Kelvin Kirk

Kelvin Kirk (December 31, 1953 – July 2, 2003) was an American football wide receiver and kick returner.

Kelvin Kirk
No. 14
Born:(1953-12-31)December 31, 1953
Mount Pleasant, Florida, USA
Died:July 2, 2003(2003-07-02) (aged 49)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Career information
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)WR
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight180 lb (82 kg)
CollegeDayton
High schoolDayton (OH) Dunbar
NFL draft1976 / Round: 17 / Pick: 487
Drafted byPittsburgh Steelers
Career history
As player
1977Toronto Argonauts
1978–1979Calgary Stampeders
1979Saskatchewan Roughriders
1980Calgary Stampeders
1981–1983Ottawa Rough Riders
Career highlights and awards
Career stats
Receptions153
Receiving yards2,942
Return yards3,600
Total TDs20

Early years

Born in Mount Pleasant, Florida, Kirk's family relocated to Dayton, Ohio and he starred at Dunbar High School. Kirk then stayed in town to play his college ball at the University of Dayton,[1][2] where he led the nation with 24.5 yards per reception in 1975.

"Mr. Irrelevant"

Kirk was drafted by the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventeenth and final round of the 1976 NFL Draft, making him the first Mr. Irrelevant of the NFL Draft, an "honor" afforded the last player picked in the draft.[3] (Kirk was the very last of 487 selections, the most ever in an NFL draft.)

Career

After being cut by the Steelers, Kirk headed north to play in the Canadian Football League; he wound up spending seven seasons (1977-83) in the CFL, playing with the Toronto Argonauts, Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Ottawa Rough Riders. He compiled over 6,500 yards in Canada as a wide receiver (153 catches for 2,942 yards and 16 touchdowns), punt returner (1,678 yards and 2 TD) and kickoff returner (1,922 yards and a touchdown).

Following his career in the CFL, Kirk worked as an artist for the Ottawa Citizen before his sudden death by heart attack while playing a pick-up game of basketball in 2003.[1] Kirk was 49.

References
  1. Archdeacon, Tom (April 27, 2012). "UD player first 'Mr. Irrelevant' in NFL Draft". springfieldnewssun.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  2. "Inaugural Mr. Irrelevant dies at 49". dailypilot.com. July 13, 2003. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  3. "Irrelevant Week Mr. Irrelevants". theundefeated.org. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
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