Breeland Speaks joins the Jackson State football staff for the 2026 season.
Speaks was drafted 46th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by Kansas City and was a member of the 2019 Super Bowl champions. During his time with the Chiefs, he contributed to the defensive line rotation and developed NFL-level technique and film study habits. He was a member of the practice squad for five different teams in the NFL, including Las Vegas (2020), Dallas (2020 and 2021), Buffalo (2021), San Francisco (2023), and Jacksonville (2024).
He joined the Michigan Panthers of the USFL in 2023, leading the league in sacks with nine. He was an All-USFL selection and was recognized as a Top-10 player in the league, while also being named a team captain. Speaks moved with the Panthers to the UFL in 2024, and was named the UFL Defensive Player of the Year and was a member of the All-UFL Team. That same season, Speaks led the league in sacks with 9.5.
Before his time as a professional, Speaks was an All-SEC Second Team selection in 2017 at Ole Miss.
Speaks served as the defensive line coach for the 2025 season as the defensive line coach, evaluating film breakdown analyzing player performance, and collaborated with the coaching staff to analyze opponent tendencies.Â
A native of Jackson, Speaks played high school football at Callaway High School, where he was named the Class 5A Player of the Year (2013) and was selected as a member of the Dandy Dozen. He was a two-time All-State selection (2012, 2013), and was a three-time All-Metro selection (2011-13).
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Ole Miss in 2018.
