Jimmy Kennedy life and biography

Jimmy Wayne Kennedy is an American football defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.

• Former 1st-round draft pick (#12) by St. Louis in 2003.
• Standout Penn State star was named Defensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten as a senior.

OFF THE FIELD
Holds degree in rehabilitation services education....Known by his nickname, Griz…Teammates in Chicago with Vikings WR Bernard Berrian...Active during his NFL career with adoption charities....Has donated to Beyond the Burroughs, a scholarship program for New York City students...Works with Youth Lifeline Football camp...Owns real estate company that creates affordable home-ownership opportunities through redevelopment and new home construction...Aspires to attend law school.

PRO
Enjoyed productive 2009 season with 4.0 sacks including playoffs...Former 1st-round pick gives Vikings depth behind Pro Bowlers Pat Williams and Kevin Williams...Originally the #12 overall pick in the 2003 Draft by St. Louis...Explored free agency following 2009 season but returned to the Vikings…Spent opening 4 seasons of his NFL career with St. Louis before going to Denver in trade on 6/8/07...Released by Broncos on 9/1/07 following 2007 training camp and signed with Chicago for the final 3 games of season, joining team on 12/11/07…Joined Jacksonville as a free agent on 3/5/08…Released by Jaguars in the week following the Vikings-Jags game on 11/23....Signed by Vikings on 12/3/08 in week leading to game at Detroit.

2009
Tied career-best with 3.0 sacks during regular season and added a sack in the playoffs...Had most productive season since 2006 despite playing in only 13 games with 1 start...Had career-high 9 tackles in lone start of the season at Chicago (12/28)...Posted 3.0 sacks in the opening 5 games he played in the season...Registered 1st playoff sack since 2004 when he caught Tony Romo vs. Dallas (1/17/10) in the NFC Divisional Round, part of a Vikings defensive effort that set a team playoff record with 6.0 sacks on the day...Helped Vikings rank #6 in the NFL in total defense for the 2nd straight season and rank #2 in the NFL in rushing defense.

2008
Played in final 2 regular season games and the Wild Card playoff game for the Vikings, factoring into the defensive line rotation heavily after Pat Williams injury sidelined him for the final 3 weeks of the season…Signed by Vikings on 12/3 after his release by Jacksonville…Played in 6 games for the Jaguars before his release…Notched 1.0 sack, 8 tackles and 7 QB hurries during his 6 contests…Played in Jacksonville under former Vikings Pro Bowl LB and Jags head coach Jack Del Rio.

2007
Played in 3 games for Chicago at the end of the season after signing as a free agent on 12/11/07...Acquired by Denver in trade with St. Louis on 6/8/07 but released following training camp.

2006
Started all 16 games at NT for the Rams…Notched lone sack of the season in the regular-season finale at Minnesota (12/31) when he caught Tarvaris Jackson…Posted career-best 55 tackles on the season.

2005
Started 9 of 15 games he played for the Rams and posted career-best 3.0 sacks on the season…Started opening 9 games of the season…Had career-high 2.0 sacks at Arizona (9/18) against Kurt Warner…Had a sack and 6 tackles vs. New Orleans (10/23).

2004
Rebounded from foot injury to come on as a full-time starter late in the season…Inactive for opening 7 games of season…Helped Rams advance to Divisional Round of NFC Playoffs, starting the Wild Card game and Divisional game…Started 1st career game vs. San Francisco (12/5) and had 6 tackles.

2003
Selected with 12th overall pick in the Draft by Rams...Played in 13 games as a rookie…Saw action in 1st game at Seattle (9/21) where he played special teams…Blocked a Todd Peterson PAT try at San Francisco (11/2)…Had season-high 5 tackles vs. Baltimore (11/9).

COLLEGE
Tabbed as an All-America by Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News and was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year…All-Big Ten 1st-Team honoree as a senior and Honorable Mention as a junior.

Attended Roosevelt High in Yonkers, NY…Earned High School Heisman presented by the Downtown Athletic Club…Was part of 12-0 state championship team as a junior.

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