Selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round (19th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.
NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month (November 2023)
Has started all 26 career games he has appeared in, recording 54 tackles (21 for loss), 29 quarterback hits, 11.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed.
Has started all three career postseason games he has played, tallying seven tackles (three for loss), two quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks and one pass defensed.
Was 1-of-2 players in the NFL to record a quarterback hit in 10+ consecutive games during the 2024 season.
Led the Buccaneers in sacks in 2024 with 7.5.
Finished tied for second among all rookies in 2023 with 10 tackles for loss.
Was inactive for Weeks 1-5.
Made his 2024 debut in the Week 6 win over New Orleans, playing 44-of-70 defensive snaps and recording two tackles (both for loss), one quarterback hit and 1.0 sack.
With his performance in Week 6, Kancey became the fourth Buccaneer in the 2024 season to record a game with multiple tackles for loss and at least 1.0 sack, joining Lavonte David and Vita Vea in Week 4, and Logan Hall in Week 5.
Per Pro Football Focus, Kancey led Tampa Bay with four pressures in Week 6.
Played 43-of-59 defensive snaps in Week 7 vs. Baltimore, totaling a then-career-high five tackles (one for loss).
In Week 8 vs. Atlanta, played 35-of-62 defensive snaps and contributed three tackles and one quarterback hit.
Played 58-of-85 defensive snaps in Week 9 at Kansas City, logging two tackles (both for loss), a then-career-high three quarterback hits and a then-career-high 2.0 sacks.
Week 9 marked Kancey's first career multi-sack game.
In Week 10 vs. San Francisco, played 43-of-64 defensive snaps and totaled five tackles (two for loss), one quarterback hit, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble.
Kancey's sack in Week 10 increased his season total to a career-high-tying 4.0, despite it only marking his fifth game played during the 2024 season.
Through 10 Weeks, Kancey had three performances with multiple tackles for loss — tied for the third-most in the NFL.
In the Week 12 win over the New York Giants, played 32-of-59 defensive snaps and logged two tackles (one for loss), two quarterback hits, 1.0 sack and one fumble recovery.
In Week 12, Kancey established a new single-season career high in sacks (5.0), in addition to scooping up his first career fumble recovery.
Through 12 weeks, Kancey's 5.0 sacks in 2024 were the most among players with fewer than 250 defensive snaps played.
Played 59-of-70 defensive snaps in the Week 13 win at Carolina, recording one tackle (for loss), one quarterback hit and 1.0 sack. The sack marked his sixth of the season — establishing a new career-high — and his fifth over the past four games.
According to Next Gen Stats, Kancey led Tampa Bay with four quarterback pressures in Week 13. His average time to pressure of 2.23 seconds also led the Buccaneers.
From Weeks 9-13, Kancey's 5.0 sacks were tied for the fourth-most in the NFL during that span.
Through 13 Weeks, Kancey's 6.0 sacks on the season were second-most among players with 350-or-fewer defensive snaps, trailing only Aidan Hutchinson (7.5).
In the Week 14 win over Las Vegas, played 44-of-67 defensive snaps and collected three quarterback hits on the day, giving him six straight games with at least one quarterback hit and 12 quarterback hits on the season across his eight games played. His six straight games with at least one quarterback hit are the most by a Buccaneer since Shaquil Barrett did so in 13 straight games in the 2021 season.
Through 14 weeks, Kancey's 12 quarterback hits were tied for third-most among players with 350-or-fewer defensive snaps this season, trailing only Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson (17) and Dallas' Carl Lawson (13).
According to Pro Football Focus, Kancey generated six total pressures in Week 14, the most among all interior defensive linemen in the NFL.
In the Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, played 42-of-52 defensive snaps and logged two quarterback hits. With his two QBH, Kancey extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one quarterback hit to seven games.
Per Pro Football Focus, Kancey generated a team-high-tying four quarterback pressures in Week 15.
Kancey's 13 quarterback hits between Weeks 8-15 were the second-most by defensive tackles during that span, trailing only Dallas' Osa Odighizuwa.
Played 57-of-60 defensive snaps in Week 16 at Dallas, tallying two tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit and a half-sack.
Kancey's half-sack in Week 16 increased his season total to a team-leading 6.5, further extending his career high.
Kancey posted an average time to pressure of 2.15 seconds in Week 16 — the fastest mark among all Buccaneers.
In the Week 17 win over Carolina, played 29-of-47 defensive snaps and recorded two tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit and 1.0 sack.
Kancey's sack in Week 17 extended his career high single-season total to 7.5 on the year.
Through 17 weeks, Kancey's 7.5 sacks ranked fourth among defensive tackles.
Played 55-of-66 defensive snaps in the Week 18 victory over New Orleans, tallying two tackles and one quarterback hit.
Week 18 marked Kancey's 10th straight game with a quarterback hit, making him 1-of-2 players to record a quarterback hit in 10+ consecutive games this season, joining Danielle Hunter.
Kancey finished the season as Tampa Bay's leading sacker, totaling a career-high 7.5 sacks on the year. x In the Wild Card round against Washington, started and played 54-of-73 defensive snaps. He finished with one tackle (for loss).
Appeared in 36 career games across three seasons (2020-22) at the University of Pittsburgh, totaling 93 tackles (34.5 for loss), 16.0 sacks, three passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Following his senior season in 2022, became the 13th player in University of Pittsburgh program history to be named a Unanimous All-American, and the first to do so since defensive tackle Aaron Donald in 2013.
Was the only player in the country to be a finalist for both the Outland Trophy for the nation's best interior lineman and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the national defensive player of the year in 2022.
Was named the 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, joining Aaron Donald as the only players in program history to earn that distinction.
Was named first team All-ACC in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
As a senior in 2022, started 11 games and logged 31 tackles (14.5 for loss) and 7.5 sacks. His 14.5 tackles for loss led all interior defenders in the country.
As a junior in 2021, started all 14 games and finished with 35 tackles (11 for loss) and 7.0 sacks. x As a sophomore in 2020, started 4-of11 games, totaling 27 tackles (seven for loss) and 1.5 sacks.
Born Calijah Demetrius Kancey on March 1, 2001.
Mother is Schquinina Smith.
Has three sisters and one brother.
After signing his rookie contract, he purchased a house and a car for his mother.
Ran a 4.67 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, the fastest time for a defensive tackle at the event since 2003.
Majored in Administration of Justice at Pittsburgh.
