Former Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson: Never seen a DT dominate like Cortez Kennedy
May 24, 2017, 11:36 AM
Dennis Erickson on Cortez Kennedy: “I’ve never see a guy at defensive tackle dominate football like he did." (AP)
(AP)
For many of Cortez Kennedy’s former teammates and coaches, the legendary Seahawk’s humility and kindness stand out. But his legacy can’t fully be appreciated without recognizing the Hall of Fame defensive tackle’s skills.
“When he was in his prime, he was probably as good as there ever was,” said Dennis Erickson, who coached Kennedy at the University of Miami and in Seattle.
Clayton remembers watching, interacting with ‘Tez’
Erickson joined “Brock and Salk” on Wednesday and followed several others who have shared their memories of Kennedy, who died at the age of 48 on Tuesday.
Erickson said he had “never see a guy at defensive tackle dominate football” like Kennedy did. And, although the Arkansas native was as humble as they come, Erickson said Kennedy also liked to keep things light. That included when Kennedy would call to come stay at Erickson’s house. If Erickson didn’t answer, he said Kennedy would always leave the same message: “He’d say, ‘Coach, this is Cortez, still the greatest player you ever coached.’ That’s just how he was. He was something else.”
You can hear the rest of Erickson’s interview below.
“Brock and Salk” also spoke Wednesday with one of Kennedy’s former Seahawks teammates, offensive tackle Ray Roberts, as well as Hall of Famer Howie Long.
Said Roberts: “I just love the dude to the bottom of my heart. I played with him for four years, I played against him twice and as it relates to just interior defensive linemen, I can’t say that I’ve played against anyone better than him.”
Said Long: “The ball boy, the equipment guy, the guy at the 7-Eleven, the president of the team, the owner of the team – he treated everyone the same way.”
