildor Off Waivers While Releasing OL Corey Levin". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Simmons, Myles (October 14, 2023). "Titans sign Shyheim Carter, Taylor Stallworth to 53-man roster". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  15. ^ "Eagles sign Kindle Vildor to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. October 20, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "Eagles sign Ross Pierschbacher to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  17. ^ Risdon, Jeff (November 14, 2023). "Lions place Halapoulivaati Vaitai on I.R. among Week 11 roster moves". USAToday.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  18. ^ Schlitt, Eric (December 5, 2023). "Detroit Lions place Alim McNeill on IR, sign CB Kindle Vildor, in flurry of roster moves". Pride of Detroit. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  19. ^ Keown, Tim (February 9, 2024). "How Brandon Aiyuk found his spot among 49ers' offensive stars". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  20. ^ Schlitt, Erik (April 3, 2024). "Report: Detroit Lions re-signing veteran cornerback". Pride Of Detroit. SB Nation. Retrieved July 1, 2024.