Sport: Football
Born: January 16, 1962
Town: Camden, New Jersey
Kevin Lesley Ross was born January 16, 1962 in Camden, NJ. As a boy growing up in Camden, he excelled at several sports—the more physical the better. Kevin attended Paulsboro High School, playing linebacker on defense and running back on offensive. He was named all-state at each position. He was also a top-ranked wrestler.
Kevin accepted a scholarship from Temple University and was a four-year starter for the Owls, making 249 tackles and 13 interceptions as a defensive back. Kevin’s physical play against smaller receivers gave him an advantage as he learned the position. After Kevin’s junior season, Temple hired fellow New Jerseyan Bruce Arians as coach and he made Kevin—who by this time had acquired the nickname “Rock”—team captain that year.
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Kevin in the seventh round of the 1984 NFL Draft and quickly realized they had found a diamond in the rough. His crushing bump-and-run style was very effective, and with Albert Lewis playing the opposite corner and fellow New Jerseyan Deron Cherry roaming at free safety, the Chiefs had a formidable pass defense. Kevin was second to Cherry with 6 interception as a rookie.
From 1984 to 1993 with the Chiefs, Kevin intercepted at least one pass in every season and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1989 and 1990. In 1993, the Chiefs made it all the way to the AFC title game, but lost, 30–13. Every Buffalo score came on the ground or via a field goal.
By this time, Kevin had moved to free safety. He played three more years as a starter for the Falcons and Chargers before returning to Kansas City for his 14th and final NFL season. He is one the few players in history to score defensive touchdowns in each of the four possible ways—interception return, fumble return, blocked field goal and blocked punt.
Kevin decided to go into coaching and spent four years as a high-school coach back in Camden. In 2003, he was hired by the Vikings and worked with the secondary through the 2005 season. From there, Kevin hecoached with the Chargers and Raiders, before joining Bruce Arians’s staff in Arizona for the 2013 season. He moved over to Tampa Bay with Arians in 2019.
In 2011, Kevin was enshrined in the Chiefs Hall of Fame.