Krys Barnes

Krys Barnes
Barnes with the Green Bay Packers in 2021
No. 43 – Cleveland Browns
PositionLinebacker
Roster status
Practice squad
Personal information
Born (1998-04-02) April 2, 1998 (age 28)
Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight
229 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolLiberty (Bakersfield)
CollegeUCLA (2016–2019)
NFL draft2020: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Total tackles303
Sacks5.5
Forced fumbles1
Fumble recoveries2
Pass deflections10
Interceptions1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Krystopher Nathaniel Barnes (born April 2, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Barnes played college football for the UCLA Bruins and signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, and Washington Commanders.

Early life

Barnes was born and grew up in Bakersfield, California. He attended and played football at Liberty High School, along with childhood friend and future Green Bay Packers teammate Jordan Love. Together, Barnes and Love helped lead Liberty to the first Division I Central Section championship in school history.

College career

In four seasons at UCLA, Barnes played in 43 games with 31 starts, recording 212 tackles (139 solo, 21 for loss), five sacks, and two interceptions. Barnes was All-Pac 12 Conference honorable mention his senior season.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan
6 ft 1+3⁄4 in
(1.87 m)		229 lb
(104 kg)		31+5⁄8 in
(0.80 m)		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		6 ft 5+1⁄2 in
(1.97 m)
All values from Pro Day

Green Bay Packers

On April 29, 2020, the Green Bay Packers signed Barnes to a three-year, $2.29 million contract as an undrafted free agent that includes a signing bonus of $7,000.

Throughout training camp, Barnes competed to be a starting inside linebacker against Oren Burks, Ty Summers, and fellow rookie Kamal Martin. On September 5, 2020, the Packers waived Barnes as part of their final roster cuts, but signed him to the practice squad the next day after clearing waivers. On September 12, 2020, the Green Bay Packers promoted Barnes to their active roster. Head coach Matt LaFleur elected to start Barnes at inside linebacker, alongside Christian Kirksey, to start the regular season.

He made his first career start and his professional debut in the Green Bay Packers’ season-opener at the Minnesota Vikings and recorded seven combined tackles (five solo) during their 43–34 victory. On October 18, 2020, Barnes recorded ten combined tackles (seven solo) during a 38–10 loss at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. In Week 7 against the Houston Texans, Barnes recorded his first career sack on Deshaun Watson during the 35–20 win. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 6, 2020, and activated on December 2. In Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers, Barnes forced a fumble on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater at the one yard line that was recovered by the Packers during the 24–16 win.

During the team's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9, Barnes made a season-high 9 tackles, including one that prevented a touchdown by running back Darrel Williams. He signed his tender offer from the Packers on April 18, 2022, to keep him with the team.

In the 2022 season-opener at the Vikings, he sustained ankle injury, which put him on injured reserve. On November 5, 2022, he was activated off of injured reserve.

Arizona Cardinals

On March 25, 2023, Barnes signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He played in 16 games with six starts, recording 55 tackles, six passes defensed, and an interception.

Barnes appeared in all 17 games for Arizona during the 2024 season, accumulating two sacks and 35 combined tackles.

Carolina Panthers

On August 3, 2025, Barnes signed with the Carolina Panthers. He was released on August 26, and re-signed to the practice squad. On November 26, the Panthers signed Barnes to their active roster.

Washington Commanders

On August 18, 2026, Barnes signed with the Washington Commanders. On August 30, he was waived by the Commanders as a part of final roster cuts before the start of the regular season.

Cleveland Browns

On September 22, 2026, Barnes signed with the Cleveland Browns practice squad.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
TotalSoloAstSckPDefIntYdsAvgLngTDsFFFR
2020GB 13108049311.000000010
2021GB 16138158231.040000002
2022GB 612917121.000000000
2023ARI 1665535200.0614646.046000
2024ARI 1703519162.00000.00000
2025CAR 73236170.50000.00000
Total75333031841195.51014646.046012
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Postseason

YearTeamGPGSTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
TotalSoloAstSckPDefIntYdsAvgLngTDsFFFR
2020GB 2213850.010000000
2021GB 117430.000000000
Total33201280.010000000
Source: pro-football-reference.com

References

  1. ↑ Cunningham, Clay (April 27, 2020). "Krys Barnes ready to make a name for himself in Green Bay". Bakersfield.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Krys Barnes – Football". UCLA Bruins Athletics. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Pax 12 all conference awards announced". PAC 12. December 10, 2019. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019.
  4. ↑ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Krys Barnes College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Packers agree to terms with rookie free agents". Packers.com. April 29, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Spotrac.com: Krys Barnes contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Breaking down the packers most notable roster cuts". Packers Wire. September 5, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Packers announce practice squad". Fox News 11. September 7, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Packers sign Krys Barnes to active roster". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. September 12, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Krys Barbers effective in starting role". CBS Sports. September 14, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Krys Barnes". National Football League.
  12. ↑ "Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – October 18th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans – October 25th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Packers place two players on reserve/COVID-19 list". packers.com. November 6, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Packers activate LB Krys Barnes from reserve/COVID-19 list". Packers.com. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers – December 19th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Packers' Krys Barnes: Makes season-high nine tackles".
  18. ↑ "Krys Barnes prevents TD, blasts Darrel Williams out of bounds | Packers vs. Chiefs".
  19. ↑ Alper, Josh (April 19, 2022). "Packers re-sign six as offseason program gets going". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Packers sign T Caleb Jones to active roster". packers.com. September 13, 2022. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Packers activate LB Krys Barnes off injured reserve". packers.com. November 5, 2022. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  22. ↑ Urban, Darren (March 25, 2023). "Krys Barnes Joins Cardinals Linebacking Corps". AZCardinals.com.
  23. ↑ Gantt, Darin (August 3, 2025). "Panthers make a change at linebacker". Panthers.com.
  24. ↑ Gantt, Darin (August 26, 2025). "Panthers make moves to get to the 53-man roster". Panthers.com.
  25. ↑ Gantt, Darin (August 27, 2025). "Panthers add 13 players to practice squad". Panthers.com.
  26. ↑ "Panthers add defensive depth with several roster moves". panthers.com. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  27. ↑ Selby, Zach (August 18, 2026). "Commanders sign multiple players". Commanders.com.
  28. ↑ Selby, Zach (August 30, 2026). "Commanders announce multiple roster cuts, place 2 players on IR". Commanders.com.
  29. ↑ "Browns sign LB Krys Barnes to the practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved September 23, 2026.