Lincoln Kennedy

Tamerlane Lincoln Kennedy, Jr. (born February 12, 1971) is a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons. He played college football for the University of Washington, and was recognized as an All-American. A first-round draft pick in the 1993 NFL Draft, he played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders of the NFL. He is currently a broadcaster for Fox Sports and Premiere Radio Networks.

Early years
Kennedy was born in York, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the southeast part of San Diego, California. He graduated from Samuel F.B. Morse High School in San Diego, and played high school football for the Morse Tigers.

College career
Kennedy attended the University of Washington, where he played for the Washington Huskies football team. In 1991 and 1992, he was the recipient of the Morris Trophy, awarded annually to the outstanding offensive player in the Pacific-10 Conference. In 1992, he was also recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.

National Football League
Kennedy was the ninth overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft taken by the Atlanta Falcons, and he played for the Falcons from 1993 to 1995. He started at left guard throughout his rookie season, but lost the job the following year to another first-year player, Dave Richards out of UCLA. After a disappointing 1995 season, Kennedy was traded to the Oakland Raiders, where he started at right tackle in all but three games of his seven-year tenure there. As a member of the Raiders, Kennedy was named to two consecutive Pro Bowls (three career) and anchored the offensive line in Super Bowl XXXVII.

After leaving the field in 2004, Kennedy's degree in speech communications prepared him to accept a position with the NFL Network as one of the hosts of NFL Total Access.

In 2005, his attempted comeback with the Dallas Cowboys failed due to his inability to pass the team physical.

Arena Football League
In 2007 he played for the Arena Football League's Tampa Bay Storm.

Broadcasting
Kennedy currently works for Fox Sports Radio as show co-host. He also has called Pac-10 college football games as the color analyst and as a track reporter during Nascar races.

Insurance
In May 2009, Kennedy became an agent with Farmers Insurance in Glendale, Arizona.

Asked by InsuranceQuotes.com whether he prefers playing football or selling insurance, Kennedy said: "You know, to each his own. I've always preferred a challenge in my lifetime, so whatever I did — whether it was sports or school or now this career — it's been challenging and rewarding in its own way. It's a matter of trying to be the best that you can be in your surroundings."

Other information
His birth name was Tamerlane Fizel Kennedy Jr., but his mother called him 'Little Lincoln', referring to their shared birthday (February 12). The nickname stuck, and Lincoln had it legally changed after college.

He also made an appearance in the movie The Marine.

During a game against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, Kennedy went after a fan who hit him in the face with a snowball.

Once, not long after the death of John F. Kennedy Jr., Kennedy made the remark on ESPN's SportsCenter that, "My name's Lincoln Kennedy, I ain't got a chance," in reference to the assassination of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy made an appearance on the TV show Arli$ in 2000, Episode: 504 "Comings and Goings" and appeared in Two and a Half Men in 2005, ("Principal Gallagher's Lesbian Lover").

Kennedy resembles actor Anthony Anderson. When asked about this during Media Day prior to Super Bowl XXXVII, Kennedy replied, "That ain't even look like me dawg."

Kennedy has a son named Zach Banner with former girlfriend, Vanessa Banner, who is a highly touted offensive tackle out of Lakes High School in Lakewood, Washington.

Kennedy held the all-time record on the "Wall of Fame" at Seattle eatery Shultzy's Sausage before the restaurant changed locations and did away with the Wall. In his record-setting effort, he consumed 11 of the restaurant's signature link sausages on French rolls and a large Coca-Cola within one hour.