Selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round (217th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft and spent his first four seasons (2019-22) with the Vikings. Signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals on 4/10/23.
2022: Played all 17 regular season games, finishing with five tackles on defense while adding eight tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on special teams … also saw action in the Vikings Wild Card matchup, posting a fumble recovery on special teams … led the team with a career-high 403 snaps on special teams … saw action in the season-opener vs. GB (9/11), marking his fourth consecutive appearance in an opener to begin his career … recorded his first special teams tackle of the season vs. Det (9/25) … made a big play in the Vikings 28-25 victory @ NO (10/2) in a matchup held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London; with Minnesota holding a 13-7 lead early in the 3rd quarter, forced and recovered a fumble at the NO 44-yard line on a punt; Vikings kicked a FG on the ensuing possession to extend their lead to 16-7 … provided pressure on a muffed punt that was recovered by Troy Dye vs. AZ (10/30) … had two special teams tackles @ Was (11/6) … had a tackle on defense and two stops on special teams vs. Ind (12/17) … finished with a season-high four tackles on defense and added one on special teams in the regular season finale @ Chi (1/8/23) … in the Wild Card matchup vs. NYG (1/15/23), recovered a fumble on a punt return late in the 3rd quarter; on their ensuing possession, Vikings kicked a FG to tie the game 24-24 early in the 4th quarter; marked Boyd's fifth career fumble recovery.
2021: Appeared in 15 games (one start), totaling 19 tackles on defense and finished second on the team with seven tackles on special teams … also tied for third in the NFL with two fumble recoveries on special teams … saw action in the season-opener for the third consecutive year, recording two tackles on defense @ Cin (9/12) … had one stop on special teams vs. Det (10/10) … following a fumble by Vikings returner Dede Westbrook late in the 1st quarter @ Car (10/17), Boyd hopped on the ball to retain possession, his second career fumble recovery on special teams; Vikings scored a TD on the ensuing possession to take a 12-7 lead … had a season-high six tackles @ Bal (11/7) after replacing injured Bashaud Breeland at CB … recorded four tackles on defense and had another stop on special teams vs. Pit (12/9) … recovered a muffed punt by Damiere Byrd in the 4th quarter @ Chi (12/20), marking his third career fumble recovery on special teams and his second of the season … made his first start of the year and tallied six tackles in the season finale @ GB (1/2/22).
2020: Appeared in 10 games and made his first five career starts before being placed on injured reserve (shoulder) … finished with 30 tackles, a tackles for loss, two passes defensed and a forced fumble on defense while adding four tackles on special teams … saw action in the season-opener vs. GB (9/13) and recorded a special teams tackle … tallied a season-high two special teams tackles @ Ind (9/20) … made his first career start vs. Ten (9/27) and recorded two tackles … inactive for Weeks 4-6 due to injury … made his second career start and had career-high 10 tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a pass defense in win vs. Det (11/8) … started and finished with four tackles in a victory @ Chi (11/16) on MNF … totaled three tackles and a pass defensed vs. Dal (11/22) … recorded six tackles vs. Jax (12/6) … saw action @ TB (12/13) but suffered a shoulder injury that forced him onto injured reserve on 12/15.
2019: Played all 16 games, finishing with 12 total tackles on defense and leading Minnesota with 11 special teams tackles … added a fumble recovery on special teams … also played in both postseason games for the Vikings … made his NFL debut in season opener vs. Atl (9/8), posting his first career tackle and first two career special teams tackles … recovered his first career fumble on a muffed punt in the 3rd quarter vs. LV (9/22); recovered a Chad Beebe fumble at the MIN 16-yard line that resulted in Vikings TD (and 28-7 lead) on the ensuing possession … established career-highs with eight solo tackles, two tackles for loss and one pass defensed vs. Chi (12/29) … made playoff debut in Wild Card win @ NO (1/5/20) … had one special teams tackle in the Divisional Round matchup @ SF (1/11/20).
Played four seasons (2015-18) at the University of Texas where he appeared in 51 games (33 starts) and totaled 191 tackles, four INTs, 40 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … two-time All-Big 12 selection (2017-18) who led Texas in passes defensed in both seasons … as a senior in 2018, earned first-team All-Big 12 honors and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back in the nation) after appearing in 14 games (13 starts) and finishing fifth on the team in tackles (67) and leading the Longhorns in passes defensed (16) … also added 4.5 tackles for loss, an INT, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … started 12-of-13 games played as a junior in 2017, finishing fifth on the team in tackles (57) and leading the squad with 15 passes defensed … earned second-team All-Big 12 honors … as a sophomore in 2016, started 8-of-12 games played and tallied 51 tackles, an INT, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five passes defensed … snared a Patrick Mahomes pass for first career INT to seal a win at Texas Tech; picked off Mahomes in the endzone with nine seconds remaining in the game … played in all 12 games as true freshman in 2015, seeing action on defense and special teams.
Attended Gilmer (TX) High School where he was a three-time all-district and 2014 All-State honoree … a standout defensive back and running back, posting three 1,000-yard rushing campaigns during his prep career … as a senior in 2014 - playing alongside current Cardinals teammate LB Blake Lynch - helped lead Gilmer to a 16-0 record and a 4A Division 2 state title while earning first-team all-district and second-team All-State honors … selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and Nike's 2014 The Opening following a senior season in which he rushed for 1,052 yards and 22 TDs while catching 36 passes for 808 yards and nine TDs on offense and adding 43 tackles, two INTs, four passes defense and a fumble recovery on defense … part of an offense that averaged 59.4 points and 536.1 total yards per game, including nine games of 60 or more points and two games of 80 or more … also part of a defense that allowed just 17.1 points per game … tabbed first-team All-District 16-3A as a running back and second team as a defensive back as a junior in 2013 after he amassed 1,191 rushing yards and 19 rushing TDs on offense and 26 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on defense … as a sophomore in 2012, named the Offensive Newcomer of the Year in District 16-3A after rushing for 1,276 yards and 19 TDs while helping Gilmer to a 14-2 record and an appearance in the 3A Division 2 state title game … also a standout track & field performer, was a member of the 4x200-meter relay team that set the Texas record (1:25.49) at the 2015 UIL 4A state meet … majored in Youth & Community Studies.
