History of Eric Kendricks in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 17, 2024

Eric Kendricks is an American football linebacker who currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys. He gained recognition during his college career at UCLA, winning the Butkus Award in 2014. After being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015, he went on to play for the Los Angeles Chargers before joining the Cowboys.

1961: First Rookie to Lead Vikings in Tackles Since 1961

Eric Kendricks was the first rookie to lead the Vikings in tackles since Rip Hawkins in 1961.

1970: Father Leads Bruins in Rushing

Eric Kendricks' father led the Bruins in rushing in 1970.

1971: Father Leads Bruins in Rushing

Eric Kendricks' father led the Bruins in rushing in 1971.

1976: Jerry Robinson Begins his UCLA Career

Jerry Robinson started his UCLA football career in 1976.

1978: Jerry Robinson Sets UCLA Tackle Record

In 1978, Jerry Robinson set a UCLA record with 161 tackles.

1978: Jerry Robinson Ends his UCLA Career

Jerry Robinson ended his UCLA football career in 1978.

February 29, 1992: Eric Kendricks is Born

Eric-Nathan Marvin Kendricks was born on February 29, 1992.

1994: Franchise Record Tied

Eric Kendricks tied a Vikings franchise record for most tackles by a rookie in 1994, a record also held by Malik Boyd.

2003: First Vikings Defensive Rookie of the Month Since 2003

Eric Kendricks was the first Vikings defensive player to win Rookie of the Month since Kevin Williams in 2003.

2004: Spencer Havner Leads the Conference in Tackles

Spencer Havner was the last Bruin to lead the conference in tackles back in 2004.

2007: Kendricks Plays Football with His Brother

In 2007, Eric Kendricks played football alongside his brother as a sophomore at Herbert Hoover High School.

2008: Kendricks Earns All-League Honors

As a junior in 2008, Eric Kendricks was named first-team All-league defense for his impressive performance, recording 85 tackles and 2 sacks, along with 10 touchdowns on offense.

November 2009: Kendricks Commits to UCLA

In November 2009, Eric Kendricks committed to playing college football at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), marking a significant step in his football journey.

2009: Kendricks Excels in Football and Baseball

In 2009, Eric Kendricks demonstrated his versatility by excelling in both football and baseball, earning first-team All-league defense in football and first-team All-league in baseball for his senior season efforts.

2010: Kendricks Redshirts at UCLA

Eric Kendricks redshirted during the 2010 season at UCLA.

2010: Kendricks Named Tri-Athlete of the Year

In 2010, Eric Kendricks was recognized for his athletic achievements across multiple sports, being named the male Tri-Athlete of the Year at Herbert Hoover High School.

2011: Kendricks Earns Freshman All-American Honors

As a redshirt freshman in 2011, Eric Kendricks made a significant impact, earning an honorable mention Freshman All-American by College Football News for his impressive performance, finishing second on the team in tackles with 76.

2012: Franchise Record Tied

Eric Kendricks tied a Vikings franchise record for most tackles by a rookie in 2012, a record also held by Harrison Smith.

2012: Kendricks Leads Pac-12 in Tackles

In 2012, Eric Kendricks had a standout sophomore season, leading the Pac-12 in tackles with an average of 10.64 per game, a testament to his defensive prowess.

December 2013: Last Vikings Rookie of the Month

The last Vikings player to be selected Rookie of the Month before Eric Kendricks was Cordarrelle Patterson in December 2013.

2013: Kendricks Continues to Lead UCLA Defense

In his junior year in 2013, Eric Kendricks continued to be a dominant force on the UCLA defense, leading the team in tackles for the second consecutive season with 105 tackles, demonstrating his consistency and leadership on the field.

2014: Kendricks Sets UCLA Career Tackle Record

During his senior year in 2014, Eric Kendricks etched his name in the UCLA history books by setting the all-time career tackle record with an impressive 481 tackles, surpassing the previous record of 468 set by Jerry Robinson between 1976 and 1978.

2014: Kendricks Concludes his College Football Career at UCLA

Eric Kendricks concluded his successful college football career at UCLA in 2014.

2014: Kendricks Wins the Butkus Award

In 2014, Eric Kendricks won the Butkus Award as the nation's top collegiate linebacker for his exceptional performance during his senior year at UCLA.

2014: First Career Interception and NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Kendricks had a standout performance in the 2014 season opener, returning his first career interception 77 yards for a touchdown and earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

May 7, 2015: Kendricks Signs With the Vikings

On May 7, 2015, Eric Kendricks officially signed a four-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings, solidifying his entry into the NFL. The $5.15 million contract included a $2.00 million signing bonus, marking a significant milestone in his professional career.

October 4, 2015: First Career Start

Eric Kendricks earned his first career start on October 4, 2015, in a game against the Denver Broncos, which the Vikings lost 23-20.

October 7, 2015: Starting Middle Linebacker

On October 7, 2015, the Vikings traded Gerald Hodges to the 49ers, making Eric Kendricks the starting middle linebacker.

October 25, 2015: Victory Against the Lions

Eric Kendricks had a strong performance in the Vikings' 28-19 win against the Detroit Lions on October 25, 2015, recording six solo tackles and a season-high two sacks on quarterback Matthew Stafford.

October 29, 2015: NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month

Kendricks was named the NFL Defensive Rookie for October 2015, becoming the first Vikings defensive player to win the award since 2003.

2015: Kendricks Impresses at NFL Combine

Eric Kendricks showcased his athleticism and talent at the 2015 NFL Combine, further solidifying his status as a top linebacker prospect. His impressive 4.61 40-yard dash time was among the fastest among linebackers, capturing the attention of NFL scouts.

2015: Kendricks is Drafted into the NFL

Eric Kendricks was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft, marking the start of his professional football career.