Kerry Rhodes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kerry Rhodes

Rhodes with the New York Jets in 2008
No. 25
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(1982-08-02) August 2, 1982 (age 42) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:	Bessemer (AL) Lanier
College:	Louisville
NFL Draft:	2005 / Round: 4 / Pick: 123
Career history
New York Jets (2005–2009) Arizona Cardinals (2010–2012)
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Pro (2006) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2005)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 611 Sacks: 13.0 Forced fumbles: 8 Fumble recoveries: 11 Interceptions: 23 Defensive touchdowns: 3
Player stats at PFR

Kerry Rhodes (born August 2, 1982) is an American actor and former professional football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL). The New York Jets picked him in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals until 2012. Rhodes was recognized as an All-Pro player after the 2006 NFL season. Before turning pro, he played college football for the Louisville Cardinals.

Early Life and High School Football

Kerry Rhodes was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He started playing football when he was nine years old. In high school, he attended Jess Lanier High School in Bessemer, Alabama. He was a starting quarterback for his team. He was also an excellent student.

During his junior year in 1998, he threw for over 1,500 yards. He also scored 15 touchdowns. He ran for 500 yards and three more touchdowns. His leadership helped Lanier High School achieve a 10–2 record. In his senior year, Rhodes threw for over 1,600 yards. He also ran for another 850 yards. He was named Metro Player of the Year. He also earned first-team All-state honors in basketball. He led his basketball team to the 6A state championship game.

College Football Career

In 2000, Rhodes joined the Louisville team. He started as a quarterback. However, he later switched to playing safety. In his first season at Louisville, he made 9 tackles. He also had three pass breakups and one interception.

In 2002, he played as a reserve player. He recorded 18 tackles and forced a fumble. He also had two pass deflections and blocked a kick. He made one interception that season. In 2003, Rhodes became the starting free safety. He achieved career highs with 82 tackles and one sack. He also made three tackles for losses. He finished his college career in 2004. He had 167 tackles and an 18 pass deflections. He also made 11 interceptions. He was named first-team All-Conference USA that year.

Professional Football Journey

Playing for the New York Jets

The New York Jets chose Kerry Rhodes in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He was the 123rd player picked overall. In his first year, he earned the starting job at strong safety. He played in all 16 games during the 2005 season. Rhodes finished his rookie year with 108 total tackles. He also had one sack, one interception, and one forced fumble.

In 2006, Rhodes made a key play against the Buffalo Bills. He stripped the ball from their quarterback, J. P. Losman. This allowed his teammate, Shaun Ellis, to score a touchdown. This play helped the Jets win 28–20. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. Later that season, he intercepted passes from Detroit Lions quarterback Jon Kitna and Houston Texans quarterback David Carr. After the 2006 season, Rhodes was named to the All-Pro team.

In April 2008, Rhodes signed a new contract with the Jets. It was a five-year deal.

Time with the Arizona Cardinals

On March 6, 2010, Rhodes was traded to the Arizona Cardinals. The Jets received draft picks in return. Rhodes played in all 16 regular season games for the Cardinals in the 2010-2011 season. He recorded 90 tackles and one sack. He also had 4 interceptions and 4 fumble recoveries. He even scored two defensive touchdowns. In December 2010, he received the Lloyd Herberg MVP award. This award was given by the Arizona chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association.

In 2011, Rhodes was honored by the Kentucky chapter of the National Football League Players Association Hall of Fame. He was inducted alongside other great players. He finished his 2012 season with 58 tackles. He also had four interceptions and two forced fumbles. He was considered one of the top safeties in the league by Pro Football Focus.

The Cardinals released Rhodes on March 13, 2013. He decided to pursue other interests, including acting and producing.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Performance

Playoff Performance

Personal Life

In 2016, it was announced that Kerry Rhodes was engaged to Australian actress Nicky Whelan. They were married in Los Angeles on April 15, 2017. News sources reported in October 2017 that their marriage ended.