Cortez Kennedy

Cortez C. Kennedy (August 23, 1968 May 23, 2017) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for his entire 11-season career with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. He redefined and expanded the possibilities of how a large-bodied interior lineman could be used. In 1992, he won the Defensive Player of the Year award despite his team finishing 2–14.

Kennedy played collegiate football for the Miami Hurricanes at the University of Miami.

Early life and college Kennedy was born in Osceola, Arkansas, but grew up in the nearby town of Wilson. He graduated from Rivercrest High School in Wilson, and attended Northwest Mississippi Community College before being awarded a football scholarship to the University of Miami, where he was named an All-American in 1989.

Kennedy was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Professional career

He was the third overall selection in the first round of the 1990 NFL draft by the Seahawks. He was unsigned until two days before the beginning of the season. Kennedy was named to the Pro Bowl in 1991. In 1992, having recorded 14 quarterback sacks, he received the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press despite the Seahawks' 2–14 record. He switched his jersey number to 99 that season in honor of close friend Jerome Brown, and was named First- or Second-team All-Pro five times.

Kennedy retired after the 2000 season. In 167 games with Seattle, he recorded 668 tackles, 58 sacks, and three interceptions. He announced his retirement in August 2002 after sitting out the 2001 season. He was given several offers by other teams, but wanted to finish his career in Seattle. He is generally considered one of the best defensive tackles to ever play the position in the NFL. He was a semi-finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, as well as a finalist in 2009 and 2011, eventually being elected to the Hall as a member of the 2012 induction class. Kennedy later moved to Arkansas and Orlando, Florida, where he raised his daughter Courtney and focused on her education.

In 2006, Kennedy was inducted into the Seahawks' Ring of Honor. His jersey number, 96, was retired by the Seahawks during a game against the New England Patriots on October 14, 2012.

In 2007, Kennedy was named the best athlete ever to wear the number 96 by SI.com.

NFL career statistics Legend NFL Defensive Player of the Year BoldCareer high

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sck Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF FR Yds 1990 SEA 16 2 48 48 0 1.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1991 SEA 16 16 73 73 0 6.5 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 1 01992 SEA 16 16 92 92 0 14.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 4 1 19 1993 SEA 16 16 77 77 0 6.5 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1994 SEA 16 16 70 54 16 4.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1995 SEA 16 16 53 40 13 6.5 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1996 SEA 16 16 67 48 19 8.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1997 SEA 8 8 18 10 8 2.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1998 SEA 15 15 42 29 13 2.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 39 1999 SEA 16 16 74 61 13 6.5 2 12 2.0 7 0 0 2 0 0 2000 SEA 16 16 50 32 18 1.0 1 14 14.0 14 0 0 0 0 0 Career 167 153 668 568 100 58.0 3 26 8.7 14 0 0 11 6 58

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Personal life After retirement, he worked as a consultant for the New Orleans Saints and as an ambassador for the Seahawks. He has a daughter named Courtney.

Death Kennedy died on May 23, 2017, in Orlando, Florida. He was 48 years old. According to police, Kennedy was alone when he died. In the days leading up to his death, Kennedy had experienced symptoms of heart failure, including swollen legs and dizziness, which led to his hospitalization. Following his death, Wilson, Arkansas named a stretch of U.S. Highway 61 in his honor.