Kenyon Coleman
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Career Summary
Kenyon Coleman was an NFL defensive lineman who appeared in 141 regular-season games across 11 seasons.
He began with the Raiders in 2002 and also played for Dallas, the New York Jets, and Cleveland before returning to Dallas for his final two seasons. NFL records list UCLA as his college.
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Early Life
Coleman was born April 10, 1979, in Fontana, California.
A Saints media guide identifies his full name as Kenyon Octavia Coleman and lists his birthplace and birth date.
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High School
Coleman attended Alta Loma High School in California, where he lettered on both the offensive and defensive lines.
The Saints media guide says he contributed to an Alta Loma team that finished 13-1 and ranked third in Division III as a senior, and also played three years of basketball.
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Path to the NFL
Oakland selected Coleman in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of UCLA.
The Raiders say he appeared in one game as a rookie and was traded to Dallas in 2003.
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NFL Career
Coleman's NFL career included the Raiders, Cowboys, Jets, Browns, and a final return to Dallas.
NFL career statistics list 141 games, 291 total tackles, 13.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. His highest listed single-season sack total was four with Dallas in 2006.
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Career Accomplishments
Coleman's long career was defined by sustained rotational and starting work on several NFL defensive fronts.
He played all 16 regular-season games in five seasons: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011. Dallas signed him as an unrestricted free agent in 2011 after his two seasons in Cleveland.
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Playing Style
Coleman was valued as a run-oriented defensive end rather than a high-volume pass-rush producer.
A 2012 Cowboys assessment described him as not flashy but effective against the run and noted that the club struggled to find a consistent replacement after his triceps injury ended his season.
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Legacy
Coleman built a lengthy NFL career through durability and flexibility across multiple defensive-line groups.
His record shows regular-season appearances for four franchises and a return to Dallas, where he had previously played from 2003 through 2006.
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19759, 00-0021262, 1979-04-10, Kenyon Coleman, Kenyon, Coleman
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