Who led the NFL in interceptions during the 2025 regular season? Defensive playmakers who defined the year

Interceptions rarely tell the whole story of a defender’s season, but in 2025 they came close. With offenses pushing the ball aggressively and margins shrinking, turnovers often decided games. The regular-season interception leaderboard reflects both elite anticipation and, let’s be clear, sheer opportunity.

Kevin Byard III sets the standard for takeaways in 2025

Kevin Byard III finished the regular season alone at the top with seven interceptions, the highest total in the league. Now with the Chicago Bears, Byard’s instincts and range repeatedly flipped field position, reinforcing his reputation as one of the NFL’s most reliable safeties when the ball is in the air.

Behind him, the numbers tighten quickly.

The five-interception club

A remarkable six players finished tied on five interceptions, showing how evenly distributed defensive impact was across teams. That group included Devin Lloyd and teammate Antonio Johnson in Jacksonville, along with Carolina corner Jaycee Horn.

Chicago’s ball production extended beyond Byard, with Nahshon Wright also reaching five. The list continued with Ernest Jones IV and Xavier Watts, both key pieces in defenses built on pressure and disguise.

Graphic thanks to Sofascore.

Several of these players enter the postseason in strong form. Their inclusion among the league leaders added extra intrigue to the Wild Card round, where a single interception can swing momentum instantly.

Four-interception finishers

The leaderboard Top 10 closed with three players on four picks: Tremaine Edmunds, Tony Jefferson and Jalen Pitre.

In a year where almost every possession can count, these defenders proved that anticipation, positioning and nerve remain among the NFL’s most valuable skills. And that much needed luck, of course!

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