ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
S P OT L I G H T Kerney Goes to Pro Bowl
Number 97 Patrick Kerney ’95 was on fire last season, leading the Falcons in sacks.
The Atlanta Falcons’ most consistent pass rusher the last three seasons, Patrick Kerney ’95 made his first trip to the Pro Bowl this year following the third doubledigit sack season of his career. Kerney, a first-round draft pick in 1999 and former first team All-American at UVa, was also named NFC’s Defensive Player of the Month (September) by the NFL.
JIMMY CRIB/FALCONS.COM
In addition to leading the team in sacks (13), he is quickly moving up on the Falcons’ all-time sacks list with 47 in six seasons. Kerney is tied with former Falcons defensive end John Zook (47 sacks from 1969–75) for third. The Falcons (11–5) lost to the Eagles in the NFC Championship game in January. The subject of numerous profiles
this season, Kerney, at 6 feet, 5 inches and 273 pounds, has been called a “free spirit” and “quirky.” He is an active board member for Special Olympics of Georgia and is the Falcons’ United Way spokesperson. He also raises money for the Lt. Thomas L. Kerney Fund, created in memory of his brother—a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Taft Bulletin Spring 2005
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