Kai Nacua

BIOGRAPHY

Kai Nacua was born on March 3rd, 1995, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He plays safety for the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL. In his early years, Nacua attended Liberty High School where he lettered in football, basketball, and volleyball. In his senior season in Liberty High School, he helped his team an 11-2 record. 

After he finished high school, Nacua committed to the University of Birmingham Young University where in his freshman year in 2013, he played in 8 games and tallied 11 tackles. As a sophomore in 2014, Nacua played in all 13 games, recording 40 tackles on the season, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three pass breakups. He reached a career-high in tackles with seven and recorded his first career interception against UCF. He then recorded his second interception of the season in the second quarter, returning it 32 yards in the win over UNLV and recorded a season-high 14 tackles in the win at Cal, including 1.5 tackles for loss. As a junior in 2015, Nacua was named to Phil Steele's Postseason All-Independent First Team. He played in 12 games and finished fourth on the team in total tackles, third in pass breakups and first in interceptions. Nacua was the Madness Nationa Defensive Player of the Week on September 14th, he was the AutoNation National Defensive Player of the Week on September 15th, and he was named Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week on September 16th. In his senior year in 2016, Nacua was named the College Sports Madness Preseason Defensive Player of the Year along with being named to first-team defense, and he was also named to the 2016-17 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. He played in all 13 games, totaling 48 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, forced his first career forced fumble at Boise State and 14 interceptions, which are the most at BYU since Derwin Gray's 14 1989-92. He was also a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist as the nations best DB and played in the NFLPA Bowl.

After he graduated from college, Nacua entered the 2017 NFL Draft where he was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on May 4th, 2017. On September 3rd, 2017, the Browns waived Nacua and signed him to their practice squad the next day. On September 8th, 2017, Nacua was promoted to the active roster and was named the backup strong safety behind Derrick Kindred to start the regular season. He made his professional regular-season debut in the Cleveland Browns season-opening against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On December 3, 2017, Nacua made his first career tackle when the Browns were visiting the Los Angeles Chargers. In Week 14, Nacua earned his first career start against the Green Bay Packers where he recorded a season-high five solo tackles. He finished the season with 14 combined tackles in 16 games and 3 starts. Nacua was waived by the Browns on April 30th, 2018, and was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Ravens on May 1st, 2018. He was waived on August 31st, 2018, and was re-signed to the practice squad on September 15th, 2018, but was released on October 15th, 2018. On December 5th, 2018, Nacua was signed to the Carolina Panthers practice squad and signed a reserve/future contract with the Panthers on December 31st, 2018. On August 4th, 2019, Nacua was waived by the Panthers and was signed by the Indianapolis Colts on August 19th, 2019. 

On November 24, 2020, Nacua was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on December 2, 2020. On February 11, 2021, Nacua signed a one-year contract extension with the 49ers.