Kenyon Coleman
Encyclopedia
Kenyon Octavia Coleman is an American football
defensive end
who plays for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League
. He was selected in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
out of the University of California, Los Angeles
by the Oakland Raiders
. On March 6, 2007, the Jets signed Coleman to a contract, reportedly worth $20M over five years.
to Johnny and Patsy Coleman. He attended Alta Loma High School
in Alta Loma, California.
, where he majored in philosophy
. During his college career, he had 138 tackles and 16.5 sacks. Coleman was an All-PAC 10 selection as a senior.
in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
. He made his debut in the NFL against the Buffalo Bills
in week 5. On August 31, 2003, the Dallas Cowboys
acquired him via a trade with the Oakland Raiders
. He spent four seasons with the Cowboys, making 68 tackles and 6.5 sacks. On March 6, 2007 he was signed by the New York Jets
as an unrestricted free agent. He led the league in tackles as a defensive end with 83 in 2007. On April 25, 2009, he was traded to the Browns as part of a trade to acquire the fifth overall pick in the 2009 Draft in order to select Mark Sanchez
. On February 9, 2011, the Browns released Coleman. On July 30, 2011, he signed a 2 year contract worth $3.75 million with the Dallas Cowboys
, five years after he left the Dallas Cowboys
in free agency. This reunited him with his former defensive cooridinator from Cleveland
Rob Ryan
.
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...
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...
who plays for the Dallas Cowboys of 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...
. He was selected in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
out of the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. On March 6, 2007, the Jets signed Coleman to a contract, reportedly worth $20M over five years.
Early years
Coleman was born in Fontana, CaliforniaFontana, California
Fontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
to Johnny and Patsy Coleman. He attended Alta Loma High School
Alta Loma High School
Alta Loma High School is a comprehensive public secondary school located in Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States, that was established in 1963...
in Alta Loma, California.
College career
Coleman attended the University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, where he majored in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. During his college career, he had 138 tackles and 16.5 sacks. Coleman was an All-PAC 10 selection as a senior.
Professional career
Coleman was selected by the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. He made his debut in the NFL against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in week 5. On August 31, 2003, the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
acquired him via a trade with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He spent four seasons with the Cowboys, making 68 tackles and 6.5 sacks. On March 6, 2007 he was signed by the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an unrestricted free agent. He led the league in tackles as a defensive end with 83 in 2007. On April 25, 2009, he was traded to the Browns as part of a trade to acquire the fifth overall pick in the 2009 Draft in order to select Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez
Mark Travis John Sanchez is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft as the fifth overall selection by the Jets and the second quarterback taken overall...
. On February 9, 2011, the Browns released Coleman. On July 30, 2011, he signed a 2 year contract worth $3.75 million with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, five years after he left the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in free agency. This reunited him with his former defensive cooridinator from Cleveland
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Rob Ryan
Rob Ryan
Rob Ryan is the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He is the son of former defensive coordinator and head coach Buddy Ryan and the twin brother of current head coach of the New York Jets, Rex Ryan.-Early life:When his parents, Doris and Buddy Ryan,...
.