Cedric Killings
| No. 71, 91, 78, 97 | |||||||
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| Position: | Carson–Newman | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 2000 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||
Cedric Laquon Killings (December 14, 1977 – June 21, 2023) was an American professional
In his eight-year career, Killings played for the 49ers,
Early years
Killings was an All-
Professional career
Killings was signed as an undrafted free agent by San Francisco 49ers on April 27, 2000. He was released by the 49ers on August 29, 2001. He was signed by Cleveland Browns on October 16, 2001, but released by the Browns on November 7, 2001. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers on November 28, 2001 and granted free agency on March 1, 2002. Killings was signed by the Minnesota Vikings on June 20, 2002 and released by the Vikings on September 1, 2002. He was re-signed by Vikings on October 29, 2002 and released by Vikings on December 10, 2002. He was re-signed by the Vikings on December 16, 2002.
Killings was on the 53-man roster for the Vikings for 14 games in 2003, but was inactive.
Killings signed with the
The Washington Redskins re-signed Killings for depth on Dec. 8, 2004, when the team placed defensive end Phillip Daniels on injured reserve. Although Killings was on the 53-man roster and was assigned #91, he was not activated for any of the remaining four games.
Killings was granted unconditional free agency on March 2, 2005 and re-signed by Redskins on March 8, 2005.
In 2005, Killings played in ten regular season games with the Washington Redskins, and started in one. In addition, he played in two playoff games.
Killings was granted unconditional free agency on March 11, 2006 and re-signed by the Redskins on March 16, 2006. He was released by the Redskins on September 2, 2006 and signed by Houston Texans on November 14, 2006. He was released by Texans on Sept. 1, 2007 and re-signed by Texans on Sept. 14, 2007.
Killings was placed on the reserve/injured list on Sept. 25, 2007 with a neck injury.
Career-ending injury
Killings was involved in a head-to-head collision by
NFL rule change
The Texans' Harry Williams, a receiver, and Cedric Killings, a defensive lineman, both saw their careers end in sudden, frightening fashion because of wedge-related neck injuries during the 2007 season.
The NFL's rules were subsequently changed. They now state that once the ball has been kicked, no more than two receiving team players can be within 2 yards of each other on the same yard line, or to quote Texans special teams coach Joe Marciano, "shoulder pad to shoulder pad."
"Everybody else has to be 3 yards away," Marciano said. "So we're telling our guys 4 yards to stay out of any gray area. The penalty is just too severe to take chances."
Violation of this rule will result in a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Personal life and death
Killings and his wife, Shavon, had three children.
Killings died of pancreatic cancer on June 21, 2023, at the age of 45.[4]
References
- ^ "Cedric Killings Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "Killings will retire instead of risk further injury". ESPN.com. February 29, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "Killings walks in retutn to Texans". Berkshire Eagle. September 29, 2007. p. C2. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "C-N, SAC Hall of Famer Cedric Killings passes away". Carson-Newman Eagles. June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.