Ken McAlister facts for kids
| No. 48, 94 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker / Safety |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | April 15, 1960 Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Oakland |
| College: | San Francisco (basketball) |
| Undrafted: | 1982 |
| Career history | |
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| Player stats at PFR | |
Kenneth H. McAlister (born April 15, 1960) is a former American football player. He played for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Ken played for the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Kansas City Chiefs. What's cool is that he played college basketball at the University of San Francisco but never played college football!
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Ken McAlister's Early Life and College Years
Kenneth H. McAlister was born on April 15, 1960. His hometown is Oakland, California. When he was in high school, Ken was a talented athlete. He played football, basketball, and baseball at Oakland High School.
High School Sports Achievements
In his senior year, Ken was amazing at basketball. He earned third-team Parade All-American honors. This means he was one of the best high school basketball players in the whole country! He was also named the Oakland Athletic League defensive player of the year in football.
College Basketball Career
In April 1978, Ken decided where he would play college basketball. He signed to play for the San Francisco Dons. This team is part of the University of San Francisco. Other big schools like Notre Dame and Michigan State wanted him too. But Ken chose to stay close to home in the Bay Area. He played basketball for the Dons for four years, from 1978 to 1981. In his final year, he scored about 12.4 points and grabbed 5.4 rebounds per game.
Ken McAlister's Professional Football Career
After college, Ken was not chosen in the 1982 NBA draft for basketball. But something unexpected happened! On April 30, 1982, the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL signed him. This was surprising because he hadn't played football since high school!
Playing for the Seattle Seahawks
Ken played in nine games for the Seahawks in 1982. He recovered one fumble during that season. He also returned two kicks for a total of 41 yards. In 1983, he played in two more games. He returned three kicks for 59 yards. The Seahawks released him on September 14, 1983. During his time with the Seahawks, he was listed as a safety. He mostly played on special teams, which are plays like kickoffs and punts.
Time with the San Francisco 49ers
Ken then signed with the San Francisco 49ers on November 23, 1983. He played in four games for the 49ers that season. He was released by the team on December 30, 1983.
Years with the Kansas City Chiefs
On February 1, 1984, Ken signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. With the Chiefs, he changed his position to linebacker. This is a defensive player who helps stop the other team from scoring.
1984 Season Highlights
In the 1984 season, Ken played in 15 games and started in nine of them. He had a great year, getting four sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He also made two interceptions, which means he caught passes meant for the other team. Plus, he recovered one fumble.
Later Seasons and Injuries
Ken faced some challenges with injuries. On August 19, 1985, he was placed on injured reserve. This meant he missed the entire 1985 season because of an injury. He started the first three games of the 1986 season. He got one sack before being placed on injured reserve again on September 23. This made him miss the rest of that year. After the 1986 season, Ken became a free agent. He then re-signed with the Chiefs. In 1987, he was placed on a special list for players who were physically unable to play. He did play in one game later that season. However, he was placed on injured reserve again on November 18, 1987. After that season, he became a free agent once more.
