Seattle Seahawks all-time Mount Rushmore
By Matt Graves
4. Cortez Kennedy, DT (1990-2000)
Seattle wasted no time by selecting the University of Miami’s Cortez Kennedy third overall in the 1990 NFL Draft. In 167 games, the eight-time Pro Bowler played his entire NFL career with Seattle.
As a rookie, the late Kennedy produced 48 tackles, a sack, and a fumble. The following season, he responded with his first Pro Bowl berth. Despite a 2-14 record in 1992, Kennedy led the team with a career-high 14 sacks. That would enough for him to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
Kennedy recorded one of the best seasons of his career in 1999. He started all 16 games, recorded 73 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two interceptions. He would be named to his eighth and final Pro Bowl while helping the Seahawks make the playoffs for the first time since 1988.
Arguably considered to be one of the best defensive tackles ever, Kennedy recorded 668 tackles, 58 sacks, and three interceptions in his career. Kennedy was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s thanks to his unique ability to get after the quarterback. He would eventually be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2012.