Eddie Kennison

Eddie Kennison

No. --     Free Agent
Wide receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: January 20, 1973 (1973-01-20) (age 36)
Place of birth: Lake Charles, Louisiana
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	Weight: 201 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College: Louisiana State
NFL Draft: 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18
Debuted in 1996 for the St. Louis Rams
Career history
As player: St. Louis Rams (1996-1998) New Orleans Saints (1999) Chicago Bears (2000) Denver Broncos (2001) Kansas City Chiefs (2001-2007) St. Louis Rams (2008)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
N/A
Stats at NFL.com

Edward Joseph Kennison, III (born January 20, 1973 in Lake Charles, Louisiana) is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Rams 18th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State.

Kennison has also played for the New Orleans Saints, the Chicago Bears, the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs between stints with the Rams.

Early years

Eddie Kennison attended Washington-Marion High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and was a star in both football 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 touchdowns. For his efforts, he was the first person in his school's history to have his number retired.

College career

Kennison was also a noted sprinter in college, where he was a six-time All-America selection. He led the 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.

Professional career

First stint with Rams

Kennison was selected 18th overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 1996 NFL Draft, a draft which was remarkably deep in wide receivers. 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. His 1997 and 1998 seasons with the Rams were far less productive, as he battled nagging injuries in a lacklustre Rams offense.

New Orleans Saints

In 1999, he moved on to the New Orleans Saints, where he would lead the team in receptions and yards. This Saints team was notable for using four different starting quarterbacks over the course of the year as they struggled to a 3-13 record.

Chicago Bears

In 2000, Kennison would move on to the Chicago Bears, where 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.

Denver Broncos

In 2001, Kennison signed 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.

Kansas City Chiefs

Kennison unexpectedly resurfaced less than a month later, signing with the Broncos' arch-rival Kansas City Chiefs on December 3, 2001, to the outrage of Broncos coach Mike Shanahan^[1]. Kennison would lead the Chiefs in receiving his first game as a starter.

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.

Second stint with Rams

Kennison was re-signed by the Rams on September 9, 2008.^[2] The team released rookie linebacker 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.^[3] He was released again on October 22.

Career statistics

External links

• Eddie Kennison Foundation
• St. Louis Rams bio

References