Patrick Kerney
A relentless defensive end whose motor never quit, leading the NFL in sacks and earning a Pro Bowl nod with the Seattle Seahawks.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American football player·Birthday: December 30·Generation X
Biography
Patrick Kerney's football career was a study in sustained effort and intelligent aggression. A standout at the University of Virginia, he entered the NFL as a first-round pick for the Atlanta Falcons, where he quickly established himself as a consistent pass-rushing threat. But it was after a move to the Seattle Seahawks that Kerney reached his destructive peak. In 2007, he unleashed a career year, terrorizing quarterbacks to lead the entire league in sacks. His game wasn't just about raw speed; it was built on technique, relentless pursuit, and a high football IQ that allowed him to outwork opponents play after play. Injuries eventually cut his time on the field short, but Kerney's legacy is that of a complete defensive end who maximized every ounce of his ability, leaving an impression as one of the most industrious players of his generation.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Patrick was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Patrick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Patrick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
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
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
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
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the entire NFL in sacks during the 2007 season with 14.5 while playing for the Seattle Seahawks.
- Selected to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and was named a First-Team All-Pro that same season.
- Recorded 58 career sacks over 11 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks.
- Was a first-round draft pick (30th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1999 NFL Draft.
Did You Know?
He was a two-sport athlete in college, also playing lacrosse for the University of Virginia.
Kerney graduated from UVA with a degree in anthropology.
After retiring, he returned to school and earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
He is an avid outdoorsman and conservationist.
“The quarterback is the target, and my job is to make him miserable.”
