PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – His locker two down from TJ Watt’s, Miles Killebrew watched as Steelers GM Omar Khan came over and shook Watt’s hand for making a fifth straight Pro Bowl. He didn’t believe where Khan was headed next.
“He congratulated Watt and then he turned and congratulated me and I was like ‘for what’?” Killebrew said Thursday. “He said congratulations, you made the Pro Bowl.”
“I was just overwhelmed with gratefulness, excitement, still a little surreal for me.”
Killebrew has a blocked kick, in on a safety on defense and tied for the NFL lead with 11 solo, special teams tackles this season. He’s being playing on and now captaining special teams units for eight seasons. The Henderson, Nevada native says he tried to keep his head down and do what is required of him.
He appreciates the recognition, but said he defers the glory to a higher power. Killebrew did joke that he would have to get some ibuprofen for his family and friends for their sore wrists for voting for him.
It wasn’t the most traveled path to the NFL. Killebrew was the highest player ever drafted out of Southern Utah University, a 2016 fourth-round selection by the Lions. Even getting to play for the Thunderbirds was as much reverse recruiting as typical.
“I wouldn’t have made it to college without special teams,” Killebrew said. “My coach told me he never seen someone put kickoff for their first 10 plays on their highlight film. He was like ‘we got to have you here’. I’ve always enjoyed it. I’ve always taken a lot of pride in. It’s something I’ve always known I could be good at.”
When asked why he loves special teams, you would have thought you had asked a child why they love candy. His expression was all you needed to see, but he would say this.
“I could go on-and-on, for me it’s the purest form of the game,” Killebrew said. “It’s one-on-one. It’s also so team driven. For example, when I block a punt, it’s not just my efforts.
Everyone has to be doing their job.”
“We run. It’s almost barbaric, it used to be barbaric on kickoff, that’s ok, it’s a lot of fun. It’s making a man do something against his will. Open field tackling, it’s blocking.”
“It’s everything about football in one play.”
Killebrew is very intentional with how he practices. He takes what others might think as just the penance you pay to eventually play another position in the NFL, as job number one. He studies the math associated with special teams and works tirelessly to make his team better.
Now he is rewarded for it.
You might think of him as the other Steeler with Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick at the Pro Bowl. That’s ok, he knows he’s done his job.