The Michigan Panthers re-signed defensive end Breeland Speaks on Tuesday according to James Larsen.
Breeland Speaks is six foot three and weighs 285 pounds. The 29-year-old from Jackson, Mississippi, re-signed with the Michigan Panthers on February 3, 2025. In 2025, he made eight tackles (5 solos, 3 assists), two tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in four games.
He missed most of the season with a shoulder injury. In the playoffs, he made two tackles (2 assists) in two games, helping the Michigan Panthers appear in the UFL Championship Game against the D.C. Defenders.
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Speaks in the second round (46th pick) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons in Kansas City with 24 tackles (15 solos, 9 assists), three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 16 games, of which four were starts. In addition to Kansas City, Speaks had stints with the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Buffalo Bills.
Then, Speaks signed with the Michigan Panthers on December 22, 2022. In 2023, Speaks made 53 tackles (25 solos, 28 assists), six tackles for loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in ten games. In the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Maulers, Beaks made four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist). He was named to the All-USFL Team in 2023.
The Panthers released Speaks on August 10, 2023, and he signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 11, 2023. He played three preseason games with four tackles (2 solos, 2 assists). The 49ers released him on August 27, 2023, and he re-signed with the Panthers on December 29, 2023.
In 2024, Speaks made 32 tackles (24 solos, 8 assists), 13 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 10 games. He was named the UFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. The Panthers released him on August 8, 2024, and he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the same day. Speaks made two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) and 1.5 sacks in two preseason games. The Jaguars released him on August 25, 2024.
Collegiately, Speaks played three seasons at Ole Miss (2015-17) with 121 tackles (50 solos, 71 assists), 15 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 32 games for the Rebels.
