Speed Demon Ex-Steelers Cornerback Takes Talents to CFL
Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Kalon Barnes, the fastest defensive back in NFL combine history, is taking his talents north of the border to the CFL.
Barnes has signed a contract with the Edmonton Elks of the CFL, the league announced in its transactions page for Monday. Barnes had been in camp with the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL this spring, but was released on March 20.
The 26-year-old Barnes had two stints with the Steelers across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Barnes first joined the team’s practice squad back on Sept. 15, 2023 and spent just two weeks there, getting released on Sept. 26. After being released by the Steelers, he also spent time with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns in 2023.
He re-signed with the Steelers on a future contract for 2024, but Barnes suffered a quad injury during a Steelers training camp practice at St. Vincent College in August and was waived with an injury designation. He cleared waivers, reverted to the team’s injured reserve list, and was later released with an injury settlement.
A 6-foot, 186-pound cornerback out of Baylor, Barnes was a seventh-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2022. Barnes ran a 4.23-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 combine, the second-fastest time since electronic timing was introduced in 1999 and fasted ever for a defensive player. Wide receiver John Ross ran a 4.22-second 40 in 2017.
A Silsbee, Texas native, Barnes started as a wide receiver before transitioning to cornerback at Baylor. Barnes was a late bloomer with the Bears, earning a playing role right away but not a starter’s job until his senior season in 2021.
Barnes played a total of 41 games in Waco, finishing with 53 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, one forced fumble and 17 passes defended.
The Panthers drafted Barnes late in 2022, but he did not make their initial 53-man roster. He signed with the Miami Dolphins practice squad, and was then poached from that unit by the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 14.
He played nine snaps for Minnesota over two games at the end of the 2022 season, all of which came on special teams. Barnes was cut by the Vikings coming out of training camp the following August, before joining the Steelers.
