Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
In memory
Kennedy obituary,
Cortez Kennedy, a former University of Miami and Seattle Seahawks star defensive tackle, was found dead in Orlando Tuesday. He was 48.
“There is nothing suspicious to report, but we are conducting an investigation regarding his unattended passing,” an Orlando Police Department spokeswoman said.
The Arkansas native known as Tez was part of the 1989 Miami national title team and earned AllAmerica honors the same season.
The junior college transfer only spent two seasons with the Hurricanes, but he made a significant impact and was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Kennedy was as an imposing lineman with freakish athletic ability despite tipping the scales at 300 pounds.
He also was eager to make his teammates laugh and welcomed everyone from equipment managers to veteran teammates to his Seattle area home once he made it to the NFL.
Current UM coach and former Hurricanes quarterback Mark Richt posted on Twitter Tuesday, “So sorry to hear about my fellow football alum Cortez Kennedy. My prayers to his family. U Family!”
Former Miami coach Jimmy Johnson added on his Twitter account, “Shocked at Cortez Kennedy passing..1 of the most talented players I ever recruited or coached...a fun loving person a sad day.”
The tributes continued online mourning an elite defensive playmaker who made many friends throughout the NFL.
Former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, a Boynton Beach native and UM standout, was among those who lauded Kennedy’s commitment to helping younger players.
Wilfork, who played for the New England Patriots and Houston Texans before retiring in 2016, posted on Twitter, “This is one of my saddest days in my life to hear this news about Cortez Kennedy. He was my mentor and close friend and today is a struggle.”
Seattle selected Kennedy with the third overall pick in the first round of the 1990 NFL draft. He made eight Pro Bowl appearances and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 despite playing for a 2-14 team.
“That was a tough year,” Kennedy said of the twowin 1992 season during his 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech, according to Seahawks.com. “I felt so bad for Coach [Tom] Flores being the head coach, because we had zero offense. [Our] defense was top 10 in the country. That's bad when you go to the game and the defensive coordinator says, guys, ‘we're not going to win the game. Let's don't embarrass ourselves.’ You know we're in for a long year then.”
Kennedy wrapped his NFL career with 668 tackles, 58 sacks and three interceptions. The Seahawks retired his No. 96 jersey and inducted him into the team’s ring of honor.
Kennedy formally announced his retirement in 2002.
He sat out the 2001 season and declined to play for other teams, saying he wanted to stick with Seattle. When he couldn’t reach an agreement to keep playing for the Seahawks, he opted to end his playing career.
After retirement, Kennedy often mentored players at Seattle training camps and worked as an adviser for the New Orleans Saints.