Kendrick Green: NFL Career, Contract, And Setbacks

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An American football guard Kendrick Green thrives to set his steps into NFL glory after his 15-year-long dream to play in NFL came true. The 6-time Super Bowl winners Pittsburgh Steelers picked him up in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Green became the only rookie center as the NFL season opener in 2021, and so to add, to start for the Steelers ever since Maurkice Pouncey in 2010.

The Illinois alumnus is currently on a 4-year contract with Pittsburgh Steelers, which puts his waiver on hold until the 2024 season.

Kendrick Green
Kendrick Green (Source: Instagram)

The Peoria, Illinois native is regarded as a special specimen because of his capacity to leap out of his stance and sprint across open terrain.

Kendrick always has his target in mind when he moves. Likewise, the player is quick to neutralize his target once he has located him.

Want to know more about the Illinois-born NFL player Kendrick Green? Then, make sure to read the article to the end. First, have a look at the quick facts about the NFL player!

Kendrick Green | Quick Facts

Full Name Kendrick Green
Nick Name Kendrick
Date of Birth December 22, 1998
Age 25 Years Old
Birth Place Peoria, Illinois
Nationality American
Ethnicity Black
Zodiac Sign  Capricorn
Chinese zodiac Tiger Year
Height 6 feet 4 inches (1.95 m)
Weight 143 kg (315 lbs)
Hair Color Black
Eye Color Dark Brown
Father’s Name La Mont Carroll
Mother’s Name Not known
Siblings Lamonica Green, Zack Belk
High School Peoria High School
University University of Illinois
Marital Status Not married
Wife Not available
Children One daughter
Profession Football Player
Position Guard
Jersey Number 53
Leagues   NFL
NFL Draft 2021, Round: 3, Pick 87
Debut Year  2021
Food Habits Nonveg
Tattoos Yes
Religion Christianity
Relationship status Single
Career Highlights and Awards First-team All-Big Ten (2020)
Team Pittsburgh Steelers (2021–Present)
Net Worth   Under review
Social Media Instagram, Twitter
Merch Not Available
Last Update  March 2024

Kendrick Green | Family & Education

The Pittsburgh Steelers guard Kendrick Green was born on December 22, 1998, in Peoria, Illinois. His father’s name is La Mont Carroll, though the detail about his mother is yet a mystery.

Green, an American from Arfo-American ethnic roots, prefers to keep his family profile low-key, but fans won’t stop digging out. The NFL star has a brother named Zack Belk and a younger sister named Lamonica Green.

Kendrick-Green-And-His-Brother-Zack-Belk
Kendrick Green And His Brother Zack-Belk (Source: Instagram)

Green’s brother Zack works as Sr DevOps Recruiter for Amazon Web Services (May 2022- Now), according to Zack’s LinkedIn profile.

A graduate of Illinois State University, Belk formerly worked for TEKsystems for 7 years. There, he assumed positions like Technical Recruiter and DevOps Recruiter.

Now moving into Kendrick’s academics, he attended Peoria High School in his hometown Illinois. There, he was a member of the baseball, football, and wrestling teams.

By his senior year, the future NFL player led Peoria to the 2016 IHSA 5A state title with 113 tackles, including 33 for a loss, 15 sacks, and four forced fumbles. No wonder why he was named the first-team All-State. 

For his collegiate career, Kendrick enrolled at Illinois State University after rejecting an offer from Iowa.

Kendrick Green | College Career

Kendrick switched from defensive tackle to offensive line after redshirting his true freshman season. As a redshirt freshman, Green started each of the Illini’s 12 games at left guard.

During his redshirt sophomore season, he once more started every game as a left guard for Illinois. As a result, the player was recognized by Pro Football Focus as an honorable mention All-American and Big Ten Conference performer.

Kendrick Green at his graduation
Kendrick Green At His Graduation (Source: Instagram)

In the COVID-19-shortened 2020 Big Ten season, Kendrick, a redshirt junior, started three games at center and five games at guard. And after that season, Green declared for the 2021 NFL draft and gave up the jersey.

In 2021, he graduated with a degree in Sociology.

Pre-NFL Journey Of Kendrick Green: Scouting Report

According to the NFL draft profile and scouting report, Kendrick possessed extreme quickness, suddenness, and hip mobility to succeed in a run scheme that emphasizes the zone.

The player was understood to be capable of producing a torque on demand to shift, tilt, and unbalance defenders. Likewise, Green also demonstrates “flash” and “snatch” pass-protection techniques to throw off the rusher’s timing and impede the bull-rush

Similarly, he had powerful shoulders and forearms into defenders’ sides while maintaining alert eyes to catch latecomers and find work when uncovered.

The player’s football IQ and general intelligence are above average. He also had a nasty streak when playing. However, Kendrick has strong morals and a work ethic.

In summary, as per the scouting report, Kendrick was a finisher who didn’t give up. He was also a competitor with a winning attitude and leadership qualities that coaches value.

The pre-draft measure recorded: a 40-yard dash at 4.89 seconds, a Three-cone drill at 7.79 seconds, a vertical jump of 0.9m, and a broad jump of 3.02m.

Kendrick Green’s Entry To NFL- Professional Career

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kendrick in the third round, 87th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. The player agreed to a four-year rookie deal with Pittsburgh on July 20, 2021

The Steelers’ training camp depth chart had Kendrick as the starting center for OTAs and his first NFL training camp. Veteran J. C. Hassenauer provided only marginal competition for his initial position.

By the end of NFL preseason, the Steeler’s head coach Mike Tomlin named him a starting center for the team. It followed his NFL debut for the Steelers in Week 1 victory over the Buffalo Bills, allowing him 95% of offensive snaps.

Similarly, in Week 2, he participated in 100% of the offensive snaps, and in Week 3, he participated in 85% of the offensive snaps.

From Weeks 4 through 15, Kendrick played every offensive snap for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and in their Week 16 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the American player took only 63 percent of the snaps.

He sustained an injury in that game, which ultimately prevented him from playing in the season’s final two games.

In the 2021 season, he started in all of the 21 games he played.

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Injuries And Setbacks

Kendrick’s rookie year was not what anyone wanted from the Illinois product. The Steelers’ 15-game starting center, Kendrick, was injured in the calf and had to step down, and after that, J.C. Hassenauer took over.

Kendrick was changing positions from guard to center, which was part of the issue. The player admitted that he did not like playing the center. He was also going from college to the pros, which was not easy. 

Kendrick Green on the field
Kendrick Green On The Field (Source: Instagram)

Kendrick started 29 games at left guard during his college football career but only played center four times. He was not the type of player to refuse the Steelers’ request to switch to center.

However, it was too much to be expected of a third-round pick at the center who still had a lot to learn. Kendrick was more at ease playing guard than other players.

The player has now shifted towards playing back at guard and serving as the Steelers’ interior swingman in 2022.

Between the guard and center, there are significant differences. Kendrick was immediately put into the fire and forced to consider a completely new set of factors.

That hurt him the most of all, and now, switching to guard might not be a magic solution, but it can’t do any harm. The player believes that now that he is back in his most comfortable location, positive things may be in store.

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Kendrick Green’s Daughter- Is He Married? Baby Mama?

The Steelers’ guard may have an impression of toughness but turns as soft as butter when it comes to his baby girl. Oh yes, Kendrick Green is a father.

The 23-year-old NFL star has a daughter named Hazel Jo. Kendrick. She is probably the reason why he stays grounded and is smart with his money.

On November 25, 2021, Kendrick Green shared the first-ever picture of his daughter, Hazel, on Instagram, wishing her a first birthday. It means she was born in 2020 while he was still a college attendee.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Kendrick Green (@kjgreen_53)

How adorable!

Ever since Green’s Instagram profile has had frequent posts featuring his daughter.

But as many fans are wondering who the baby mama is? Is it his wife or girlfriend? Well, he is yet to answer those at the moment. So far, no report on Kendrick Green’s marriage or wife has ever made headlines.

Moreover, the football player is not officially dating anyone. Added that, he has no records of relationships in the past.

A total mystery, but eagle-eyed fans are already on its excavation.

Fact: Green’s brother Zack Belk also has a daughter with his wife Kendra Belk, a mental health therapist. They married in mid-2021 after 3 years of dating.

Kendrick Green | Age, Height, and Body Measurements

The NFL player, Kendrick Green, was born in the year 1998. Hence he is 25 years old.

As a December kid, Kendrick’s zodiac sign is Capricorn. According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, he was born in the Tiger year.

Regarding his physical features, Kendrick is 6 feet 4 inches (1.95 m) tall and weighs approximately 143 kg (315 lbs). 

Kendrick Green working out in the gym
Kendrick Green Working Out In The Gym (Source: Instagram)

The player has a healthy body as he hits the gym almost regularly. The player is mostly known for his commitment to weight training. He squatted 700 pounds in the spring.

Kendrick has a strong upper body and a firm core strength. He also has a powerful lower body. He possesses brute upper-body strength when locked up with defenders at the line.

Did Kendrick Green Always Want To Be A NFL player?

Kendrick wasn’t just a kid who picked up football just so. He chose it as he was the best at it because of his powerful frame. Before getting his hands on football, Kendrick was into many sports. 

Growing up, the player attended the neighborhood basketball camp that Peoria legend Shaun Livingston. The camp was sponsored by the Golden State Warriors’ three-time champion and 2004 fourth-overall NBA draft pick.

Likewise, as a first baseman and power hitter who was so strong that if he just touched the ball, it was gone, Kendrick really loved baseball.

In fact, there was once a time when Kendrick wanted to give up football and concentrate solely on baseball.

His brother, Belk, says that although Kendrick is a workhorse now, he detested going to football practice when he was younger.

When Kendrick was nine or ten had declared to join MLB because he felt it to be much easier than football. However, his brother insisted that Kendrick should play football as he is much better at it.

Kendrick won the majority of his awards on the mat and the field. In addition to helping Peoria High win its first football state championship that year, he had placed third in the state in heavyweight wrestling as a senior.

Likewise, the player earned 12 varsity letters and was even selected to play for the United States under-19 football team in the world championships in China.

Of course, the transition worked out well for his football career. 

Kendrick Green | Peaceful Protest

Kendrick has always been a fighter. In 2020, the player led hundreds of protesters in a march to the Champaign Police Department on First Street.

He was accompanied by athletes from practically every sport on campus and a united Illini athletics department.

Green allowed his teammates and other community members to speak out in favor of racial justice, the ‘Black Lives Matter movement, and Police reform by standing up on a bench in front of a huge crowd.

Kendrick Green leads the peaceful protest
Kendrick Green Leads The Peaceful Protest For Black Lives Matter (Source: dailyillini.com)

Green said that their shared objective was to unite as a community for the sake of victims of police brutality.

Green and the crowd, which had gathered in the department parking lot and spilled onto First Street, kneeled in prayer before remaining silent for a while.

After that protest, the player realized that he could have a significant impact by using his voice to mobilize others and spread a positive message. 

Kendrick Green | Net Worth, Contract & Salary

The player’s main source of income is playing football. Besides, he also earns an extra bit from sponsorship deals. Kendrick Green’s exact net worth is currently unknown, but it is approximately $1 million as of late 2022.

After the 2021 NFL draft (on April 30, 2021), Green inked his rookie contract with Pittsburgh Steelers on July 21.

The 4-year deal, with an overall worth of $4.87 million, gave him an average annual salary of $1.2 million and a total of $906K in signing bonus.

The contract detail breaks down to a $660,000 base salary and $226,503 in signing bonus, totaling $1,566,012 in the 2021-22 season.

Green’s base pay in 2022 will be $881,626, with cap hits of $1,108,129 and $679,509 in dead cap values. His contract details can be summed up as:

  • 2022 Salary Cap Charge: $1,108,128 (0.51% of cap)
  • 2022 Cash Payout: $881,626 (0.39% of spending)
  • 2022 Cash to Cap Ratio: 0.80
  • Contract Value: $4,875,764 ($1,218,941 APY)
  • Fully Guaranteed Money: $906,008
  • Contract Ranking: 33/82 at C

The deal until the end of 2024 will see him a salary of $1,103,251, a $226K signing bonus for the 2022-2023 season, and a salary of $1.32 million in the 2023-24 season.

Social Media

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Kendrick Green Have Tattoos?

Yes, the player has many tattoos carved on his body. For instance, he has a horseshoe tattoo branded on his arm. Likewise, he also has a tattoo of Ares, the Greek god of war on his left arm.

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Aayusha
Aayushahttps://playersbio.com/

Aayusha Bhattarai

Aayusha Bhattarai is a dedicated writer with a passion for uncovering the fascinating stories behind athletes' lives. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, she brings readers on a journey through the triumphs, struggles, and inspirations of their favorite players.

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  • Aayusha explores the off-field lives of athletes, from their hobbies and interests to their family dynamics.
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Aayusha's passion for sports journalism stems from her love of both writing and athletics. With a background in journalism and a keen interest in sports, she combines her talents to deliver compelling stories that resonate with readers.

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