Kelvin Kirk facts for kids
| No. 14 | |
| Born: | December 31, 1953 Mount Pleasant, Florida, USA |
|---|---|
| Died: | July 2, 2003 (aged 49) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Career information | |
| CFL status | International |
| Position(s) | WR |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| College | Dayton |
| High school | Dayton (OH) Dunbar |
| NFL draft | 1976 / Round: 17 / Pick: 487 |
| Drafted by | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1977 | Toronto Argonauts |
| 1978–1979 | Calgary Stampeders |
| 1979 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| 1980 | Calgary Stampeders |
| 1981–1983 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| Career stats | |
| Receptions | 153 |
| Receiving yards | 2,942 |
| Return yards | 3,600 |
| Total TDs | 20 |
Kelvin Kirk (born December 31, 1953 – died July 2, 2003) was a talented American football player. He played as a wide receiver and kick returner for seven seasons. His career was mainly in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Kelvin Kirk is also famous for being the very first "Mr. Irrelevant" in the NFL Draft. This is a special, funny title given to the last player chosen in the draft. In 1976, he was the 487th and final player picked!
Contents
Early Life and College Football
Kelvin Kirk was born in Mount Pleasant, Florida. His family later moved to Dayton, Ohio. There, he became a star athlete at Dunbar High School.
After high school, Kirk stayed in Dayton for college. He played football at the University of Dayton. In 1975, he led all college players in the country. He gained an amazing 24.5 yards for every pass he caught.
Becoming "Mr. Irrelevant"
In 1976, the Pittsburgh Steelers picked Kelvin Kirk in the NFL Draft. The Steelers were the champions of the Super Bowl at that time. Kirk was chosen in the seventeenth and final round of the draft.
This made him the first-ever "Mr. Irrelevant" in the NFL Draft. This "honor" goes to the very last player picked. Kelvin Kirk was the 487th and final player chosen in that draft. It was the most players ever picked in an NFL draft.
Professional Football Career
After his time with the Steelers, Kelvin Kirk went to play in Canada. He joined the Canadian Football League (CFL). He spent seven seasons there, from 1977 to 1983.
He played for several teams in the CFL:
- The Toronto Argonauts
- The Calgary Stampeders
- The Saskatchewan Roughriders
- The Ottawa Rough Riders
Kirk was a very versatile player. He gained over 6,500 total yards in Canada. As a wide receiver, he caught 153 passes for 2,942 yards. He also scored 16 touchdowns from receiving. He was also great at returning punts and kickoffs. He gained 1,678 yards returning punts and scored 2 touchdowns. From kickoff returns, he gained 1,922 yards and scored one touchdown.
Life After Football
After his football career, Kelvin Kirk worked as an artist. He worked for the Ottawa Citizen newspaper.
Sadly, Kelvin Kirk passed away suddenly in 2003. He was 49 years old. He was playing a casual game of basketball when it happened.
