Eddie Kennison
Encyclopedia
Edward Joseph "Eddie" Kennison, III (born January 20, 1973 in Lake Charles, Louisiana
) is a former American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League
. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams
18th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Louisiana State
.
Kennison also played for the New Orleans Saints
, the Chicago Bears
, the Denver Broncos
and the Kansas City Chiefs
between stints with the Rams.
and track. In football, as a senior, he was a Parade All-American despite playing only six games. He finished his senior year with 27 receptions
for 497 yards (18.4 yards per reception avg.). As a junior, he hauled in 59 receptions for 1,205 yards (an average of 20.4 yards per reception) and 23 touchdown
s. For his efforts, he was the first person in his school's history to have his number retired.
in college, where he was a six-time All-America
selection. He led the LSU Tigers
4x100-meter relay
team to the 1994 NCAA Outdoor Championship, and also qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and the 200 meters during his time at LSU.
in the 1996 NFL Draft
, a draft which was remarkably deep in wide receivers. On July 30, 1996, Kennison, signed a four-year, $6 million deal with a $2 million signing bonus. His first season
with the Rams was excellent, as he finished second to Terry Glenn
in yards and receptions for rookies, and led the rookie wide receiver class in touchdowns. It was noted regularly at the time that Kennison and Glenn had outproduced number one overall pick Keyshawn Johnson
. He also was selected as an alternated to the Pro Bowl. His 1997
and 1998
seasons with the Rams were far less productive, as he battled nagging injuries in a lackluster Rams offense.
for a second-round draft pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Saints coach Mike Ditka said, "Our goal as coaches is to get Eddie back to the form he displayed as a rookie". In 1999
he led the team in receptions and yards. This Saints team was notable for using four different starting
quarterback
s over the course of the year as they struggled to a 3–13 record.
for a fifth-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. "(Kennison) gives us another speed guy, and that's something you can't have enough of", his new coach said. With the Bears he continued a pattern of unspectacular but reliable production. He finished second on the team to Marcus Robinson in receiving yards, and tied Robinson for the team lead in receptions. His salary for the 2000 season was $1.02 million.
, Kennison signed a two-year, $1.8 million deal that includes a $500,000 signing bonus with the Denver Broncos
. He earned a starting role out of training camp, but after eight unproductive games, Kennison requested to be released from the team only a few hours before a game in which he was scheduled to start. He stated at the time he had "lost his love for the game", and as a result Kennison retired and was released on November 15, 2001. The loss of Kennison, along with a severe injury to Ed McCaffrey
decimated a once dominant Broncos corps of wide receivers.
on December 3, 2001, to the outrage of Broncos coach Mike Shanahan
. Kennison's new contract was for two-years and $4.5 million witn $3.2 guaranteed. Kennison would lead the Chiefs in receiving his first game as a starter.
On January 3, 2003, Kennison signed six-year $9 million contract extension with the Chiefs.
As a member of the Chiefs, from 2002
to 2006
Kennison was one of the most productive receivers in the NFL. Kennison averaged 59 receptions, 961 yards, and 5 touchdown catches during this span. This production has put Kennison in the Chiefs' top 10 in every major receiving category.
In 2007
, Kennison sustained a severe hamstring
injury on the first play of the regular season, and did not play much after the injury. He was released the following offseason on February 26, 2008.
David Vobora
to make room for Kennison.
Kennison was released by the Rams on October 7, then re-signed just hours later after it was learned Rams wide receiver
Dane Looker
was not yet cleared to play after suffering a concussion. He was released again on October 22.
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
18th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft
1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Louisiana State
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
.
Kennison also played for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
between stints with the Rams.
Early years
Kennison attended Washington-Marion High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and was a star in both footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and track. In football, as a senior, he was a Parade All-American despite playing only six games. He finished his senior year with 27 receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
for 497 yards (18.4 yards per reception avg.). As a junior, he hauled in 59 receptions for 1,205 yards (an average of 20.4 yards per reception) and 23 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. For his efforts, he was the first person in his school's history to have his number retired.
College career
Kennison was a noted sprinterSprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
in college, where he was a six-time All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
selection. He led the LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers are the athletic teams of Louisiana State University. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Southeastern Conference. It fields teams in 14 varsity sports . Its official team nickname is the Fighting Tigers and the school mascot is Mike the Tiger...
4x100-meter relay
4 x 100 metres relay
The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...
team to the 1994 NCAA Outdoor Championship, and also qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and the 200 meters during his time at LSU.
Pre-draft
At his LSU Pro Day Kennison ran the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds and 4.32 seconds. He scored a 12 on the wonderlic test at the 1996 NFL Combine and measured 6-0½ and weighed 191 pounds.First stint with Rams
Kennison was selected 18th overall by the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in the 1996 NFL Draft
1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
, a draft which was remarkably deep in wide receivers. On July 30, 1996, Kennison, signed a four-year, $6 million deal with a $2 million signing bonus. His first season
1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
with the Rams was excellent, as he finished second to Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
in yards and receptions for rookies, and led the rookie wide receiver class in touchdowns. It was noted regularly at the time that Kennison and Glenn had outproduced number one overall pick Keyshawn Johnson
Keyshawn Johnson
Joseph Keyshawn Johnson is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN. He retired from football on May 23, 2007 after an eleven-year career in the National Football League...
. He also was selected as an alternated to the Pro Bowl. His 1997
1997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...
and 1998
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
seasons with the Rams were far less productive, as he battled nagging injuries in a lackluster Rams offense.
New Orleans Saints
Ob February 18, 1999, Kennsion was traded to the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
for a second-round draft pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Saints coach Mike Ditka said, "Our goal as coaches is to get Eddie back to the form he displayed as a rookie". In 1999
1999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
he led the team in receptions and yards. This Saints team was notable for using four different starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
s over the course of the year as they struggled to a 3–13 record.
Chicago Bears
On February 22, 2000, the Saints traded Kennison to the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for a fifth-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. "(Kennison) gives us another speed guy, and that's something you can't have enough of", his new coach said. With the Bears he continued a pattern of unspectacular but reliable production. He finished second on the team to Marcus Robinson in receiving yards, and tied Robinson for the team lead in receptions. His salary for the 2000 season was $1.02 million.
Denver Broncos
On April 5, 20012001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
, Kennison signed a two-year, $1.8 million deal that includes a $500,000 signing bonus with the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He earned a starting role out of training camp, but after eight unproductive games, Kennison requested to be released from the team only a few hours before a game in which he was scheduled to start. He stated at the time he had "lost his love for the game", and as a result Kennison retired and was released on November 15, 2001. The loss of Kennison, along with a severe injury to Ed McCaffrey
Ed McCaffrey
Edward Thomas McCaffrey is a former American football wide receiver who played for the New York Giants , San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos of the National Football League...
decimated a once dominant Broncos corps of wide receivers.
Kansas City Chiefs
Kennison unexpectedly resurfaced less than a month later, signing with the Broncos' arch-rival Kansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
on December 3, 2001, to the outrage of Broncos coach Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan
Michael Edward "Mike" Shanahan is the 28th and current head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Shanahan also holds the title of Vice President of Football Operations with the Redskins, giving him full control over player personnel with the team. Shanahan previously...
. Kennison's new contract was for two-years and $4.5 million witn $3.2 guaranteed. Kennison would lead the Chiefs in receiving his first game as a starter.
On January 3, 2003, Kennison signed six-year $9 million contract extension with the Chiefs.
As a member of the Chiefs, from 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
to 2006
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
Kennison was one of the most productive receivers in the NFL. Kennison averaged 59 receptions, 961 yards, and 5 touchdown catches during this span. This production has put Kennison in the Chiefs' top 10 in every major receiving category.
In 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
, Kennison sustained a severe hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury on the first play of the regular season, and did not play much after the injury. He was released the following offseason on February 26, 2008.
Second stint with Rams
Kennison was re-signed by the Rams on September 9, 2008. The team released rookie linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
David Vobora
David Vobora
David Vobora is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the final pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, earning him the title of Mr. Irrelevant...
to make room for Kennison.
Kennison was released by the Rams on October 7, then re-signed just hours later after it was learned Rams wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Dane Looker
Dane Looker
Dane Alan Looker is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2000...
was not yet cleared to play after suffering a concussion. He was released again on October 22.
Retirement
Kennison signed a one-day ceremonial contract with the Chiefs on July 19, 2010 so he could retire as a member of the team.Career statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | Rec | Yards | AVG | TD | Lg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Stl | 15 | 14 | 54 | 924 | 17.1 | 9 | 77 |
| 1997 | Stl | 14 | 9 | 25 | 404 | 16.2 | 0 | 76 |
| 1998 | Stl | 16 | 13 | 17 | 234 | 13.8 | 1 | 45 |
| 1999 | NO | 16 | 16 | 61 | 835 | 13.7 | 4 | 90 |
| 2000 | Chi | 16 | 10 | 55 | 549 | 10.0 | 2 | 26 |
| 2001 | Den | 8 | 8 | 15 | 169 | 11.3 | 1 | 65 |
| 2001 | KC | 5 | 5 | 16 | 322 | 20.1 | 0 | 65 |
| 2002 | KC | 16 | 14 | 53 | 906 | 17.1 | 2 | 64 |
| 2003 | KC | 16 | 16 | 56 | 853 | 15.2 | 5 | 51 |
| 2004 | KC | 14 | 14 | 62 | 1,086 | 17.5 | 8 | 70 |
| 2005 | KC | 16 | 16 | 68 | 1,102 | 16.2 | 5 | 55 |
| 2006 | KC | 16 | 16 | 53 | 860 | 16.2 | 5 | 51 |
| 2007 | KC | 8 | 8 | 13 | 101 | 7.8 | 0 | 18 | 2008 | StL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 179 | 154 | 548 | 8,345 | 15.2 | 42 | 90 |