# Mychal Kendricks
**Mychal Kendricks** (full name Marvin Mychal-Christopher Kendricks; born 1990) is a former [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) linebacker who played nine NFL seasons for the [Philadelphia Eagles](https://www.edgepedia.org/philadelphia-eagles), Seattle Seahawks, Washington Football Team, and [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-49ers) after a college career at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was the 2011 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.[1](https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/mychal-kendricks/5762) • [2](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1576252885/patriots/ltlrkntnph9tnysxei7p.pdf) • [3](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/mychal-kendricks-11183) His career was defined by unusual speed for the position, a Super Bowl LII title with the Eagles, and federal insider trading charges that interrupted it in 2018.[4](https://as.com/us/us/2018/09/14/nfl/1536889993_937706.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1990; full name Marvin Mychal-Christopher Kendricks[1](https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/mychal-kendricks/5762) |
| College | California (Berkeley); 2011 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year with a career-high 106 tackles[2](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1576252885/patriots/ltlrkntnph9tnysxei7p.pdf) |
| Draft | Philadelphia Eagles, 2nd round, No. 46 overall, 2012 NFL Draft[1](https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/mychal-kendricks/5762) |
| Combine | 4.47-second 40-yard dash, 39.5-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-7 broad jump, 4.19-second 20-yard shuttle, 24 bench-press reps at 225 pounds[1](https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/mychal-kendricks/5762) |
| NFL career | 104 regular-season games, 19.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, 30 passes defended (2012–2020)[5](https://www.nfl.com/players/mychal-kendricks/stats/career) |
| Teams | Eagles 2012–2017, Seahawks 2018–2019, Washington 2020, 49ers 2021[6](https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/mychal-kendricks/7049) |
| Legal case | Federal insider trading charges involving $1.2 million in alleged illegal gains over four years; released by Cleveland before the 2018 season[4](https://as.com/us/us/2018/09/14/nfl/1536889993_937706.html) |
| Family | Older brother of linebacker Eric Kendricks[7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1573089378/49ers/ocsgogwksmhwcw4dyclw.pdf) |
## Background and college career
Kendricks starred at Hoover High School in [Fresno, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/fresno-california), leading his team with 175 tackles and 4.0 sacks as a senior while also rushing for a team-best 742 yards on 103 carries with six touchdowns.[8](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1578432937/patriots/ouxfgbbxda2rn2vikmv7.pdf) At California he wore No. 30 in honor of former Broncos running back [Terrell Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/terrell-davis), whom he admired growing up.[8](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1578432937/patriots/ouxfgbbxda2rn2vikmv7.pdf)
In 2011 he became the seventh Cal player to earn Pac-10/12 Player of the Year honors and the fourth on the defensive side, and the Golden Bears' first conference Player of the Year since 2006.[9](https://calbears.com/sports/2013/4/17/208198523) He led the Golden Bears with a career-high 106 tackles and won the team's Bear Backers Co-MVP Award on defense.[2](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1576252885/patriots/ltlrkntnph9tnysxei7p.pdf) • [9](https://calbears.com/sports/2013/4/17/208198523) Preseason scouting profiles noted that he had begun his Cal career playing defensive end and outside linebacker before moving inside, giving him scheme versatility in both odd and even fronts.[10](https://www.sidelinescouting.com/rankings/2012/ilb/mychal-kendricks/)
## Draft and athletic testing
Kendricks measured 5 feet 11 inches and about 240 pounds, small for the position, but his testing was exceptional. At the 2012 [NFL Scouting Combine](https://www.edgepedia.org/nfl-scouting-combine) he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, which equaled the fastest combine time by a linebacker since 2007 and led his position; he also tied for fifth in the vertical jump (39.5 inches) and eighth in the broad jump (10 feet 7 inches), and his 4.19-second 20-yard shuttle was fifth-fastest among linebackers.[1](https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/mychal-kendricks/5762) At Cal's Pro Day he improved the shuttle to 4.09 seconds and ran a 6.70 three-cone drill.[1](https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/mychal-kendricks/5762) Against all linebackers, MockDraftable placed his 40-yard dash at the 95th percentile and his three-cone at the 97th, while his height sat at only the 3rd percentile.[11](https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/mychal-kendricks?position=LB)
The Eagles selected him in the second round, 46th overall, the fourth-highest draft selection ever for a Cal linebacker at the time.[1](https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/mychal-kendricks/5762) Cal's six players selected in the 2012 draft equaled the second-most in school history.[12](https://calbears.com/sports/2013/4/27/208470365)
## Philadelphia Eagles, 2012–2017
Kendricks started immediately in Philadelphia and played six seasons there, appearing in 85 regular-season games with 74 starts and compiling 521 tackles and 14.0 sacks through the 2017 season.[2](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1576252885/patriots/ltlrkntnph9tnysxei7p.pdf) In 2013, he and [DeMeco Ryans](https://www.edgepedia.org/demeco-ryans) became the first pair of linebackers in Eagles history to post 4 or more sacks and 2 or more interceptions in the same season.[2](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1576252885/patriots/ltlrkntnph9tnysxei7p.pdf)
His coverage ability was his distinguishing skill. In 2014, despite missing four games, he allowed just 0.43 yards per coverage snap, the lowest figure in the league among off-the-ball linebackers according to [Pro Football Focus](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-football-focus), and the Eagles surrendered only 59 receptions and one touchdown to opposing tight ends that season.[13](https://www.nfl.com/news/demeco-ryans-mychal-kendricks-can-be-nfl-s-best-0ap3000000516492) Teammate DeMeco Ryans called him a candidate to be the NFL's best linebacker, and defensive coordinator Billy Davis argued that spread-out offenses had made speed and athleticism more valuable than the size of older-era linebackers.[13](https://www.nfl.com/news/demeco-ryans-mychal-kendricks-can-be-nfl-s-best-0ap3000000516492) A 2015 film review found he allowed two catches for 7 yards in man coverage over a stretch of games and ranked ninth among inside linebackers in Football Outsiders' success rate at 63 percent.[14](https://www.phillymag.com/birds247/2015/07/14/all-22-deploying-mychal-kendricks/)
Kendricks was part of the Eagles team that reached [Super Bowl LII](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-lii) against the Patriots in February 2018, where he and fellow linebacker Nigel Bradham were assigned the task of containing tight end [Rob Gronkowski](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-gronkowski); Philadelphia won the game, giving Kendricks one championship.[15](https://as.com/us/us/2018/01/29/opinion/1517262249_476656.html) • [3](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/mychal-kendricks-11183)
## Insider trading case and later career
In August and September 2018, federal authorities accused Kendricks of using insider information to generate $1.2 million in illegal gains over four years, an offense carrying a potential sentence of up to 25 years. The [Cleveland Browns](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland-browns), who had signed him that offseason and projected him as a starter, released him days before the season.[4](https://as.com/us/us/2018/09/14/nfl/1536889993_937706.html) A week after the charges became public, he signed a one-year contract with the [Seattle Seahawks](https://www.edgepedia.org/seattle-seahawks), filling a gap created by K.J. Wright's knee injury.[4](https://as.com/us/us/2018/09/14/nfl/1536889993_937706.html)
He played four games for Seattle in 2018 with 18 tackles and 2.0 sacks, then returned for 14 games in 2019 with 69 tackles, 3.0 sacks, and an interception.[5](https://www.nfl.com/players/mychal-kendricks/stats/career) The San Francisco 49ers signed him in 2021, placed him on injured reserve during the preseason, released him with an injury settlement, re-signed him after he passed a physical, and then released him again in late October 2021.[16](https://www.rotowire.com/football/player/mychal-kendricks-8207)
## Career totals and style
Across 104 regular-season games from 2012 through 2020, Kendricks recorded 520 total tackles (379 solo), 19.0 sacks, 30 passes defended, 4 interceptions, and 7 forced fumbles.[5](https://www.nfl.com/players/mychal-kendricks/stats/career) StatMuse credits him with 404 solo tackles and 144 assists over nine seasons, plus 18 playoff appearances with 18 tackles.[3](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/mychal-kendricks-11183) His playing style rested on straight-line speed and closing quickness that let a 5-foot-11 linebacker cover tight ends and running backs and blitz effectively, though pre-draft scouting noted he lacked the length and block-shedding power to routinely take on blockers at the point.[13](https://www.nfl.com/news/demeco-ryans-mychal-kendricks-can-be-nfl-s-best-0ap3000000516492) • [10](https://www.sidelinescouting.com/rankings/2012/ilb/mychal-kendricks/)
His younger brother [Eric Kendricks](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-kendricks), also a linebacker, played for the [Minnesota Vikings](https://www.edgepedia.org/minnesota-vikings) and later the [Los Angeles Rams](https://www.edgepedia.org/los-angeles-rams).[7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1573089378/49ers/ocsgogwksmhwcw4dyclw.pdf) • [17](https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/eric-kendricks/9478)
## References
1. [Mychal Kendricks, California Golden Bears Athletics roster bio](https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/mychal-kendricks/5762)
2. [LB Mychal Kendricks 95, Seattle Seahawks media guide PDF (2018)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1576252885/patriots/ltlrkntnph9tnysxei7p.pdf)
3. [Mychal Kendricks, StatMuse NFL player page](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/mychal-kendricks-11183)
4. [Mychal Kendricks firma por un año con los Seahawks, AS.com (September 14, 2018)](https://as.com/us/us/2018/09/14/nfl/1536889993_937706.html)
5. [Mychal Kendricks Career Stats, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/mychal-kendricks/stats/career)
6. [Mychal Kendricks, PFF player page](https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/mychal-kendricks/7049)
7. [Mychal Kendricks 49ers media guide PDF (2019)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1573089378/49ers/ocsgogwksmhwcw4dyclw.pdf)
8. [LB Mychal Kendricks, Patriots media guide PDF (2016)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1578432937/patriots/ouxfgbbxda2rn2vikmv7.pdf)
9. [Mychal Kendricks Bio, California Golden Bears Athletics](https://calbears.com/sports/2013/4/17/208198523)
10. [Mychal Kendricks Scouting Report, Sideline Scouting](https://www.sidelinescouting.com/rankings/2012/ilb/mychal-kendricks/)
11. [Mychal Kendricks, MockDraftable](https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/mychal-kendricks?position=LB)
12. [Four Former Cal Players Taken in 2013 NFL Draft, California Golden Bears Athletics](https://calbears.com/sports/2013/4/27/208470365)
13. [DeMeco Ryans: Mychal Kendricks can be NFL's best, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/demeco-ryans-mychal-kendricks-can-be-nfl-s-best-0ap3000000516492)
14. [All-22: Deploying Mychal Kendricks, Philadelphia Magazine (July 14, 2015)](https://www.phillymag.com/birds247/2015/07/14/all-22-deploying-mychal-kendricks/)
15. [Dudas razonables rumbo al Super Bowl LII, AS.com (January 29, 2018)](https://as.com/us/us/2018/01/29/opinion/1517262249_476656.html)
16. [Mychal Kendricks NFL Stats & News, RotoWire](https://www.rotowire.com/football/player/mychal-kendricks-8207)
17. [Eric Kendricks, PFF player page](https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/eric-kendricks/9478)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Linebackers › Active professional linebackers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license