Eric Kendricks Bio
Eric Nathan Marvin Kendricks is an American professional football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, winning the Butkus Award as the nation’s top collegiate linebacker as a senior in 2014. Kendricks was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft and has also played for the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys.
Early Life and Background
Eric Nathan Marvin Kendricks was born on February 29, 1992, in Clovis, California. He is the son of Yvonne Thagon and Marvin Kendricks, a former running back for UCLA who played professionally in the Canadian Football League. His father battled addiction to crack cocaine for a time, and Eric was raised largely by his single mother. He grew up alongside an older brother, Mychal, and a younger sister, Danielle, in Fresno, California.
Kendricks attended Herbert Hoover High School in Fresno, where he earned three varsity letters for coach Pat Plummer. He played linebacker, quarterback, running back, kicker, and punter, while serving as team captain in his junior and senior seasons. He was a multi-sport standout, also lettering in basketball and baseball, and was named the 2010 male Tri-Athlete of the Year at his school. He committed to UCLA in November 2009, viewed as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com.
Path to American Football
Kendricks redshirted his first year at UCLA in 2010 before working his way into the Bruins defense as a redshirt freshman. By his sophomore year he had become a full-time starter and led the Pac-12 in tackles, the first Bruin to do so since Spencer Havner in 2004. His instincts and sideline-to-sideline speed quickly established him as a difference-maker at the college level.
As a junior, Kendricks led UCLA in tackles for the second straight season and was honored for his leadership on defense. His senior year in 2014 became a defining one: he set the UCLA career tackles record with 481 stops, surpassed the previous mark held by Jerry Robinson, and led the Football Bowl Subdivision with 101 solo tackles. He captured the Butkus Award, the Lott Trophy, and first-team All-American honors, cementing his status as one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2015 draft class.
Eric Kendricks Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
The Minnesota Vikings selected Kendricks in the second round, 45th overall, of the 2015 NFL draft, reuniting him with former UCLA teammate Anthony Barr. He signed a four-year rookie contract and, after competing in training camp, took over the starting middle linebacker role in October 2015. He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in October and finished his first year leading the Vikings in tackles with 92 combined stops, earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
In 2016, Kendricks opened the season with a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He then started all 16 games in 2017, posting a career-high 113 tackles. Across his first three seasons he proved to be one of the league’s most reliable young interior linebackers.
Minnesota Vikings Breakthrough (2015–2022)
Kendricks signed a five-year, $50 million contract extension in April 2018, rewarding his steady production. In 2019 he was named first-team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl selection, the most decorated season of his career. He continued to play a leadership role in the Vikings defense, registering double-digit tackle totals in several games, including a 12-tackle performance against the Detroit Lions in 2019.
He played a key part in the Vikings’ 2019 playoff run, intercepting Jimmy Garoppolo in the Divisional Round against the San Francisco 49ers. He also scored a touchdown in 2022 by recovering a botched snap in the end zone against the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings released Kendricks on March 6, 2023, ending his eight-year run in Minnesota.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2023)
On March 14, 2023, Kendricks signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. He became a fixture in the middle of the Chargers defense, finishing second on the team in tackles with 117 through 15 games, while adding 3.5 sacks, six passes defended, and one forced fumble. The Chargers released him on March 5, 2024, after one season in Los Angeles.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2024)
Kendricks signed with the Dallas Cowboys on March 14, 2024, and quickly became a starter in the middle of their defense. He started 15 games during the regular season, producing 138 combined tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and three pass deflections. He re-entered free agency at the end of the season before finding a new opportunity in the NFC West.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2025–Present)
The San Francisco 49ers signed Kendricks to their practice squad on November 26, 2025, and promoted him to the active roster on January 7, 2026. His veteran presence added depth to a 49ers linebacking corps chasing a postseason run.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kendricks is known for his quick diagnosis of plays, sideline-to-sideline range, and reliable open-field tackling. He excels in zone coverage, where his instincts allow him to break on routes and limit yards after the catch. His football IQ and pre-snap communication have made him a trusted signal-caller in the middle of multiple defenses.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Kendricks owns UCLA’s career tackles record and a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown on opening day of the 2016 season. He is also the only active NFL player to be born on a leap day, February 29, 1992.
Eric Kendricks Career Wins
Eric Kendricks has built a steady, long-running NFL career defined more by consistency and playmaking than by trophy counts. While he has never won a Super Bowl or a conference championship, he has earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition, the top individual honors a linebacker can receive. His production in tackles, sacks, and interceptions has anchored defenses for the Vikings, Chargers, and Cowboys.
NFL Highlights
Kendricks led the Minnesota Vikings in tackles during his 2015 rookie season, a feat not accomplished by a Vikings rookie since 1961. He recorded a career-high 138 combined tackles with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024 and posted 117 tackles in his lone season with the Los Angeles Chargers. He also scored three defensive touchdowns during his NFL career, including fumble recoveries and interception returns.
Other Performances
At the college level, Kendricks became UCLA’s all-time leader in career tackles and won the 2014 Butkus Award as the top linebacker in college football. He also received the Lott Trophy that year, recognizing his combination of on-field performance and personal character.
Eric Kendricks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Eric comes from a football family. His father, Marvin Kendricks, was a running back for the UCLA Bruins who led the team in rushing in 1970 and 1971 before playing professionally in the Canadian Football League. His older brother, Mychal Kendricks, also became an NFL linebacker, giving the brothers a rare shared journey through the league.
Personal Life
Kendricks met model and former athlete Ally Courtnall at UCLA in 2010, and the two began dating in 2013. They married on July 2, 2022, and welcomed a son named Knight on May 3, 2023. Kendricks is of African-American, Asian, and Mexican descent.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Kendricks as a free agent after a productive year in Dallas. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad on November 26, 2025, joining a contending team in need of linebacker depth. His role with the 49ers was expected to expand in the weeks that followed, with the club monitoring his readiness to contribute on special teams and in base defensive packages.
On January 7, 2026, the 49ers promoted Kendricks to the active roster, signaling growing trust in his preparation and conditioning. His veteran instincts and tackling reliability gave San Francisco another experienced option in the middle of the defense during the stretch run of the regular season and into the postseason.
Looking ahead, Kendricks entered the late stages of his career as a respected mentor and rotational defender. His ability to play all three downs, communicate pre-snap adjustments, and deliver in run support made him a valuable late-season addition for a 49ers team with championship ambitions. Whether as a starter, a rotational piece, or a leader in the locker room, Kendricks remained a dependable presence wherever he landed in 2025 and beyond.
