- Isaiah Kacyvenski
Infobox NFLretired
name=Isaiah Kacyvenski
width=
caption=
position=Linebacker
number=58, 59
birthdate=birth date and age|1977|10|3 city-state|Endicott|New York
deathdate=
debutyear=2007
finalyear=2007
draftyear=2000
draftround=4
draftpick=119
college=Harvard
teams=
*Seattle Seahawks (2000-2006)
*St. Louis Rams (2006)
*Oakland Raiders (2007)*:*Offseason member only
stat1label=Tackles
stat1value=243
stat2label=Sacks
stat2value=1.0
stat3label=Forced fumbles
stat3value=3
nfl=KAC533348
highlights=
*Ivy League Rookie of the Year (1996)
* 3x First-team All-Ivy League (1997-1999)Isaiah J. Kacyvenski [kaz-uh-VIN-ski] (born
October 3 1977 in city-state|Endicott|New York) is a formerAmerican football linebacker of theNational Football League . He was drafted by theSeattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the2000 NFL Draft . He playedcollege football at Harvard.Kacyvenski also spent time with the
St. Louis Rams andOakland Raiders . After spending the 2007 season out of football, Kacyvenski officially announced his retirement in 2008.Early years
Kacyvenski grew up the youngest of five children in upstate Endicott,
New York . He grew up with his parents; his mother and his alcoholic and sometimes abusive fathercite web| date =February 2 ,2006 | url =http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2006-02-02-lopresti-isaiah_x.htm| title = Can Super Bowl heal a family's final wound?| publisher =USA Today| accessdate =2007-07-14] until their divorce when he was nine.cite web| date =April 16 ,2006 | url =http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/seahawks/2006-04-12-kacyvenski-feature_x.htm| title = Kacyvenski tackles forgiveness| publisher =USA Today| accessdate =2007-07-14] When he was thirteen, his mother left to do missionary work, leaving the care of him and his siblings back with their father.Kacyvenski attended Union Endicott High School where he was an honors student and served as captain of the football team. His ultimate goal was to earn a football scholarship to
University of Notre Dame . During his senior year his mother was killed by a truck as she walked along the road; the same day of Kacyvenski's biggest high school football game. Upon hearing of his mother's death, he fell "to his knees crying." He ended up playing in the game that night, calling it one of the best games of his life.cite web| date =July 12 ,2007 | url =http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200703/20070301/slide_20070301_284_101.jhtml| title = Resilient Spirits: Isaiah Kacyvenski| publisher =Oprah| accessdate =2007-07-14]He received a phone call at the end of his senior year from
Harvard University coach Tim Murphy offering him an academic scholarship. Reluctant to go to for fear of not fitting in Kacyvenski's coach convinced him that he would never regret going to Harvard.College career
While he was a freshman at Harvard, Kacyvenski came across items that belonged to his mother. Among the items he found a picture of his mother wearing a Harvard sweatshirt and her bible with a passage highlighted.
"Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you. I can never forget you! I have written you in the palm of my hands." - Isaiah 49:15
Kacyvenski took these things as signs that he was making the right decision in his life. Coincidentally, 49 was also Kacyvenski's college jersey number.
For four years, Kacyvenski started every game at
Harvard University . As a freshman, he won theIvy League Rookie of the Year award, and for three years, won All-Ivy League first team honors.cite web| url =http://www.incrediblepeople.com/people(2001-07-04).htm| title = My Life: Challenges, Choices and Incredible Love by Isaiah Kacyvenski | publisher =Incredible People| accessdate =2007-07-14] As a senior, he had a school single-season record 135 tackles, and for his college career, finished with a school career-record record 395 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, and 8 fumble recoveries. He received theNils V. "Swede" Nelson Award forsportsmanship following his senior season.In 2000, Kacyvenski was selected in the 4th round of the NFL draft by the
Seattle Seahawks . He graduatedcum laude with a pre-med degree, but elected to miss his commencement ceremony to attend the first days of football training camp. His father attended the ceremony in cap and gown in Kacyvenski's stead and received the Harvard diploma for his son. He was a member of the Seahawks the season they went toSuper Bowl XL .Professional career
eattle Seahawks
Kacyvenski played six-plus seasons with the
Seattle Seahawks recording 267 tackles in 90 games. He was released on September 30, 2006.t. Louis Rams
Kacyvenski signed a one-year contract with the
St.Louis Rams on October 3, 2006.cite web| date =October 3 ,2006 | url =http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/?p=3549&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1| title = Kacyvenski signs with Rams| publisher =The News Tribune| accessdate =2007-07-14]Oakland Raiders
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