Jevon Kearse
Encyclopedia
Jevon Kearse nicknamed "The Freak," is a former American college and professional football
player who was a defensive end
in the National Football League
(NFL) for eleven seasons during the late 1990s and 2000s. Kearse played college football
for the University of Florida
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Tennessee Titans
and Philadelphia Eagles
of the NFL.
Kearse played for the Eagles for four seasons between stints with the Titans. During his first five seasons with the Titans, he was a three-time Pro Bowl
selection and AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1999. Both his unusual speed and 86 inches (218.4 cm) wingspan greatly impressed coaches and earned him the nickname "The Freak."
in 1976, the son of Joseph Kearse and Lessie Mae Kearse.
Kearse attended North Fort Myers High School
in North Fort Myers, and he played high school football
for the North Fort Myers Red Knights. He was over six feet tall and extremely agile, and added muscle without a loss of speed and agility. Kearse began attracting college recruiters under his coach Wade Hummel. He played strong safety and tight end
, and in his first season in high school, he returned four kicks for touchdown
s.
Following Kearse's senior
season in 1994, he was honored as a prep All-American by USA Today
. In addition to his demonstrated athletic ability on the playing field, he carried a 3.6 GPA and was a member in the National Honor Society
.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier
's Florida Gators football
team from 1995 to 1998. He began his college career at safety before shifting to outside linebacker in 1996.
The Gators coaches red-shirt
ed Kearse for the 1995 season, and he watched the Gators' run for the 1995 national championship from the sidelines, before they lost to Nebraska Cornhuskers
in the Fiesta Bowl
. Soon he was bestowed with his nickname, the "Freak", by Southeastern Conference
(SEC) opponents during the Gators' 1996
season. In his debut game against Southwest Louisiana, he accounted for six solo tackles and a sack. That year, the Florida Gators would go on to win the national title
, defeating Florida State University
52-20 in the 1997 Sugar Bowl
. For his on-field accomplishments Kearse would make the All-SEC Freshman team. He was unable to bask in the glory of his achievements for long, as he was forced to mourn his younger brother, Jermaine, who was killed in a drive-by-shooting after the season.
Kearse made the All-SEC team in 1997 for the first time by registering a team high 6.5 sacks during the regular season as well as 38 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. In his 1998 campaign, he once again led the team with 7.5 sacks and also improved his tackles tally to 54. Was named All-SEC again and earned the AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year that season, as well as making the list of several different All-American teams, and was a finalist for the Butkus Award, Lombardi Award
, and Chuck Bednarik college defensive player of the year award.
He opted to forgo his final season of eligibility, stating, "I think I've accomplished the four goals I wanted to when I attended the University of Florida: To become a better person, to win a national championship, to get an education and finally to have a chance to play in the NFL."
For his career Kearse racked up 34.5 tackles for loss, ranking 11th on UF's all-time list. Finished his career with 145 total tackles, 16.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 1 interception, 1 recovered fumble, and 19 pass deflections.
. Kearse lowered his 40-yard time to 4.43 at the University of Florida "pro day" in the spring of 1999.
In Kearse's debut game with the Titans, he helped them achieve a 36-35 win over the Cincinnati Bengals
. Steve McNair
had been injured, and with backup quarterback Neil O'Donnell
in his place, Kearse helped lead the Titans to win the next four out of five games. In the first month of his NFL career, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month.
For all but one month of the season, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month, and ended up becoming NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
with the help of his rookie record-breaking performance with 14.5 sacks (which led the AFC) that year and forced 8 fumbles, which also led the NFL. He also recorded 57 tackles and he batted away 9 passes while also making 7 of his tackles for losses. Accounted for 2 sacks (QB Rob Johnson) and 2 forced fumbles in the AFC Wild Card game vs. Buf. (1/8/00). Also credited with a safety in that game known as the Music City Miracle
. Kearse was also second in the balloting for the AP Defensive Player of the Year, losing out to Warren Sapp
. Kearse was a consensus All-Pro and was the first rookie defensive end in AFC history and the first rookie DE in the NFL since Detroit's Al "Bubba" Baker
in 1978 to be named a Pro Bowl starter.
The next season, Kearse accounted for fewer sacks (11.5) but stated that he was playing better than his rookie season. The Titans lost their Divisional playoff games to the Baltimore Ravens
who ended up winning the Super Bowl
that season. Kearse also lost the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award to Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. In addition, Kearse totaled 53 tackles (6 for losses), forced 4 fumbles, had 6 pass deflections, and was again voted to the Pro Bowl.
In 2001 Kearse moved from left defensive end to right defensive end as the Titans traded for Kevin Carter. Kearse responded well and recorded 10 sacks, forced 3 fumbles, batted 2 passes while recording 36 tackles. Kearse was voted to his third consecutive Pro Bowl with the Titans in 2001. In 2002, Kearse fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot on the second play from scrimmage against the Eagles in the season opener (9/8) and was inactive for the next 12 games. Due to the injury Kearse recorded only 2 sacks, playing in only four games (starting one).
The following season (2003) the Titans returned to the AFC championship game and Kearse recorded 9.5 sacks through the first nine games but was shut out the final seven games (he missed two due to a sprained ankle injury).
signed Kearse to a record-breaking deal for a defensive lineman at the time; in all, the eight-year contract would pay Kearse $65 million, with a $16 million signing bonus.
Kearse played well with the Eagles in 2004, but his tackle and sack totals were not as high as he had previously achieved in his career with the Titans. He was, however, still a defensive force, and figured into the game plans of opposing offenses. During 2004, Philadelphia finished the season with a 13-3 record and earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. After eliminating the Minnesota Vikings
and the Atlanta Falcons
, the Eagles lost Super Bowl XXXIX
24-21 to the New England Patriots
.
In 2005, Kearse had a solid year similar to the year before, yet his team fell to a 6-10 record. During the season, starters like Donovan McNabb
, Brian Westbrook
, Hank Fraley
, Tra Thomas, Lito Sheppard
, and others were out with injuries, and star wide receiver Terrell Owens
was banished from the team nine games into the season. Kearse recorded 7.5 sacks for the second season in a row (also leading the Eagles in sacks for the second straight season), but in 2005 he batted down 8 passes and forced 3 fumbles.
2006 would be a short season for Kearse who recorded 3.5 sacks in the first two games of the season before a severe knee injury. It was feared that he tore several ligaments in his knee, as well as dislocating his kneecap, tearing his knee capsule, straining his quadriceps tendon, and injuring his hamstring
, during an overtime game against the New York Giants
in week 2 of the NFL season. When he went into surgery, however, doctors were surprised to see that almost everything in his knee was intact, except for a tear to the lateral meniscus
cartilage
and a fracture to his tibia
. The injury was downgraded from possibly career-ending to just a 12-week recovery.
In June, 2007, Kearse appeared to weigh around 230 lbs, almost 30 pounds lighter than his normal playing weight. Kearse attributes the weight loss from extensive cardio-vascular exercise as part of his rehab. This brought concern from defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and according to sports reporter Garry Cobb
, teammates have claimed that Kearse is "partying like a rock star" in Florida and "is living like he's not playing football anymore”. By the time the season started, however, Kearse was said to have bulked up back to his normal playing weight (which is still considered quite light by NFL standards).
However, Kearse did not appear to have regained his burst on the line and, in light of substandard production, he lost his starting job to longtime teammate Juqua Thomas
in Week 11 of the 2007 NFL season. Due to this lack of production, along with the expensive contract Kearse carries, many predicted that he would be cut by the start of the 2008 season. This speculation turned out to be well-founded; he was released by the team on February 28, 2008, voiding the final three years of his contract. In his four years with Philadelphia Kearse earned nearly $29.2 million of his record-setting 2004 contract.
. Kearse signed a two-year, $6 million deal, with a $1.3 million signing bonus. He’ll earn a total of $3 million in the first year. Kearse started all 16 games in 2008, finishing with 3.5 sacks. During the 2009 season, Jeff Fisher decided to bench Kearse for William Hayes
.
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...
player who was a defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
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...
(NFL) for eleven seasons during the late 1990s and 2000s. Kearse 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...
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
and Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL.
Kearse played for the Eagles for four seasons between stints with the Titans. During his first five seasons with the Titans, he was a three-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection and AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1999. Both his unusual speed and 86 inches (218.4 cm) wingspan greatly impressed coaches and earned him the nickname "The Freak."
Early years
Kearse was born in Fort Myers, FloridaFort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
in 1976, the son of Joseph Kearse and Lessie Mae Kearse.
Kearse attended North Fort Myers High School
North Fort Myers High School
North Fort Myers High School is an American 9-12 high school located in North Fort Myers, Florida. It is the official center for the arts and media for the West Zone in Lee County's School Choice Program; is part of the Lee County School District; and currently serves approximately 1550 students...
in North Fort Myers, and he played high school football
High 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....
for the North Fort Myers Red Knights. He was over six feet tall and extremely agile, and added muscle without a loss of speed and agility. Kearse began attracting college recruiters under his coach Wade Hummel. He played strong safety and tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
, and in his first season in high school, he returned four kicks for 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.
Following Kearse's senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
season in 1994, he was honored as a prep All-American by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
. In addition to his demonstrated athletic ability on the playing field, he carried a 3.6 GPA and was a member in the National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
.
College career
Starting college at 6 feet, 4 inches tall, and 215 pounds, Kearse was projected as either a linebacker or defensive back. He accepted an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
's Florida Gators football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
team from 1995 to 1998. He began his college career at safety before shifting to outside linebacker in 1996.
The Gators coaches red-shirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
ed Kearse for the 1995 season, and he watched the Gators' run for the 1995 national championship from the sidelines, before they lost to Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
in the Fiesta Bowl
1996 Fiesta Bowl
The 1996 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game in which the Nebraska Cornhuskers won the national championship for the 1995 college football season by defeating the Florida Gators, 62-24. Played on January 2, 1996, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, the game...
. Soon he was bestowed with his nickname, the "Freak", by Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) opponents during the Gators' 1996
1996 Florida Gators football team
The 1996 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's seventh season under head coach Steve Spurrier...
season. In his debut game against Southwest Louisiana, he accounted for six solo tackles and a sack. That year, the Florida Gators would go on to win the national title
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
, defeating Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
52-20 in the 1997 Sugar Bowl
1997 Sugar Bowl
The 1997 Sugar Bowl was the 63rd edition to the annual game. It featured the top ranked , and their heated rivals, the third ranked Florida Gators. It was the designated National Championship Game for the 1996-97 season by the Bowl Alliance. The match up was supposed to feature the top two teams...
. For his on-field accomplishments Kearse would make the All-SEC Freshman team. He was unable to bask in the glory of his achievements for long, as he was forced to mourn his younger brother, Jermaine, who was killed in a drive-by-shooting after the season.
Kearse made the All-SEC team in 1997 for the first time by registering a team high 6.5 sacks during the regular season as well as 38 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. In his 1998 campaign, he once again led the team with 7.5 sacks and also improved his tackles tally to 54. Was named All-SEC again and earned the AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year that season, as well as making the list of several different All-American teams, and was a finalist for the Butkus Award, Lombardi Award
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...
, and Chuck Bednarik college defensive player of the year award.
He opted to forgo his final season of eligibility, stating, "I think I've accomplished the four goals I wanted to when I attended the University of Florida: To become a better person, to win a national championship, to get an education and finally to have a chance to play in the NFL."
For his career Kearse racked up 34.5 tackles for loss, ranking 11th on UF's all-time list. Finished his career with 145 total tackles, 16.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 1 interception, 1 recovered fumble, and 19 pass deflections.
Pre-draft
Kearse, at 262 pounds, ran a 4.58 second 40-yard dash, 4.24 second 20-yard shuttle and had a vertical jump of 37 inches at the 1999 NFL CombineNFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
. Kearse lowered his 40-yard time to 4.43 at the University of Florida "pro day" in the spring of 1999.
Tennessee Titans: 1999–2003
Jevon Kearse was drafted by the Tennessee Titans as the 16th pick of the first round. On July 28, 1999, he signed a five-year, $6.1 million contract; however, according to NFLPA records he earned incentives that increased Kearse's compensation in his first five years to nearly $9 million.In Kearse's debut game with the Titans, he helped them achieve a 36-35 win over the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
. Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
had been injured, and with backup quarterback Neil O'Donnell
Neil O'Donnell
Neil Kennedy O'Donnell is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tennessee Titans...
in his place, Kearse helped lead the Titans to win the next four out of five games. In the first month of his NFL career, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month.
For all but one month of the season, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month, and ended up becoming NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
NFL Rookie of the Year Award
Since 1967, the Associated Press has given two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to National Football League players: one for an offensive player and one for a defensive player. These two are often regarded as the "official" awards...
with the help of his rookie record-breaking performance with 14.5 sacks (which led the AFC) that year and forced 8 fumbles, which also led the NFL. He also recorded 57 tackles and he batted away 9 passes while also making 7 of his tackles for losses. Accounted for 2 sacks (QB Rob Johnson) and 2 forced fumbles in the AFC Wild Card game vs. Buf. (1/8/00). Also credited with a safety in that game known as the Music City Miracle
Music City Miracle
The Music City Miracle is the name commonly given to a play that took place on January 8, 2000 during the National Football League's 1999–2000 playoffs...
. Kearse was also second in the balloting for the AP Defensive Player of the Year, losing out to Warren Sapp
Warren Sapp
Warren Carlos Sapp is a retired American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13 year professional career, and college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He was then...
. Kearse was a consensus All-Pro and was the first rookie defensive end in AFC history and the first rookie DE in the NFL since Detroit's Al "Bubba" Baker
Al Baker
Al "Bubba" Baker is a former professional American football defensive lineman in the NFL. He went to three Pro Bowls during his career. He was named 1978 Defensive Rookie of the Year....
in 1978 to be named a Pro Bowl starter.
The next season, Kearse accounted for fewer sacks (11.5) but stated that he was playing better than his rookie season. The Titans lost their Divisional playoff games to the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
who ended up winning the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
that season. Kearse also lost the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award to Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. In addition, Kearse totaled 53 tackles (6 for losses), forced 4 fumbles, had 6 pass deflections, and was again voted to the Pro Bowl.
In 2001 Kearse moved from left defensive end to right defensive end as the Titans traded for Kevin Carter. Kearse responded well and recorded 10 sacks, forced 3 fumbles, batted 2 passes while recording 36 tackles. Kearse was voted to his third consecutive Pro Bowl with the Titans in 2001. In 2002, Kearse fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot on the second play from scrimmage against the Eagles in the season opener (9/8) and was inactive for the next 12 games. Due to the injury Kearse recorded only 2 sacks, playing in only four games (starting one).
The following season (2003) the Titans returned to the AFC championship game and Kearse recorded 9.5 sacks through the first nine games but was shut out the final seven games (he missed two due to a sprained ankle injury).
Philadelphia Eagles: 2004–2007
After his 2003 campaign, Kearse was unable to reach an agreement with the Titans after his contract expired, and thus became an unrestricted free agent. The Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
signed Kearse to a record-breaking deal for a defensive lineman at the time; in all, the eight-year contract would pay Kearse $65 million, with a $16 million signing bonus.
Kearse played well with the Eagles in 2004, but his tackle and sack totals were not as high as he had previously achieved in his career with the Titans. He was, however, still a defensive force, and figured into the game plans of opposing offenses. During 2004, Philadelphia finished the season with a 13-3 record and earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. After eliminating the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
and the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Eagles lost Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
24-21 to the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
In 2005, Kearse had a solid year similar to the year before, yet his team fell to a 6-10 record. During the season, starters like Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
, Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook
Brian Collins Westbrook is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football at Villanova...
, Hank Fraley
Hank Fraley
Henry "Hank" F. Fraley is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Robert Morris.Fraley has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and St...
, Tra Thomas, Lito Sheppard
Lito Sheppard
Lito Decorian Sheppard is an American football cornerback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Florida.Sheppard has also played for the New York...
, and others were out with injuries, and star wide receiver Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
was banished from the team nine games into the season. Kearse recorded 7.5 sacks for the second season in a row (also leading the Eagles in sacks for the second straight season), but in 2005 he batted down 8 passes and forced 3 fumbles.
2006 would be a short season for Kearse who recorded 3.5 sacks in the first two games of the season before a severe knee injury. It was feared that he tore several ligaments in his knee, as well as dislocating his kneecap, tearing his knee capsule, straining his quadriceps tendon, and injuring his 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...
, during an overtime game against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in week 2 of the NFL season. When he went into surgery, however, doctors were surprised to see that almost everything in his knee was intact, except for a tear to the lateral meniscus
Lateral meniscus
The lateral meniscus, also called the external semilunar fibrocartilage, is a fibrocartilaginous band that spans the lateral side of the interior of the knee joint. It is one of two menisci of the knee, the other being the medial meniscus. It is nearly circular and covers a larger portion of the...
cartilage
Cartilage
Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals, including the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the elbow, the knee, the ankle, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs...
and a fracture to his tibia
Tibia
The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
. The injury was downgraded from possibly career-ending to just a 12-week recovery.
In June, 2007, Kearse appeared to weigh around 230 lbs, almost 30 pounds lighter than his normal playing weight. Kearse attributes the weight loss from extensive cardio-vascular exercise as part of his rehab. This brought concern from defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and according to sports reporter Garry Cobb
Garry Cobb
Garry Wilbert Cobb is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League and current radio personality on WIP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the author of a book entitled Don't Be Clueless: 7 Keys to Life in the Real World, which is targeted to the challenges of urban youth...
, teammates have claimed that Kearse is "partying like a rock star" in Florida and "is living like he's not playing football anymore”. By the time the season started, however, Kearse was said to have bulked up back to his normal playing weight (which is still considered quite light by NFL standards).
However, Kearse did not appear to have regained his burst on the line and, in light of substandard production, he lost his starting job to longtime teammate Juqua Thomas
Juqua Thomas
Juqua Demail Parker is an American football defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
in Week 11 of the 2007 NFL season. Due to this lack of production, along with the expensive contract Kearse carries, many predicted that he would be cut by the start of the 2008 season. This speculation turned out to be well-founded; he was released by the team on February 28, 2008, voiding the final three years of his contract. In his four years with Philadelphia Kearse earned nearly $29.2 million of his record-setting 2004 contract.
Tennessee Titans: 2008–2009
On March 6, 2008, Kearse returned to the Titans by signing with the team as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Kearse signed a two-year, $6 million deal, with a $1.3 million signing bonus. He’ll earn a total of $3 million in the first year. Kearse started all 16 games in 2008, finishing with 3.5 sacks. During the 2009 season, Jeff Fisher decided to bench Kearse for William Hayes
William Hayes (American football)
William Quintin Hayes is an American football defensive end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League...
.
2010
After a long offseason working out and staying in shape, Kearse stated that he was not retired and was looking to play during the 2010 season. However, Kearse went unsigned.Personal
- One of his cousins, Phillip BuchanonPhillip BuchanonPhillip Darren Buchanon is an American football cornerback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders 17th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
, currently plays cornerbackCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, and a second cousin, Desmond Kearse, is a top 2010 commit for the University of MarylandUniversity of MarylandWhen the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
. - The Jevon Kearse Foundation (JevonKearseFoundation.com) exists to promote positive outreach services to at-risk youth in Southwest Florida. Located in Fort Myers, they provide many services to the surrounding community such as Drug Prevention Programs, Youth Sports Programs, and Educational Opportunities. Annually hosts The Jevon Kearse Celebrity All-Pro Weekend to benefit the foundation.
- As Hurricane CharleyHurricane CharleyHurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
trampled through South Florida in 2004, The Jevon Kearse Foundation helped distribute non-perishable food and personal hygiene items to almost 400 families in relief of the disaster that struck the Ft. Myers, FL, region. - Prior to every game, Kearse can be found saying a prayer for his younger brother, Rocky, who died before Jevon made it to the NFL. He paid homage to his younger sibling by tattooing his name inside of a cross on his left shoulder.
- Has worked with several global companies in various national advertising campaigns including: DirecTVDirecTVDirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
, SegaSega, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
, ReebokReebokReebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
, PepsiPepsiPepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
, Gillette and most recently Campbell Soup. - Kearse made a cameo in rapper PliesPlies (rapper)Algernod Lanier Washington , better known by his stage name Plies, is an American rapper and founder of Big Gates Records. Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Washington was a wide receiver on the football team of Miami University in Ohio in 1996 and 1997 before he became a rapper. After dropping out of...
video "Shawty" featuring T-PainT-PainFaheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
. - Kearse has been a resident of Moorestown Township, New JerseyMoorestown Township, New Jersey-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 19,017 people, 6,971 households, and 5,270 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,287.3 per square mile . There were 7,211 housing units at an average density of 488.1 per square mile...
, and put up his home there up for sale in June 2008 for $2.7 million.
See also
- 1998 College Football All-America Team1998 College Football All-America TeamThe 1998 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News and Football News....
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Florida Gators football, 1990–1999
- History of the Tennessee TitansHistory of the Tennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are the professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the then-Houston, Texas, team began play in 1960 as a...
- List of Florida Gators football players
- List of Philadelphia Eagles players