Vince Kendrick facts for kids

Vincent Kendrick (born March 18, 1952 – died March 21, 2015) was an American football player. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Vince played for two seasons in the 1970s.

Kendrick played college football for the University of Florida. After college, he joined the NFL. He played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Vince Kendrick's Early Life

Vince Kendrick was born in Miami, Florida in 1952. His parents were Green Lester and Pearlie Mae Kendrick. He grew up in Miami Springs, Florida.

He went to Miami Springs High School. There, he played high school football. He was a player for the Miami Springs Golden Hawks team.

College Football Days

Vince Kendrick earned a sports scholarship. He went to the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He played for the Florida Gators football team. His coach was Doug Dickey.

Vince played for the Gators from 1971 to 1973. In 1973, he was a senior team captain. He ran for 567 yards and scored five touchdowns. He had 1,269 total yards in his college career. Vince often blocked for another player, Nat Moore.

He earned a bachelor's degree in broadcasting. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1980.

Playing in the NFL

The Atlanta Falcons chose Vince Kendrick in the 1974 NFL Draft. He was the 96th player picked overall. He played for the Falcons in 1974. He was mostly a backup player. He also played on special teams.

In 1975, he missed the season. He hurt his knee in a game before the season started. This was against the New York Jets. Many Falcons players were injured that year.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers then picked him. This was in the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft. An expansion team is a brand new team joining the league. In Tampa Bay, he competed for the fullback position. He was up against Jimmy DuBose. DuBose had also played for the Florida Gators.

Vince scored the Buccaneers' first-ever touchdown. This was in a practice game against the Falcons. But he could not get back to his old form after his injury. He was released after the first game of the season. This game was against the Houston Oilers.

Life After Football

After playing in the NFL, Vince Kendrick went back to Gainesville. He first worked as a graduate assistant. This was for Florida Gators head coach Doug Dickey. Later, he became an assistant coach. He worked with the running backs for coach Charley Pell.

After a personal loss, Vince and his young son Vinnie lived in the football dormitory for a short time. Vince stopped coaching after the 1983 season. He later married his second wife, Altermease Kendrick. She owns a company called My Choice Community Development, Inc.

Vince worked as the community service director. This was for the city of Deerfield Beach, Florida. He also volunteered his time and skills. He helped his wife start a new school. It is called My Choice Academy in Lake Park, Florida.

Vince and Altermease had four children together. Their names are Robert Sr., Paula (who passed away in 2014), Vinnie, and Alexis. They also had seven grandchildren. Their names are Brittany, Robert Jr., Devin, JeMiah, Jocelyn, Naima, and Caleb. Naima spent a lot of time with him. He loved her and supported her. He was like a second dad to her.

Vince Kendrick passed away on March 21, 2015. He died from cancer.

See also

• Florida Gators football, 1970–79
• List of Florida Gators in the NFL Draft
• List of University of Florida alumni