Ken Rose (American football)

Kenny Frank Rose (born June 9, 1962 in Sacramento, California) is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Rose graduated from Christian Brothers High School (Sacramento, California). He attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and played alongside Randall Cunningham, among others. Undrafted by the National Football League, Ken caught on with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. Following two seasons there, he played a season with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League. However, Rose dreamed of playing in the NFL and attended several training camps in the mid-1980s, only to be rejected each time. He received an opportunity with the New York Jets in 1987 during the strike by the players union, and became one of the few "scabs" to stay on the roster when the regular players returned to work. Rose remained with the Jets through 1989. In 1990, he split playing time with the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles, released by the Browns (along with head coach Bud Carson) after the seventh game and signing with the Eagles for their final 8 regular-season games. Rose remained with the Eagles through the 1994 season.