Kris Jenkins facts for kids
Jenkins with the New York Jets in 2009
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| No. 77 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | August 3, 1979 Ypsilanti, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 360 lb (163 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Belleville (Belleville, Michigan) | ||||||||
| College: | Maryland | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2001 / Round: 2 / Pick: 44 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Kristopher Rudy-Charles Jenkins (born August 3, 1979) is a former American football player. He played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Kris played for the Carolina Panthers and the New York Jets.
He was a very talented player, chosen as an All-Pro twice and picked for the Pro Bowl four times. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Maryland Terrapins.
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College Football Career
Kris Jenkins played college football at the University of Maryland. He started 27 games out of 41 he played. In his final year, he was named to the second-team All-ACC. During his college career, he made 9.5 sacks and 154 tackles.
Playing in the NFL
Starting with the Panthers
Kris Jenkins was chosen by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft. This is where teams pick new players from college.
In 2002, he had a great season with 60 tackles and 7 sacks. He was even chosen as an alternate for the NFC's Pro Bowl team. The next year, he helped the Panthers reach Super Bowl XXXVIII, which is the NFL's championship game.
During a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kris made two amazing blocks. He blocked a field goal attempt and an extra point attempt. The extra point block was very special because it sent the game into overtime, and the Panthers later won! Because of his excellent play, Kris was chosen to start in the Pro Bowl that year.
Unfortunately, Kris faced some injuries. In 2004, he hurt his shoulder and had to miss part of the season. In 2005, he tore a ligament in his knee, which also kept him from playing.
Moving to the Jets
On February 29, 2008, the Carolina Panthers traded Kris Jenkins to the New York Jets. This meant he moved to a new team. In his first season with the Jets, Kris played incredibly well. Many people thought he might win the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award.
However, injuries continued to affect his career. In October 2009, he tore a ligament in his left knee again and missed the rest of that season. Then, in September 2010, during the first game of the season, he twisted his leg and tore the same knee ligament for a third time. This injury ended his 2010 season.
The Jets released Kris Jenkins on February 28, 2011.
Retiring from Football
Kris Jenkins announced that he was retiring from professional football on July 20, 2011.
Life After Football
After retiring from playing, Kris Jenkins joined SNY as a football analyst. This means he talks about football games and players on TV shows. He appeared on shows like pre-game and post-game programs for the New York Jets.
Kris also comes from a family of football players. His older brother, Cullen Jenkins, was also a defensive end in the NFL. Kris's son, Kris Jenkins Jr., also became a talented football player. Kris Jr. was an All-American at the University of Michigan and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.
