Cortez Kennedy, Former Seahawks DT, To Enter Pro Football Hall Of Fame Saturday

Legendary Seahawks Defensive Tackle Cortez Kennedy will receive the highest honor awarded to an NFL player later this evening – he will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Taken with the third overall pick in the 1990 NFL draft by Seattle, Kennedy made a name for himself playing on a team that wasn’t known for its ability to win ball games.

In 1992, just his third season in the NFL, Cortez was named as the league’s Defensive Player of the year, notching a 14 sack, 92 tackle season, despite the fact that the Seahawks were just 2-14.

“I loved playing for the Seahawks, you know,” he said. “I didn’t want to go anywhere else.”

Playing in 167 out of 176 possible games in his 11-year NFL career, including a streak of 116 straight games, Kennedy set a Seakhawks club-record with eight trips to the Pro Bowl and five first- or second-team All-Pro selections.

After the 2000 season, Kennedy retired from the NFL with 668 recorded tackles, 58 sacks and 3 interceptions.

To this day, he is widely considered one of the best defensive tackles to ever play the position in the NFL.

“There is no one more deserving of this than Cortez,” said Mike Holmgren, who coached Kennedy his final two seasons. “I got him near the end of his career. He’s such a good man, such a pleasure. We maintained a friendship. He’s one of the good guys.”

To check out some of Cortez Kennedy’s highlights in the NFL watch the following video:

According to ESPN, Kennedy will be joined in receiving a gold Hall of Fame jacket by cornerback Jack Butler, center Dermontti Dawson, running back Curtis Martin, defensive lineman Chris Doleman and offensive lineman Willie Roaf.

To watch the 2012 NFL Football Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony for yourself, flip over to ESPN at 7:00pm EST.