Kermit Alexander
Los Angeles, California) | |
College: | UCLA |
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NFL draft: | 1963 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8 |
Career history | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Kermit Joseph Alexander (born January 4, 1941) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL). He was on the board of directors for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which is named after Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott, and is awarded annually to college football's defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.[1]
Professional career
Alexander was drafted by the
In his second year with the Los Angeles Rams in 1971, he returned one of his three interceptions 82 yards for a touchdown. He played two more seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1972 and 1973. Kermit was responsible for injuring Gale Sayers's right knee in a rolling tackle which shortened the career of the Bears star running back, and cost Sayers some of his extraordinary quickness.
In addition to playing defense, Alexander returned punts and kickoffs for all three teams. Both of his career punt returns for touchdowns came with San Francisco.[2]
He was one of the fifteen plaintiffs in Mackey v. National Football League in which Judge Earl R. Larson declared that the Rozelle rule was a violation of antitrust laws on December 30, 1975.[3][4]
Personal life
On August 31, 1984, Alexander's mother, sister and two nephews, ages 8 and 13, were murdered in
Alexander was initially planning on adopting one child from Haiti, but after meeting the child's four siblings, he ended up adopting all five. The five were in Haiti at the time of the earthquake in 2010, but survived and now live with Alexander and his wife, Tami.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ "Lott IMPACT Trophy -". Archived from the original on 2013-05-05. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
- ^ "Kermit Alexander Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Wallace, William N. "Rozelle Rule Found In Antitrust Violation," The New York Times, Wednesday, December 31, 1975. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ Mackey v. National Football League, 407 F. Supp. 1000 (D. Minn. 1975) – Justia.com. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ “Cox Gets Death in Alexander Murders”, "The Los Angeles Times", May 1, 1986.
External links
- Friend, Tom. "Kermit's Song". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2010-05-16.