Kevin Boss

Kevin Michael Boss (born January 11, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Oregon Wolves and was selected in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft by the New York Giants. With the Giants, he won Super Bowl XLII over the New England Patriots.

Boss also played for the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs.

Early life Before enrolling at Western Oregon University, Boss played varsity level football at Philomath High School, becoming a stand-out tight end. In his junior year he was a second-team All-League choice as a tight end and defensive end and as a senior, he was an honorable mention All-State Class 3A choice and earned first-team All-ValCo League honors. For his accolades in football, he played in the Oregon Shrine East-West Football Game in Baker City.

Boss also took part in basketball, playing center. As a junior, Boss was awarded second-team All-League honors. Then as a senior, his team won the state title game (2002), picking up honorable mention All-State and All-League first-team accolades as well.

College career As a junior, Boss proved a multi-sport athlete for the Wolves, continuing his football and adding basketball to his regime. As a tight end, he started all team games, registering 39 receptions for 506 yards (13.0 average) and five touchdowns on the field earning first-team All-GNAC and All-Region accolades. On the basketball court he averaged 2.4 points and 2.0 rebounds a contest in 26 games.

In 2005, Boss finished second on the team with a career-high 53 receptions for 621 yards (11.7 average) and eight touchdowns. Boss made his first career catch on November 11, 2007, in a regular season game against the Dallas Cowboys that went for 18 yards. He soon took over for an injured Jeremy Shockey as the starting tight end and brought in nine passes and two touchdowns to end the regular season. In the Giants' first postseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Boss racked up two receptions for 14 yards in a 24–14 victory. Boss went on to gain two more receptions in the Divisional and Conference rounds of the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers respectively.

Boss and his team then went on to Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona, where they were matched up against the previously undefeated New England Patriots. Boss only caught one reception, but took his opportunity and sprinted for a 45-yard gain that would eventually set up a five-yard touchdown pass. It was the longest play from scrimmage in the game. The Giants would go on to defeat the Patriots 17–14.

Entering Giants mini-camp, Boss arrived weighing 272 pounds, a significant increase in weight compared to the previous year. Since Jeremy Shockey was traded to the Saints, he was the starting tight end. His first touchdown with the Raiders came on October 16, versus the Cleveland Browns, a 35-yard effort on faked field goal pass from Raiders punter Shane Lechler.

The Raiders released Boss on March 12, 2012.

Kansas City Chiefs Boss signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 15, 2012. Boss was expected to share the starting tight end role with Tony Moeaki. Boss caught his first catch and touchdown as a Chief in week 1 in the 2012 NFL season.

The Chiefs released Boss on February 19, 2013.

NFL career statistics Source:

Regular season Year Team GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 2007 NYG 13 2 9 118 13.1 23 2 2008 NYG 15 15 33 384 11.6 28 6 2009 NYG 15 15 42 567 13.5 35 5 2010 NYG 15 13 35 531 15.2 54 5 2011 OAK 14 11 28 368 13.1 35 3 2012 KC 2 2 3 65 21.7 29 1 Total 74 58 150 2,033 13.6 54 22

Postseason Year Team GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 2007 NYG 4 4 5 90 18.0 45 0 2008 NYG 1 1 3 52 17.3 25 0 Total 5 5 8 142 17.8 45 0

Personal life Boss is the son of Teresa and Bob Boss. He has an older brother, Terry, who played professional soccer for the Charlotte Eagles, the Puerto Rico Islanders, the New York Red Bulls and Seattle Sounders FC and made seven appearances for the Puerto Rican national team before retiring due to a history of concussions. Terry is currently the head men's soccer coach at Oregon State University in his hometown. Kevin Boss married his college sweetheart Breanna Ramsey on July 4, 2009, in McMinnville, Oregon.

Boss, who resides in Bend, Oregon during the offseason, graduated in December 2006 from Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon, with a degree in physical education.

Boss is the founder and owner of Boss Sports Performance, a sports training facility in Bend, OR. The facility trains athletes of all ages, from youth to professional athletes.