Mike Kenn
Michael Lee Kenn (born February 9, 1956) is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 17-year career as an offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL).[1] Drafted 13th overall in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan, where he played college football for the Wolverines, Kenn became a foundational member of the Falcons' offensive line.[1][2] He holds the franchise records for most games played (251) and most games started (251), along with the second-most seasons played (17), and once achieved a streak of 84 consecutive games.[2] Kenn earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1980 to 1984, anchoring the line during the team's competitive years in the 1980s, including playoff appearances.[3] Retiring after the 1994 season, he was later inducted into the Falcons' Ring of Honor for his durability and contributions to the team's offensive success.[2]Early Life and Education
Childhood and Family Background
Mike Kenn was born on February 9, 1956, in Evanston, Illinois, where he spent his early years in a blue-collar household.[4][5] His parents had endured the Great Depression, shaping a family ethos of hard work and resilience; his father, Leo Kenn, was the son of a Polish immigrant and was born in a farmhouse in Battle Creek, Michigan.[6] Leo worked for 37 years, retiring as a field superintendent, which underscored the family's emphasis on diligence amid modest means.[7] Growing up in Evanston, Kenn displayed early athletic promise, standing at 6 feet 6 inches but weighing just 198 pounds upon graduating high school, giving him a lanky frame more suited to basketball than football at the time.[3] He attended Evanston Township High School, participating in football alongside lacrosse and ice hockey, activities that honed his competitive edge in a working-class environment.[4] These pursuits reflected the practical, no-frills upbringing influenced by his father's immigrant-rooted background, fostering physical toughness without the advantages of elite training facilities.[6]High School Football at Evanston Township
Mike Kenn attended Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois, where he played football as an offensive lineman for the Wildkits.[8][9] Born in Evanston on February 9, 1956, he participated in the sport during his high school years, including blocking for running back Murney Lazier on the team.[9][6] In his senior year of 1974, Kenn earned all-state honors, which drew recruitment interest from approximately 60 colleges.[10][6] This recognition highlighted his performance on the offensive line, contributing to his eventual commitment to the University of Michigan.[10] He also competed in lacrosse and ice hockey at the school, demonstrating versatility in athletics.[4] Kenn was inducted into the Evanston Township High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, acknowledging his contributions to the football program.[11][9]Collegiate Career
University of Michigan Tenure
Mike Kenn joined the University of Michigan football program in 1974 and lettered as an offensive tackle from 1975 to 1977 under head coach Bo Schembechler.[12][13][14][15] During this period, he contributed to a Wolverines offensive line that supported a ground-heavy attack, averaging over 200 rushing yards per game in both 1976 and 1977.[16] In 1976, Kenn helped anchor the line for an undefeated regular season (10-0 overall, 8-0 Big Ten), securing the conference championship and a Rose Bowl berth, though Michigan lost 14-6 to USC.[16] The following year, the team repeated as Big Ten champions (10-2 overall, 8-0 conference) with Kenn in the lineup, advancing to the Orange Bowl before falling 27-20 to Washington. These successes reflected the unit's blocking for running backs like Rob Lytle and Harlan Huckleby, who combined for over 1,500 rushing yards in 1976 alone.[16] Kenn's college performance positioned him as a top NFL prospect, leading to his selection as the 13th overall pick (first round) by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1978 NFL Draft, the highest-drafted Michigan offensive lineman that year.[17][18] No individual All-American or All-Big Ten honors are recorded for him, but his role in back-to-back conference titles underscored his reliability on a program known for physical, trench-dominant play.[16]Key Performances and Team Contributions
During his junior year in 1976, Kenn started all 12 games at left tackle, earning first-team All-Big Ten recognition as part of an offensive line that dominated the line of scrimmage and enabled Michigan to rush for 4,144 yards while scoring 432 points en route to a 10-2 record and Big Ten championship.[19][16] The unit's performance supported a balanced attack led by running backs Rob Lytle (1,014 rushing yards) and Harlan Huckleby, culminating in a Rose Bowl matchup against USC where Kenn faced off against a former recruiting rival.[20] In 1977, as a senior, Kenn started 11 games at left tackle and repeated as a first-team All-Big Ten selection, anchoring an offensive line that cleared paths for Russell Davis to gain 1,009 rushing yards and helped the Wolverines achieve a 10-2 record.[19][4][21] His contributions extended to the postseason Orange Bowl victory over Washington (27-20 on January 2, 1978), where the team's ground game proved decisive in securing the win. Kenn's consistent starting role from his sophomore through senior seasons (nine starts in 1975) provided stability to Bo Schembechler's run-heavy offense during an era of sustained team success, including multiple bowl appearances and conference contention, though individual blocking metrics were not formally tracked.[4] His physical presence at 6-foot-7 and over 250 pounds helped Michigan control trenches in key victories, such as the 1976 regular-season finale against Ohio State (22-0), underscoring his role in elevating the program's physical identity.NFL Career
Draft Selection and Rookie Year (1978)
Mike Kenn was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft, held on May 3–5 in New York City.[22] [1] At 22 years old and measuring 6 feet 7 inches tall and 277 pounds, the University of Michigan offensive tackle was chosen to anchor the left side of the Falcons' offensive line amid a league transition toward more pass-oriented offenses.[1] [23] The Falcons, who finished 9–5 in 1977 but missed the playoffs, prioritized Kenn over other tackles available, passing on selections like those by the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints earlier in the round.[23] As a rookie in the 1978 season, Kenn started all 16 games at left tackle for the Falcons, who posted a 7–9 record under head coach Leeman Bennett.[1] [24] He allowed minimal disruptions in pass protection, contributing to quarterback Steve Bartkowski's performance in a year when the team ranked mid-pack in rushing but showed early signs of line stability.[4] Kenn's immediate impact earned him a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team, recognizing his role in a unit that supported a balanced offense despite the team's inconsistent results.[4] His durability was evident from the outset, setting the foundation for a franchise-record streak of consecutive starts that would extend over his career.[1]Mid-Career Dominance and Pro Bowl Selections (1979–1989)
Following his rookie season, Mike Kenn established himself as one of the NFL's premier left tackles, starting all 16 games in 1979 while allowing only 4.5 sacks, a performance that ranked him among the league's top performers at the position.[25] In 1980, he earned first-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press and his first Pro Bowl selection, anchoring the Falcons' offensive line during a 12-4 playoff campaign where he contributed to strong pass protection for quarterback Steve Bartkowski.[1] [26] Kenn's consistency extended to low penalty counts, with just four holding penalties that year, reflecting his technical proficiency in blocking elite pass rushers.[25] Kenn maintained elite status through the early 1980s, securing consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 1981 to 1984 and second-team All-Pro recognition in 1981, 1982, and 1983.[1] During this streak, he started all games played each season, including nine in the strike-shortened 1982 campaign, and was noted for allowing the fewest sacks and committing the fewest penalties among offensive tackles in multiple years, underscoring his dominance in pass protection.[27] [1] He also received NFL Players Association Offensive Lineman of the Year awards in 1981 and 1982, honors based on peer voting that highlighted his reliability amid the Falcons' varying team success.[28] A knee injury in 1985 sidelined him for five games, but Kenn rebounded to start 11 contests that year and all 16 in 1986, preserving a streak of high-level play into the late 1980s.[1] From 1986 to 1989, he started 59 of 59 games played despite the 1987 strike reducing the schedule to 15 games, continuing to excel in run blocking and pass protection with minimal disruptions, as evidenced by league-low metrics in sacks allowed and penalties at his position.[1] [27] This period solidified his reputation as a durable cornerstone of the Falcons' line, contributing to franchise longevity records while facing top defenses without regression.[2]Later Seasons and Retirement (1990–1994)
In the 1990 season, Kenn started all 16 games at left tackle for the Atlanta Falcons, contributing to a unit that supported a balanced offense while he recorded one fumble recovery.[1] His consistent blocking helped anchor the line amid a 6–10 team record, and that year he received the Alan Page Community Award for his off-field efforts.[1] Kenn's performance peaked in 1991, where he started 15 games and earned first-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press, as the Falcons' offensive line set a franchise record for fewest sacks allowed in a season (17).[1][29] The team improved to 10–6, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1982, with Kenn's protection enabling key quarterback stability.[1] He added a fumble recovery in the postseason.[1] Entering 1992 at age 36, Kenn maintained durability by starting all 16 games, allowing just five sacks and drawing only one penalty, which earned him Pro Bowl alternate status.[4] The Falcons regressed to 6–10, but Kenn's reliability underscored his franchise-record longevity, having started every game in his career up to that point.[1] In 1993, he continued as the starting left tackle for all 16 games, providing veteran leadership on a line that supported running back Jessie Tuggle's defensive efforts amid another 6–10 finish.[1] Kenn's final season in 1994 saw him start 15 of 16 games at left tackle, having bulked up to 286 pounds to handle physical demands into his late 30s.[3] The Falcons ended 4–12 under new coach June Jones, yet Kenn's ironman streak reached 251 consecutive starts, a Falcons record that still stands.[1][2] Following the season, despite Jones offering a contract extension, Kenn opted to retire after 17 seasons, all with Atlanta, citing a desire to exit while still performing at a high level rather than diminishing returns.[3] His career concluded without major late injuries, having missed only 10 games total, primarily from earlier knee surgery.[28]Achievements, Records, and Recognition
Statistical Accomplishments and Franchise Marks
Mike Kenn's NFL career spanned 17 seasons from 1978 to 1994, during which he appeared in 251 regular-season games, starting every one as the Atlanta Falcons' left tackle.[1] His durability contributed to a career Approximate Value of 139, ranking second in Falcons franchise history behind only Jessie Tuggle's 140.[30] In the postseason, Kenn started all six games in which he participated, including appearances in the 1982 and 1991 playoffs.[1] Kenn holds multiple Atlanta Falcons franchise records reflecting his longevity and consistency. He owns the team marks for most games played (251) and most games started (251), achievements that underscore his role as a foundational offensive lineman over nearly two decades.[2] Additionally, he ranks second in franchise history for seasons played with 17, trailing only Jeff Van Note's 18.[2] A notable streak of 84 consecutive games played further highlights his reliability during the 1980s.[31] These statistical benchmarks, derived from official NFL records, position Kenn as one of the most enduring players in Falcons history despite the team's limited playoff success.[1]All-Pro and Pro Bowl Honors
Mike Kenn was selected to the Pro Bowl five consecutive times, from 1980 to 1984, recognizing his consistent performance as the Atlanta Falcons' left offensive tackle during a period of team rebuilding and offensive line stability.[1][2] His All-Pro honors, primarily from the Associated Press (AP), included two first-team selections in 1980 and 1991, reflecting peak individual dominance in pass protection and run blocking; in 1991, at age 35, he allowed only one sack in a season emphasizing passing plays.[1] He also earned three second-team AP All-Pro nods in 1981, 1982, and 1983.[1] These accolades aligned with his role in protecting quarterbacks amid frequent matchups against elite defenders, contributing to his franchise records for games played and started.[1]| Year | Pro Bowl | All-Pro (AP) |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Selected | First-team |
| 1981 | Selected | Second-team |
| 1982 | Selected | Second-team |
| 1983 | Selected | Second-team |
| 1984 | Selected | None |
| 1991 | None | First-team |