Kareem McKenzie life and biography

* Originally a 3rd round (79th pick overall) draft choice by the Jets in 2001…Signed by the Giants as an unrestricted free agent on March 4, 2005.

GIANTS NOTES

* McKenzie has blocked for 4 NFL running backs who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season – Curtis Martin with the Jets and Tiki Barber, Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward with the Giants.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

* Has played in 129 career regular season games with 121 starts and started all 11 postseason games in which he's played…Started every game in which he has played the previous 8 seasons…Has played every game in a season 5 times…In his 1st 5 seasons with the Giants, McKenzie started all 73 regular season games and 7 postseason games in which he played at right tackle.
* In 2009, McKenzie started all 12 games in which he played at right tackle…Inactive vs. Arizona (10/25) due to groin injury. When McKenzie was unable to play vs. the Cardinals, the Giants had a different starter on the offensive line for the first time in a regular season game since the 2006 finale. McKenzie, Chris Snee, Shaun O'Hara, Rich Seubert and David Diehl had started 38 consecutive regular season games together, the longest streak by five offensive linemen since the 1970 merger. The previous mark was 32 games by the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line in 2002-03…Suffered a sprained MCL in the 2nd quarter vs. Philadelphia (12/13). Did not return and was inactive for the final 3 games… Run and pass blocking helped the Giants average 366.0 yards a game, the NFL's 8th-highest figure…Line allowed only 32 sacks, tied for 7th-best in the league.
* In 2008, McKenzie started all 16 regular season games and the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at right tackle. The Giants were the only team to start the same 5 linemen in all 32 regular season games in 2007-08.
* McKenzie was an integral part of an offense that helped the Giants finish with 427 points and 338 first downs, both the 2nd-highest totals in franchise history. The Giants gained 5,695 yards, the 3rd-highest total in their history. The line's blocking enabled the Giants to lead the NFL and set franchise records in both rushing yards per game (157.4) and yards per carry (5.0). With McKenzie and the line opening holes, Brandon Jacobs (1,089) and Derrick Ward (1,025) became the 4th pair of running back teammates to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.
* With the line opening holes, the Giants rushed for 301 yards in a victory over Carolina (12/21) that clinched the top seed in the NFC playoffs. It was the 5th-highest total in Giants history.
* McKenzie and the line allowed just 2 sacks in a 5-game period from Sept. 21-Oct. 26.
* In 2007, started all 16 regular season games and all 4 of the Giants' postseason games at right tackle…Blocking by McKenzie and the O-line enabled the Giants to finish 4th in the NFL in rushing yardage with an average of 134.3 yards a game. In their 4-game postseason surge that culminated in a Super Bowl XLII victory, the Giants averaged 305.5 yards, including 103.8 on the ground.
* In 2006, started all 15 regular season games in which he played and the NFC Wild Card Game at right tackle…Was active but did not play vs. Houston (11/5) because of migraine headaches.
* The offensive line helped the Giants rush for 2,156 yards, the 7th-highest total in the NFL…The O-line cleared the holes for the Giants' 261-yard rushing attack at Washington (12/30), including a franchise-record 234 yards by Tiki Barber.
* In 2005, started all 14 regular season games in which he played and the NFC Wild Card Game at right tackle in his 1st season with the Giants…Was inactive for 2 games with a hamstring injury [vs. Kansas City (12/17) and at Washington (12/24)]…Offensive line provided enough run blocking for Barber to rush for a franchise-record 1,860 yards…The pass blocking enabled Eli Manning to throw for 3,762 yards, the 5th-highest total in franchise history…The O-line's outstanding run blocking enabled the Giants to rush for 262 yards vs. Washington (10/30).
* From 2002-04, started every game at right tackle for the Jets. In 2004, also started 2 postseason games and his blocking helped Curtis Martin lead the NFL in rushing with 1,697 yards…The line's blocking helped the Jets gain 396 yards, including 296 passing yards by Chad Pennington, in an AFC Wild Card victory at San Diego (1/8/05).
* In 2003, started all 16 games at right tackle and helped Martin rush for 1,308 yards.
* In 2002, started all 16 games of the regular season for the 1st time in his career, plus 2 postseason games, at right tackle…Was not flagged for a penalty all season.
* Made his 1st career start at right tackle in the season opener at Buffalo (9/8).
* In 2001, played in 8 games as an extra tight end in short-yardage.

COLLEGE

* Three-year starter who was only the 5th Nittany Lion to earn All-Big Ten Conference honors 3 times…As a senior in 2000, he was an All-Big Ten 2nd-team selection after starting 11 games at left tackle…Collected 54 knockdown blocks as the Lions averaged 325.7 yards per game.
* Was an All-Big Ten Conference 1st-team choice as a junior in 1999, when he was on the field for 908 plays and delivered 85 pancake blocks as the team generated 5,014 yards.
* In 1998, he was All-Big Ten 2nd team after starting the first 9 games at left guard before injuries hampered him late in the season.

OFF FIELD ACTIVITY

* Kareem hosts an annual football camp free of charge for kids in his hometown of Willingboro, N.J. The 3-day camp includes football instruction and a life skills session.
* Participated in the Shaun O'Hara Foundation Golf Outing, raising money for cystic fibrosis research.
* Participated in the Giants Foundation 2009 Golf Outing.
* Joined Eli Manning to attend The Baby Ball benefitting the Eli and Abby Manning Birthing Center at St. Vincent's Medical Center.
* Celebrated the holidays with kids from Athletes for Charity's mentoring program, and spoke to them about setting goals.
* Served as a guest speaker at the Jackson, N.J. Pop Warner Sports Banquet, congratulating the participants on a great season.
* Participated in Rich Seubert's Celebrity Trap Shoot in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, benefitting The Marshfield Clinic for Cardiac Research.
* Attended a fundraiser dinner hosted by Coach Peter Giunta for Holy Spirit School.
* Attended the Giants Kickoff Luncheon benefitting St. Vincent's Medical Center.

PERSONAL

* Despite playing only 2 years of football at Willingboro High School in New Jersey, he earned USA Today and Schutt All-America honors.
* Was rated the nation's best offensive lineman by SuperPrep.
* Added All-Burlington County and All-State accolades.
* Participated in the New Jersey North-South All-Star game and the All-American High School Bowl.
* Also competed in the discus and shot put on the track and field team, serving as a 2-year captain.

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