Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph is known for his hard-hitting, aggressive playing style, but that approach hasn’t always earned him widespread admiration. Recently, Joseph responded with a humorous message on social media after being unofficially named the “Dirtiest Player in the NFL” by a prominent NFL journalist. The tweet came in response to a post from NFL writer Dov Kleiman, who shared that Joseph had received the dubious honor. “Nah man, that’s the wrong DPOY,” Joseph wrote, adding three laughing emojis. His comment referred to the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award, which is an official accolade presented at the end of the season.
Joseph, a standout performer for the Lions this year, has had a stellar season under head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. He has recorded seven interceptions, 10 pass break-ups, and 41 tackles, all while the Lions’ defense has stayed competitive despite facing key injuries. However, Joseph’s reputation as a “dirty” player stems in part from a comment made by former Lions QB Matthew Stafford, who called Joseph “dirty as [expletive]” last season. Joseph has struggled to shake the label, recently addressing the situation in a tweet: “TBH y’all just calling me dirty ’cause y’all favorite QB said it and that he saw it on film lol.”
