Kennedy Enshrined into NFL Hall of Fame
Hallof Fame Enshrinement Video
CANTON, Ohio – Former University of MiamiAll-American Cortez Kennedy was officially enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. The induction ceremony was broadcaston both ESPN and the NFL Network.
Thedefensive tackle is the fifth Hurricane to earn the honor, joining Jim Otto(1980), Ted Hendricks (1990), Jim Kelly (2002) and Michael Irvin (2007) inCanton.
Kennedyregistered 58 sacks and scored one touchdown on a fumble recovery in his11-season career with the Seattle Seahawks. The No. 3 overall pick in the1990 NFL Draft, Kennedy had a streak of 116 games played, earned selection toeight Pro Bowls (1992-97, 1999, 2000) and missed just nine games out of apossible 176 in his career.
As a senior defensive tackle in 1989, he emerged as a dominant force on what manyconsidered to be the nation’s top defensive line unit. Kennedy startedall 12 games and his tenacious defense helped lead UM to a 11-1 season, avictory in the Sugar Bowl over Alabama and the 1989 National Championship. Heearned second team AP All-American honors.
Below is a full biofrom the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
CORTEZ KENNEDY BIO
Defensive Tackle … 6-3, 298 … Northwest Mississippi Community College;Miami (FL) … 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks … 11 playing seasons, 167 games …Seahawks 1st round draft pick (3rd player overall), 1990 NFL Draft … FirstTeam All-America choice at Miami in 1989 … Extremely durable, played in 167of possible 176 games … Injury ended streak of 116 straight games played andclub record 100 consecutive games started … Named first-team All-Rookie byPFWA … Voted to a team-record eight Pro Bowls (1992-97, 1999, 2000) … Namedfirst-team (1992, 1993, 1994) or second-team (1991, 1996) All-Pro five times… Named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 while playing for a 2-14team … That season led all interior linemen with 14 sacks and career best 92tackles; had four forced fumbles; recovered fumble and batted down two passes… Recorded one of finest seasons in 1999 recording 73 tackles, 6.5 sacks,intercepting two passes, helping Seahawks reach playoffs for first time since1988 … In all, registered 58 sacks, intercepted three passes and scored onetouchdown on fumble recovery during career … He twice led the team in sacks(1992 and 1995) … Born August 23, 1968 in Osceola, Arkansas.
