Cortez Kennedy

Cortez Kennedy (August 23, 1968 – May 23, 2017) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for his entire 11-season career with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.[1] He redefined and expanded the possibilities of how a large-bodied interior lineman could be used.[2] In 1992 he won the Defensive Player of the Year award despite his team finishing 2–14.

Cortez Kennedy
No. 96, 99
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:(1968-08-23)August 23, 1968
Osceola, Arkansas
Died:May 23, 2017(2017-05-23) (aged 48)
Orlando, Florida
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:306 lb (139 kg)
Career information
High school:Rivercrest
(Wilson, Arkansas)
College:Miami (FL)
NFL Draft:1990 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:668
Quarterback sacks:58.0
Interceptions:3
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

High school and college career

Kennedy was born in Osceola, Arkansas, but grew up in Wilson, Arkansas. He graduated from Rivercrest High School in Wilson, Arkansas, and attended Northwest Mississippi Community College before being awarded a football scholarship to the University of Miami, where he was named an All-American in 1989.

Kennedy was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Professional career

He was the third overall selection in the 1990 draft by the Seahawks, and was unsigned until two days before the beginning of the season. Kennedy was named to the Pro Bowl in 1991. In 1992, having recorded 14 quarterback sacks, he received the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press despite the Seahawks 2–14 record. He switched his jersey number to 99 that season in honor of close friend Jerome Brown, and was named First- or Second-team All-Pro five times.

Kennedy retired after the 2000 season. In 167 games with Seattle, he recorded 668 tackles, 58 sacks, and three interceptions. He announced his retirement in August 2002 after sitting out the 2001 season. He was given several offers by other teams, but wanted to finish his career in Seattle.[3] He is generally considered one of the best defensive tackles to ever play the position in the NFL. He was a semi-finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, as well as a finalist in 2009 and 2011,[4] eventually being elected to the Hall as a member of the 2012 induction class.[1] He was the second Hall of Famer to earn his credentials primarily as a Seahawk.

After retiring, Kennedy worked as an advisor for the New Orleans Saints, whose general manager, Mickey Loomis, had previously worked for the Seahawks.[5][6] Kennedy later moved to Arkansas and Orlando, Florida, where he raised his daughter Courtney and focused on her education.[7]

In 2006, Kennedy was inducted into the Seahawks' Ring of Honor. His jersey number, 96, was retired by the Seahawks during a game against the New England Patriots on October 14, 2012.[8]

In 2007, Kennedy was named the best athlete ever to wear the number 96 by SI.com.[9]

NFL career statistics
Legend
NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckIntYdsAvgLngTDPDFFFRYds
1990SEA 162484801.0000.0000110
1991SEA 1616737306.5000.0000110
1992SEA 16169292014.0000.00004119
1993SEA 1616777706.5000.0000110
1994SEA 16167054164.0000.0000010
1995SEA 16165340136.5000.0000100
1996SEA 16166748198.0000.0000100
1997SEA 88181082.0000.0000000
1998SEA 15154229132.0000.00000139
1999SEA 16167461136.52122.0700200
2000SEA 16165032181.011414.01400000
Career16715366856810058.03268.7140011658

Source:[10]

Death

Kennedy died on May 23, 2017, in Orlando, Florida. He was 48 years old. According to police, Kennedy was alone when he died.[11] In the days leading up to his death, Kennedy had experienced symptoms of heart failure, including swollen legs and dizziness, which led to him being hospitalized.[12] Following his death, the main drag in Wilson, Arkansas was named for him.

References
  1. "Defensive disruption". NFL Internet Network. Profootballhof.com. July 31, 2012. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  2. NFL (May 23, 2017), Cortez Kennedy's Hall of Fame Career Remembered | NFL Films, retrieved May 23, 2017
  3. "DT Kennedy announces retirement". Archived from the original on November 14, 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
  4. Hall Release – Modern era semi-finalists for Class of 2008
  5. "Well-kept secret: Ex-Seattle defensive great a Who Dat" Archived February 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Foxsports.com (accessed September 2, 2010).
  6. Dave Hyde, "Dolphins-Saints matchup; Ottis Anderson tells great Parcells story", South Florida Sun-Sentinel, October 24, 2009.
  7. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/04/28/sports/football/nfl-draft-class-1990.html?mcubz=0&_r=0
  8. "Seahawks to retire Cortez Kennedy's jersey number Sunday". October 12, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  9. "Cortez Kennedy named best athlete to wear number 96". SI.
  10. "Cortez Kennedy Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  11. espn.com news services (May 23, 2017). "Seahawks icon and Hall of Famer Cortez Kennedy dead at 48". espn.com. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  12. Condotta, Bob. "Police report shows Cortez Kennedy had been hospitalized for swelling in legs shortly before death". seattletimes.com. The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
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