Cortez Kennedy facts for kids
Kennedy's retired jersey (#96) at Lumen Field, 2013
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| No. 96, 99 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | August 23, 1968 Osceola, Arkansas |
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| Died: | May 23, 2017 (aged 48) Orlando, Florida |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 306 lb (139 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Rivercrest (Wilson, Arkansas) |
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| College: | Miami (FL) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1990 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Cortez Kennedy (born August 23, 1968 – died May 23, 2017) was an amazing American football player. He played as a defensive tackle for his entire 11-year career. All his professional years were spent with the Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League (NFL). He was so good that he was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Cortez Kennedy changed how people thought about big players in the middle of the defensive line. In 1992, he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. This was a huge achievement, especially since his team only won 2 games and lost 14 that season.
Kennedy played college football for the Miami Hurricanes at the University of Miami.
Early Life and College Football
Cortez Kennedy was born in Osceola, Arkansas. He grew up in a nearby town called Wilson. He went to Rivercrest High School in Wilson. After high school, he attended Northwest Mississippi Community College. Later, he earned a football scholarship to the University of Miami. In 1989, he was named an All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the country.
In 2004, Cortez Kennedy was honored by being inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
Becoming an NFL Star
The Seattle Seahawks picked Cortez Kennedy as the third overall player in the 1990 NFL Draft. He signed his contract just two days before the season began. In 1991, he was chosen to play in the Pro Bowl, which is a special game for the best players.
In 1992, Kennedy had an incredible season. He recorded 14 Quarterback sacks. This led him to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. It was a rare feat for a player on a team with a losing record. That season, he also changed his jersey number to 99. He did this to honor his close friend, Jerome Brown. Cortez Kennedy was named First- or Second-team All-Pro five times during his career. This means he was consistently one of the top players at his position.
Kennedy decided to retire after the 2000 season. He had played 167 games for the Seahawks. During his career, he made 668 tackles, 58 Quarterback sacks, and caught 3 interceptions. He officially announced his retirement in August 2002. He had offers from other teams, but he wanted to finish his career in Seattle. Many people consider him one of the best defensive tackles ever in the NFL.
Cortez Kennedy was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame several times. He was finally elected in 2012. He was only the second player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame mainly for his time with the Seahawks.
After retiring from playing, Kennedy worked as an advisor for the New Orleans Saints. Their general manager, Mickey Loomis, used to work for the Seahawks. Later, Kennedy moved to Arkansas and then to Orlando, Florida. He focused on raising his daughter, Courtney, and her education.
In 2006, the Seahawks added Kennedy to their Ring of Honor. This is a special way to recognize great players. His jersey number, 96, was retired by the Seahawks on October 14, 2012. This means no other player on the team will ever wear that number again.
In 2007, SI.com, a sports website, named Cortez Kennedy the best athlete ever to wear the number 96.
Later Years
Cortez Kennedy passed away on May 23, 2017, in Orlando, Florida. He was 48 years old. Before he died, Kennedy had been experiencing some health issues. The town of Wilson, Arkansas honored him by naming a part of U.S. Highway 61 after him.
See also
In Spanish: Cortez Kennedy para niños
