Illinois Coaches Celebrate Kerby Joseph’s Record-Breaking NFL Contract
CHAMPAIGN — When Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry erupted in his office with a dramatic “Show me the money!” shout, head coach Bret Bielema initially had no idea what was going on. Bielema joked that he hoped Henry wasn’t on a recruiting call, but the reason behind the excitement quickly became clear: former Illini safety Kerby Joseph had just signed a massive four-year, $86 million contract extension with the Detroit Lions, making him the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
Joseph, who led the NFL with nine interceptions last season and earned All-Pro honors, was the first player drafted during Bielema’s tenure at Illinois. His meteoric rise from relative obscurity to NFL star has become a point of pride for the Illini coaching staff.
Henry shared that Joseph FaceTimed him to deliver the news personally. “It was awesome to see him have that moment,” Henry said. “We always tell our guys: if you commit to development on and off the field, these are the kinds of rewards that can follow.”
Joseph’s journey to this moment is especially remarkable. When Bielema’s staff arrived, Joseph wasn’t even a guaranteed starter. A Florida native, he had been used sparingly in previous seasons and had even briefly switched to wide receiver. But from his first meeting with Henry, Joseph made it clear he had one goal—reaching the NFL.
Though he didn’t start right away, Joseph’s performance quickly made an impression. His breakout came during a blowout loss at Virginia, where he notched his first career interception and another impressive pass breakup. That game convinced the coaching staff he needed to be on the field. Joseph went on to have a standout season, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors—the first Illini safety to do so since 1989.
He chose to leave school early and was drafted 97th overall by the Lions. Bielema tried to convince him to stay for one more year, believing he had first-round potential. “Now he’s making more money than a lot of the guys drafted ahead of him,” Bielema said. “Our evaluation was right, but he made it happen.”
In his three NFL seasons, Joseph has tallied 247 tackles, 17 interceptions, and 31 passes defended. According to ESPN, he’s the first safety since Ed Reed to record four or more interceptions in each of his first three seasons.
Illinois plans to highlight Joseph’s success as a powerful recruiting tool. Henry proudly displays jerseys in his office from Joseph and other recent NFL players, including Devon Witherspoon, Sydney Brown, Quan Martin, and Tony Adams. “Sometimes the visuals speak for themselves,” he said.
Bielema also joked about sending Joseph a message through their collective, hinting that the program is “open for business” for alumni looking to give back.
Joseph is the first former Illini to earn All-Pro honors since Neil Rackers in 2005. Witherspoon, now a two-time Pro Bowler, is another recent success story. Henry believes there are more to come, especially from the current secondary, including Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey.
“We’re grateful for that young man,” Henry said. “And we’re excited for what’s next. As Coach B says, there’s more to come.”
