Jevon Kearse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jevon Kearse

Kearse in 2022
No. 90, 93
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1976-09-03) September 3, 1976 (age 48) Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:	North Fort Myers (North Fort Myers, Florida)
College:	Florida (1995–1998)
NFL Draft:	1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16
Career history
Tennessee Titans (1999) Philadelphia Eagles (2004) Tennessee Titans (2008)
Career highlights and awards
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1999) First-team All-Pro (1999) 3× Pro Bowl (1999–2001) NFL forced fumbles co-leader (1999) PFWA All-Rookie Team (1999) National champion (1996) First-team All-American (1998) SEC Defensive Player of the Year (1998) 2× First-team All-SEC (1997, 1998) Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame NFL record Most sacks in a season by a rookie: 14.5 (1999)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 313 Sacks: 74.0 Forced fumbles: 26 Fumble recoveries: 4 Interceptions: 1 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Jevon Kearse (born September 3, 1976) is a former American football player. He was known as "the Freak" because of his amazing speed and strength. Jevon played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons.

Before joining the NFL, Kearse played college football for the Florida Gators. He was recognized as an All-American and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 1998. The Tennessee Titans picked him in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft. He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles for four seasons. During his first five years with the Titans, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times and was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1999.

Early Life & High School Football

Jevon Kearse was born in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 3, 1976. He went to North Fort Myers High School and played football for the North Fort Myers Red Knights. Even in high school, he was very tall and quick. He could gain muscle without losing his speed.

His high school coach, Wade Hummel, saw his talent. Jevon played strong safety and tight end. In his first high school season, he scored four touchdowns by returning kicks. After his senior year in 1994, USA Today named him a prep All-American. Jevon was also a great student, with a 3.6 grade point average. He was even a member of the National Honor Society.

College Football Career

When Jevon started college, he was 6 feet, 4 inches tall and weighed 215 pounds. Coaches thought he would play as a linebacker or defensive back. He received a scholarship to the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He played for coach Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators football team from 1995 to 1998.

Jevon started as a safety. In 1996, he moved to outside linebacker. Later in his college career, he sometimes played defensive end. This helped the Gators put more pressure on the other team's quarterback.

The Gators team decided Jevon would "redshirt" for the 1995 season. This meant he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. He watched from the sidelines as the Gators played for the 1995 national championship. They lost that game to the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

During the Gators' 1996 season, opponents in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) started calling him "the Freak." In his first game, he made six tackles and a sack. The Florida Gators went on to win the national title. They beat the Florida State Seminoles 52–20 in the 1997 Sugar Bowl. Jevon was named to the All-SEC Freshman team for his great play.

In 1997, Kearse was named to the All-SEC team for the first time. He led his team with 6.5 sacks during the regular season. He also made 38 tackles and forced two fumbles. In 1998, he again led the team with 7.5 sacks and improved to 54 tackles. He was named All-SEC again and earned the AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year award. He also made several All-American teams.

Jevon decided to leave college early to play in the NFL. He said he had achieved his goals: to become a better person, win a national championship, get an education, and have a chance to play in the NFL.

During his college career, Kearse made 34.5 tackles that stopped the opponent from gaining yards. This put him eleventh on the Gators' all-time list. He also had 145 total tackles, 16.5 quarterback sacks, six forced fumbles, one interception, one recovered fumble, and 19 passes he knocked down. In 2006, The Gainesville Sun newspaper ranked him #16 among the top 100 greatest Gators in the team's history.

Professional Football Career

Joining the NFL: The Draft

Before the 1999 NFL Draft, Jevon Kearse showed off his amazing athletic skills. He weighed 262 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. He also had a vertical jump of 37 inches. These numbers were very impressive for someone his size.

Tennessee Titans: First Time (1999–2003)

The Tennessee Titans chose Jevon Kearse as the 16th pick in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He was the very first player drafted by the Tennessee Titans after they changed their name from the Houston Oilers.

In his first NFL game, Kearse helped the Titans win 36–35 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He quickly became a star. In his first month, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month. He continued to play incredibly well. He set a rookie record with 14.5 sacks, which was the most in the AFC that year. He also forced eight fumbles, leading the entire NFL. He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Jevon was a consensus All-Pro player. He was the first rookie defensive end in the AFC to be a Pro Bowl starter. That year, the Titans made it all the way to Super Bowl XXXIV. Jevon started in the Super Bowl, but his team lost to the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams.

In his second season (2000), Kearse had 11.5 sacks and was again voted to the Pro Bowl. In 2001, he moved to right defensive end and recorded 10 sacks. This earned him his third straight Pro Bowl selection. In 2002, Jevon suffered a foot injury early in the season. He only played in four games that year. In 2003, he had 9.5 sacks through the first nine games. He helped the Titans reach the playoffs, where they won their first game before losing a close match to the New England Patriots.

Philadelphia Eagles (2004–2007)

After his contract with the Titans ended, Jevon Kearse became a free agent. The Philadelphia Eagles signed him to a very large contract for a defensive lineman at the time.

Kearse played well for the Eagles in 2004. Even though his sack numbers weren't as high as before, he was still a strong force on defense. Opposing teams had to plan carefully to try and stop him. The Eagles finished the 2004 season with a great record of 13 wins and 3 losses. They made it to Super Bowl XXXIX, but they lost to the New England Patriots 24–21.

In 2005, Kearse had another good year, recording 7.5 sacks. However, his team struggled with many injuries to key players.

The 2006 season was short for Kearse. He had 3.5 sacks in the first two games before suffering a serious knee injury. Doctors found a tear in his knee cartilage and a fracture in his tibia. The injury was serious but not career-ending.

In 2007, Kearse didn't seem to have his explosive speed back. He lost his starting job to his teammate Juqua Thomas. Because of this, and his expensive contract, the Eagles released him on February 28, 2008.

Tennessee Titans: Second Time (2008–2009)

On March 6, 2008, Jevon Kearse returned to the Titans. He signed a two-year contract with his old team. In 2008, Kearse started all 16 games and finished with 3.5 sacks. During the 2009 season, the Titans' coach decided to have William Hayes start instead of Kearse.

NFL Statistics

Here are some of Jevon Kearse's statistics from his NFL career:

Family Life

Jevon Kearse has a nephew named Jayron Kearse who also plays football in the NFL.

See also

• 1998 College Football All-America Team
• Florida Gators football, 1990–99
• History of the Tennessee Titans
• List of Florida Gators football All-Americans
• List of Florida Gators in the NFL draft
• List of Philadelphia Eagles players