Kevin Jordan (American football)

Kevin Michael Jordan (born December 14, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for one season in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, receiving All-American honors as a junior in 1994. He played professionally for the Arizona Cardinals and was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. After trying out with the Denver Broncos, he became a chaplain for UCLA sports teams as well as the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kevin Jordan
No. 86
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1972-12-14) December 14, 1972
Washington, D.C.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school:Beltsville (MD) High Point
College:UCLA
Undrafted:1996
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life

Jordan attended high school at High Point High in Beltsville, Maryland. He was a 170-pound (77 kg) tight end on a team that ran the winged-T and did not pass the ball much. He was more notable as an All-American defensive back, recording 16 interceptions as a senior.[1][2] He decided to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he joined his brother, Al.[1]

College career

Jordan missed a season after suffering an injury in a high school all-star game, and sat out another as a redshirt.[1] Having not played on a passing team at High Point, he needed to adjust to the more complicated schemes at UCLA.[2] Jordan began his Bruins career with 18 receptions for 150 yards as a freshman.[1] He followed with a solid performance of 45 catches for 612 yards in 1993, but he was overshadowed that season by teammate J. J. Stokes, who set UCLA records with 82 catches for 1,181 yards and 17 touchdowns.[1][3]

In the season opener of 1994, Jordan stepped up for an injured Stokes with six receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown in a 25–23 win over Tennessee.[3] He earned first-team All-American honors from Football News and third-team from Associated Press that season after recording 73 catches and breaking Stokes' single-season school record with 1,228 yards.[4][5][6] He finished fourth in the nation in receiving yards per game (111.6) and sixth in receptions per game (6.6).[7] However, Jordan injured his right knee in the final game when he was hit by two USC defenders after catch, and he had surgery to repair a partially torn ligament in February 1995.[8] Impacted by the injury, his production dropped in 1995.[9] Still, he finished at UCLA as the school's career leader in catches (179) and receiving yards (2,548).[10]

NFL career

Jordan was not selected in the 1996 NFL draft, but signed as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals.[10] He played one game for Arizona in 1996 and was active but did not see action in two games; he was on the inactive list on four others. Arizona waived him midseason in October, and he was claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals, who released him the following month.[10][11] During the 1997 offseason, he married Jenny Johnson, who was a volleyball player at UCLA when they met in 1992.[12] Jordan tried out with the Denver Broncos in 1998, but he struggled with injuries and was cut.[12][13]

Later years

After his playing career ended, Jordan became a missionary with Athletes in Action, a college religious organization, and also became a chaplain for the UCLA football team.[14][15] Jordan and his wife relocated from Los Angeles after he accepted an offer to be the chaplain for the Pittsburgh Steelers under Coach Mike Tomlin,[12][15] who later credited Jordan with establishing unity on their Super Bowl-winning team of 2009.[15][16]

After four years in Pittsburgh and a second trip to the Super Bowl, Jordan and his wife returned to Los Angeles and started 4TheJourney ministry and served as chaplains for the UCLA women's basketball team.[12]

See also

References
  1. Hodges, Jim (November 8, 1994). "Clearly, He's K.J., Not J.J." Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  2. Hodges, Jim (October 5, 1993). "Jordan Ready for Next Hurdle". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  3. Dilbeck, Steve (September 4, 1994). "UCLA's Jordan catches up". The San Bernardino County Sun. p. C6. Retrieved November 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  4. Mell, Randall (September 2, 1995). "Um Vs. Ucla At Pasadena". Orlando Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  5. "Cougars' Patterson named All-America; Football News salutes defensive lineman". The Lewiston Tribune. November 23, 1994. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022.
  6. "Boselli Makes the First Team". Los Angeles Times. December 8, 1994. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  7. Alesia, Mark (January 11, 1995). "THREE BRUINS PLAN TO STAY EDWARDS, JORDAN, OGDEN WON'T JUMP EARLY TO THE NFL". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  8. Springer, Steve (August 27, 1995). "Jordan Says He's Not Back to Normal". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  9. "Kansas defensive tackle all business on the field". The Salina Journal. Associated Press. December 25, 2015. p. B3. Retrieved November 18, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  10. Jones, Todd (October 17, 1996). "BENGALS PICK UP WIDE RECEIVER". The Cincinnati Post. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  11. "BaseballMarlins: Designated P Joel Adamson for assignment..." The Baltimore Sun. November 23, 1996. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  12. Yeo, Aubrey. "Receiving the Call: Former UCLA player Kevin Jordan finds new mission". The Daily Bruin. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  13. "Transactions". New York Times. August 18, 1998. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015.
  14. Lambert, Pam (July 10, 2000). "Torch Bearers". People. Vol. 54, no. 2. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  15. Stricklin, Art (February 6, 2009). "Steelers embrace new chaplain". Christian Examiner. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  16. Hoffarth, Tom (August 5, 2009). "Coming Thursday: JJJ, the Pittsburgh dealer". insidesocal.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
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