Ken Whisenhunt facts for kids
Whisenhunt in 2014
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| Position: | Head coach | ||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | February 28, 1962 Augusta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 233 lb (106 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Augusta (GA) Richmond Co. | ||||||
| College: | Georgia Tech | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1985 / Round: 12 / Pick: 313 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||
| Regular season: | 48–71 (.403) | ||||||
| Postseason: | 4–2 (.667) | ||||||
| Career: | 52–73 (.416) | ||||||
| Coaching stats at PFR | |||||||
Kenneth Moore Whisenhunt (born February 28, 1962) is an American football coach and a former player. He played as a tight end, which is a position that blocks and catches passes. Ken played college football at Georgia Tech. He was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1985 NFL draft. He played for the Falcons for four years. After that, he played for the Washington Redskins and the New York Jets.
Ken Whisenhunt started his coaching career in 1995. He became a head coach for the Arizona Cardinals from 2007 to 2012. He also coached the Tennessee Titans from 2014 to 2015. He led the Cardinals to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance in 2008. This was a huge achievement for the team! He also brought them their first home playoff games in 60 years.
Before and after being a head coach, Whisenhunt worked as an offensive coordinator for different NFL teams. He had great success with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He helped them win Super Bowl XL in 2005. Most recently, he was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers for four seasons.
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Playing Football in College
Ken Whisenhunt went to high school at the Academy of Richmond County in Augusta, Georgia. He then played college football at Georgia Tech from 1980 to 1984. He studied civil engineering there. In his final year, he was recognized as an All-American player. He was also a top player in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during his last two college seasons.
Here are some of his college stats:
- 1981: 22 catches for 295 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- 1982: 15 catches for 208 yards.
- 1983: 18 catches for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- 1984: 27 catches for 517 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Playing in the NFL
Ken Whisenhunt played as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He spent four years with the Atlanta Falcons (1985–1988). The Falcons picked him in the 1985 NFL draft. He also played short times with the Washington Redskins and the New York Jets. He retired from playing in 1993 after nine seasons. He was mostly known for being a strong blocking player. From 1986 to 1988 with Atlanta, he caught 53 passes for 503 yards and scored five touchdowns.
Coaching Career Highlights
Starting as a Coach
Whisenhunt began his coaching journey at Vanderbilt University. From 1995 to 1996, he coached special teams, tight ends, and running backs for the Commodores. In 1997, he joined the National Football League (NFL) as the tight ends coach for the Baltimore Ravens. He moved to the Cleveland Browns in 1999 and then to the New York Jets in 2000.
Time with the Pittsburgh Steelers
In 2001, the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Whisenhunt to coach their tight ends. He helped players like Mark Bruener and Jay Riemersma become even better. He also helped Heath Miller develop into a very successful tight end.
Whisenhunt became the offensive coordinator for the Steelers in 2004. An offensive coordinator is in charge of the team's offense and how they score points. He was known for being smart and sometimes calling surprising plays.
One of his most famous moments was a trick play he called in Super Bowl XL. The Steelers were playing the Seattle Seahawks. Whisenhunt called a special play where a wide receiver, Antwaan Randle El, threw a touchdown pass to Hines Ward. This was the first time a wide receiver threw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl history! This play helped the Steelers win the Super Bowl.
Leading the Arizona Cardinals
On January 14, 2007, the Arizona Cardinals hired Ken Whisenhunt as their new head coach. A head coach is the main leader of the team. The Cardinals improved in his first year, finishing with an 8–8 record. This was their best record since 1998.
In 2008, Whisenhunt decided that veteran quarterback Kurt Warner would be the starting player. This was a great choice! Warner played very well, leading the Cardinals to a 9–7 record. They won the NFC West Division, which was their first division title since 1975. This also meant the Cardinals got to play a home playoff game for the first time since 1947!
The Cardinals won their first two playoff games against the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers. Then, they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. This sent them to the Super Bowl for the first time ever! They faced Whisenhunt's old team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Super Bowl XLIII. The Cardinals played hard but lost 27–23.
In 2009, Whisenhunt led the Cardinals to a 10–6 record and another NFC West title. In the playoffs, they won an exciting overtime game against the Green Bay Packers. However, they lost to the New Orleans Saints in the next round.
After Kurt Warner retired, the Cardinals faced challenges. In 2010, Whisenhunt made Derek Anderson the starting quarterback. The team finished 5–11. In 2011, despite quarterback issues, the team improved to an 8–8 record.
In 2012, the Cardinals started strong with a 4–0 record. However, they then lost nine games in a row. On December 31, 2012, Whisenhunt was fired after three seasons without making the playoffs.
Coaching the San Diego Chargers (First Time)
On January 17, 2013, Ken Whisenhunt became the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers. Under his leadership, the Chargers' offense greatly improved. They went from being 31st in the league in total offense to 5th in just one season!
Leading the Tennessee Titans
On January 13, 2014, the Tennessee Titans hired Whisenhunt as their new head coach. In his first year, the Titans finished with a 2–14 record. On November 3, 2015, after starting the season 1–6, the Titans fired Whisenhunt. He finished with a 3–20 record during his time with the team.
Coaching the Chargers Again
On January 13, 2016, the Chargers hired Whisenhunt again as their offensive coordinator. He stayed with the team until October 28, 2019, when he was fired.
Working in College Football
Whisenhunt joined Penn State in 2021 as an offensive analyst. In 2023, he was hired by Alabama to be a special assistant to head coach Nick Saban.
Coaching in the UFL
In September 2024, it was announced that Ken Whisenhunt would become the new head coach of the Memphis Showboats in the United Football League (UFL). He left the team briefly in March 2025, returned, and then permanently resigned in April 2025.
Ken Whisenhunt's Life Outside Football
Ken Whisenhunt is married to Alice, and they have two children, Kenneth Jr. and Mary Ashley.
When he was a boy, Ken earned the rank of Eagle Scout. This is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.
Whisenhunt loves to play golf. He grew up in Augusta, Georgia, which is famous for the Masters Golf Tournament. As a teenager, he even worked at the Masters, helping with the scoreboard. He has played on the famous Masters course many times. In May 2008, he shot a great score of 72, which included an "eagle" on one hole! An eagle is when you finish a hole in two strokes under par.
After he stopped playing football in 1993, he spent a year focusing on golf. He even competed in a big amateur golf tournament. His best golf score ever is a 65, and he has made two "holes in one" in his life. A hole in one is when you hit the ball directly into the hole from the tee!
