Kevin Boss
A fifth-round draft pick who became a Super Bowl hero for the Giants, making a gravity-defying catch that helped slay a perfect-season Patriots team.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American football player·Birthday: January 11·Millennials
Biography
Kevin Boss emerged from the small-school program at Western Oregon into the bright lights of the NFL, drafted by the New York Giants in 2007. He wasn't the most heralded rookie, but his moment arrived when starting tight end Jeremy Shockey was injured late that season. Boss stepped into the lineup just as the Giants began their improbable playoff run. His most indelible contribution came in Super Bowl XLII, where his leaping, acrobatic 45-yard reception over the middle ignited a game-winning drive against the undefeated New England Patriots. That play encapsulated his career: reliable hands, surprising athleticism for his 6'6" frame, and a knack for rising to the occasion. He played seven seasons, later with Oakland, Kansas City, and San Diego, but his legacy is forever tied to that one magical catch that helped secure a championship for New York.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kevin was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kevin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Kevin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl XLII as a key contributor for the New York Giants.
- Made a critical 45-yard reception in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII to spark the game-winning drive.
- Recorded a career-high 42 receptions for 545 yards and 5 touchdowns with the Oakland Raiders in 2011.
Did You Know?
He played college football at Division II Western Oregon University.
His older brother, Kyle Boss, also played tight end at Western Oregon.
He retired from the NFL in 2014 after suffering multiple concussions.
“My role was to block for Eli and be there when he needed an outlet.”
