Kinnon Tatum facts for kids

Kinnon Ray Tatum II was born on July 19, 1975. He is a former professional football player from the United States. Kinnon played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was part of the Carolina Panthers for two seasons. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kinnon Tatum's Early Life and High School Football

Kinnon Tatum grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He went to Douglas Byrd High School there. During his time in high school, Kinnon was a talented football player. He worked hard and showed great skill on the field.

College Football Career at Notre Dame

After high school, Kinnon Tatum went on to play college football at the University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame is famous for its strong football program. Playing for the Fighting Irish helped Kinnon improve his skills even more. He became a key player for his college team.

Playing in the National Football League

Kinnon Tatum was chosen by the Carolina Panthers in the 1997 NFL draft. This was a big moment for him. The NFL draft is where professional teams pick new players from colleges. Kinnon was picked in the third round, which shows he was a highly rated player.

He played as a linebacker for the Panthers. A linebacker is a very important position in football. They help stop the other team from scoring. They also try to tackle players and recover the ball. Kinnon played for the Panthers from 1997 to 1999.

After his time with the Panthers, Kinnon Tatum also joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2000. He continued his professional football career there.