Maurice Kelly (gridiron football) facts for kids

Maurice Kelly (born October 9, 1972) is a former American football player. He was a defensive back, which is a player who tries to stop the other team from catching passes and scoring. Maurice played in both the National Football League (NFL) in the United States and the Canadian Football League (CFL) in Canada.

He played college football at East Tennessee State University. During his professional career, he was a member of several teams, including the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL. In the CFL, he played for the Las Vegas Posse, Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Maurice Kelly's Early Life and College Years

Maurice Kelly was born on October 9, 1972, in Orangeburg, South Carolina. He went to Orangeburg-Wilkinson Senior High School in his hometown.

After high school, Kelly played college football for the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. He was a key player for them from 1990 to 1993.

Maurice Kelly's Professional Football Career

After college, Maurice Kelly began his professional football journey in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Playing for the Las Vegas Posse

In 1994, Kelly joined the Las Vegas Posse. He played in all 18 games that season. He made 83 tackles, which means he stopped the opposing players with the ball many times. He also caught four interceptions, taking the ball away from the other team. The Posse team finished the year with 5 wins and 13 losses. The team stopped playing after that season.

Time with the Toronto Argonauts

In 1995, Kelly was chosen by the Toronto Argonauts in a special draft. He played in 15 games for Toronto. He made 51 tackles and had one interception.

Joining the BC Lions

Kelly then became a free agent and signed with the BC Lions in 1996. He played in all 18 games for the Lions that year. He made 40 tackles and helped his team. In 1997, he played in all 18 games again. He had 68 tackles, three sacks (tackling the quarterback), and four interceptions. For his great performance in 1997, Kelly was named a CFL All-Star. This means he was one of the best players in the league.

Playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers

In 1998, Kelly signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He played in all 18 games for the third year in a row. He made 75 tackles and had five interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown! He was recognized as a CFLPA All-Star for his efforts. In 1999, he played in all 18 games again, making 87 tackles and five sacks. He was again named a CFL All-Star for his excellent play.

Time in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks

After his time in the CFL, Maurice Kelly signed with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL) in 2000. He played in all 16 games during his first NFL season. He made 13 tackles for the Seahawks. In 2001, he played in eight games before getting injured. He made 32 tackles that season. He left the Seahawks in 2002.

Returning to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Kelly returned to the Blue Bombers in 2003. He played in 17 games and started 14 of them. He made 58 tackles and had one interception. In 2004, which was his final CFL season, he started all 18 games. He made 64 tackles and had another interception. The Blue Bombers finished the 2004 season with 7 wins and 11 losses.

Maurice Kelly's Career After Playing Football

After retiring from playing football in May 2005, Maurice Kelly began a new career with the Seattle Seahawks. He became the director of player development. In this role, he helped players grow and succeed both on and off the field.

He continued to work for the Seahawks for many years. From 2005 to 2011, he was the director of player development. From 2012 to 2015, he was the senior director of player development. Then, from 2016 to 2022, he served as the vice president of player engagement. In 2023, he was promoted to vice president of player affairs. He continues to help players in his important role with the Seahawks.