Eric Kendricks

Kendricks was born to Yvonne Thagon and Marvin Kendricks, a former running back for UCLA who played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL).{{Cite news |last=Crumpacker |first=John |date=October 29, 2011 |title=Kendricks brothers on opposite sides in Cal-UCLA |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Kendricks-brothers-on-opposite-sides-in-Cal-UCLA-2325230.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230190025/http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Kendricks-brothers-on-opposite-sides-in-Cal-UCLA-2325230.php |archive-date=December 30, 2014}} He grew up with older brother Mychal and younger sister Danielle. They were raised by Thagon, their single mother, who had split from their father, Marvin, who became addicted to crack cocaine. By the time Kendricks started high school, Marvin cleaned himself up. He married and took a job, and arranged with Thagon to be involved in his kids' lives.{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Chris |date=December 30, 2014 |title=Success is relative to UCLA's Eric Kendricks |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-eric-kendricks-20141231-story.html#page=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231173242/http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-eric-kendricks-20141231-story.html |archive-date=December 31, 2014}}

Kendricks attended Herbert Hoover High School in Fresno, California, where he earned three letters for coach Pat Plummer playing linebacker, quarterback, running back, kicker, and punter and serving as team captain his junior and senior seasons.{{Cite web |title=Eric Kendricks Biography |url=http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30500&ATCLID=207914026 |access-date=December 31, 2014 |website=UCLABruins.com}} He was teammates with his brother as a sophomore in 2007. As a junior in 2008, he was named first-team All-league defense and was credited with 85 tackles and two sacks, as well as 10 touchdowns on offense. As a senior in 2009, he registered 117 tackles and two interceptions on defense and scored 14 touchdowns on offense. For his senior season efforts, he was named first-team All-league defense by the Fresno Bee. Kendricks also earned multiple letters in basketball (team captain and first-team All-league in '09) for coach Nick French and baseball (first-team All-league in '09 and '10) for coach Sam Flores. He was named 2010 male Tri-Athlete of the Year at his school.

Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Kendricks was ranked No. 60 among outside linebackers and No. 92 among all players in the state of California. Also viewed as a three-star prospect by Scout.com, he was rated No. 42 among middle linebackers nationally and No. 88 in California. He was named to the GoldenStatePreps.com All-State third-team and All-NorCal first-team. Kendricks committed to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to play college football in November 2009.{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2009 |title=UCLA football: Linebacker Eric Kendricks commits to Bruins |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2009-11-03/ucla-football-linebacker-eric-kendricks-commits-to-bruins |access-date=September 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

File:Kendricks punt blocked USC.jpg.]]

Kendricks played for the Bruins from 2010 to 2014. After redshirting in 2010, Kendricks played in 14 games with three starts as a redshirt freshman in 2011. He finished the season ranking second on the team in tackles with 76, tied for fourth with 4.5 tackles for loss and tied for second with two sacks. He earned an honorable mention Freshman All-American by College Football News and honorable mention Pac-12 Conference All-Academic team. He also received the John Boncheff Jr. Memorial team award for Rookie of the Year at the annual team banquet.{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Chris |date=November 20, 2012 |title=Eric Kendricks' play at UCLA is no joke |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-nov-20-la-sp-1120-ucla-eric-kendricks-20121120-story.html |access-date=September 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

As a 14-game starter as a sophomore in 2012, Kendricks was named honorable mention All-Pac-12 by the coaches, received the Donn Moomaw Award for Outstanding Defensive Player against USC at the annual team awards banquet and was an honorable mention academic All-conference. He led the Pac-12 in tackles with an average of 10.64, a mark which ranked 11th in the nation, becoming the first Bruin to lead the conference in tackles since Spencer Havner in 2004. Kendricks also returned two fumbles for touchdowns (Houston, at Washington State), blocked a punt (USC) and made his first career interception (USC). His total of 150 tackles was the most by a Bruin player since Jerry Robinson registered a school-record 161 stops in 1978. He recorded nine games with double-digit tackles, including in each of the last seven games of the season.

In Kendricks' 2013 junior campaign, he led the team in tackles for the second straight season with 105 tackles and ranked third in the Pac-12 in tackles average with an 8.8 per game mark. He was an honorable mention All-conference academic team. He was awarded the N.N. Sugarman Award for Best Leadership on defense, the UCLA Captains Award and the Bruin Force Award at the team banquet.

Kendricks entered his senior season in 2014 as a starter for the third straight year.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Ted |date=June 12, 2014 |title=Kendricks ready to lead UCLA defense |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/95512/kendricks-ready-to-lead-ucla-defense |access-date=September 21, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Chris |date=July 25, 2014 |title=UCLA's Eric Kendricks could move into the spotlight this season |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-football-kendricks-20140725-story.html |access-date=September 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He led the Football Bowl Subdivision with 101 solo tackles,{{cite news|first=Gary|last=Mihoces|title=UCLA's Eric Kendricks among NFL draft's top linebacker prospects|date=April 17, 2015|newspaper=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2015/04/17/inside-linebacker-prospects-eric-kendricks-ucla-mychal/25935711/|access-date=September 10, 2024}} and set the UCLA record for career tackles with 481, breaking the previous mark of 468 set by Jerry Robinson (1976–1978).{{Cite web |last=Terranova |first=Rob |date=November 28, 2014 |title=UCLA's Eric Kendricks sets new school tackle record |url=https://pac-12.com/article/2014/11/28/uclas-eric-kendricks-sets-new-school-tackle-record |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213074150/http://pac-12.com/article/2014/11/28/uclas-eric-kendricks-sets-new-school-tackle-record |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 13, 2014 |access-date=September 21, 2023 |website=Pac-12.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=#11 KANSAS STATE VS. #14 UCLA GAME NOTES |url=http://alamobowl.com/11-kansas-state-vs-14-ucla-game-notes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103235307/http://alamobowl.com/11-kansas-state-vs-14-ucla-game-notes/ |archive-date=January 3, 2015 |website=AlamoBowl.com|date=January 3, 2015 }} In the Bruins' 40–35 win over Kansas State in the Alamo Bowl, Kendricks was named the game's defensive most valuable player after recording 10 tackles, including three tackles for loss. For the season, he won the Butkus Award, given annually to the top linebacker in college football and becoming UCLA's first winner.{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Chris |date=December 9, 2014 |title=UCLA Linebacker Eric Kendricks Wins Butkus Award |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/uclanow/la-sp-ucla-eric-kendricks-butkus-award-20141209-story.html}} The Sporting News named him a first-team All-American,{{cite news|title=SN All-American team: Mariota, Cooper, Gordon lead way|work=Sporting News|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/photos/4630079-college-football-sn-all-american-teams-photos-marcus-mariota-melvin-gordon-amari-cooper-jt-barrett-joey-bosa-scooby-wright|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109183635/http://www.sportingnews.com/photos/4630079-college-football-sn-all-american-teams-photos-marcus-mariota-melvin-gordon-amari-cooper-jt-barrett-joey-bosa-scooby-wright/slide/288130|archive-date=January 9, 2015}} the Walter Camp Football Foundation placed him on their second team,{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Chris |date=December 11, 2014 |title=Do Pac-12 coaches need a do-over on UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks? |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/uclanow/la-sp-ucla-eric-kendricks-walter-camp-all-american-20141211-story.html |access-date=December 13, 2014}} and he was also named second-team All-Pac-12.{{Cite news |last=Klein |first=Gary |date=December 2, 2014 |title=USC places five players, UCLA one on All-Pac-12 first team in football |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-pac-12-football-20141203-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203213653/http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-pac-12-football-20141203-story.html |archive-date=December 3, 2014}}

• Second-team All-American (2014)
• Second-team All-Pac-12 (2014)
• Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP (2015)
• Butkus Award (2014)
• Lott Trophy (2014)

Kendricks solidified his status as one of the draft's top linebackers with an impressive performance at the 2015 NFL Combine; his 4.61 40-yard dash was one of the fastest times among linebackers. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, he was ranked as the top inside linebacker prospect by DraftScout.com, the second ranked inside linebacker by NFL analyst Charles Davis, the third best linebacker prospect by Sports Illustrated and was ranked the fourth best linebacker prospect by NFL analyst Mike Mayock.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Charles |date=April 1, 2015 |title=2015 NFL Draft prospect rankings by position |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2015-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-by-position-0ap3000000483055 |access-date=September 4, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |last=Mayock |first=Mike |date=April 27, 2015 |title=2015 NFL Draft: Mike Mayock's top 100 prospects |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2015-nfl-draft-mike-mayock-s-top-100-prospects-0ap3000000488358 |access-date=September 4, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Chris |date=March 30, 2015 |title=The SI 64: Sports Illustrated's top 64 prospects in the 2015 NFL draft |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/03/30/2015-nfl-draft-big-board-top-64-prospects |access-date=September 4, 2020 |website=si.com}}

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 0 1/4

| weight = 232

| dash = 4.61

| ten split = 1.57

| twenty split = 2.64

| shuttle = 4.14

| cone drill = 7.14

| vertical = 38

| broad ft = 10

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| bench = 22

| wonderlic =

| arm span = 31

| hand span = 9 5/8

| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |title=Eric Kendricks Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/eric-kendricks/32004b45-4e10-1224-7c6e-cc615bedb57b |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2015 NFL Draft Scout Eric Kendricks College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=109379&DraftYear=2015 |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

The Minnesota Vikings selected Kendricks in the second round (45th overall) of the 2015 NFL draft. The Vikings also selected former UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr in the previous draft, reuniting the teammates in the NFL. Kendricks was the sixth linebacker drafted in 2015.{{Cite web |title=2015 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2015/draft.htm |access-date=May 15, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

On May 7, 2015, the Minnesota Vikings signed Kendricks to a four–year, $5.15 million contract that included $2.67 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.00 million.{{Cite web |title=Spotrac.com; Eric Kendricks contract |url=https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/eric-kendricks-16769/ |access-date=September 4, 2020 |website=Spotrac.com}}

Throughout training camp, Kendricks competed to be the starting middle linebacker against Audie Cole and Gerald Hodges following the departure of Jasper Brinkley. Head coach Mike Zimmer named Kendricks a backup and listed him as the No. 2 middle linebacker on the depth chart to begin the season, behind Gerald Hodges.{{cite web |title=Vikings' faith in Eric Kendricks led to Gerald Hodges trade |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/15744/vikings-faith-in-eric-kendricks-led-to-gerald-hodges-trade |access-date=May 25, 2025| website=ESPN.com| author=Ben Goesseling |date=October 7, 2015}}

On September 14, 2015, Kendricks made his professional regular season debut in the Vikings' season-opener at the San Francisco 49ers and made one solo tackle during their 20–3 loss. On October 4, 2015, Kendricks earned his first career start during a 23–20 loss at the Denver Broncos. He finished the Week 4 loss with four solo tackles and made his first career sack on Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning for a six–yard loss during the second quarter.{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos – October 4th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201510040den.htm |access-date=September 4, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference}} On October 7, 2015, the Vikings traded Gerald Hodges to the San Francisco 49ers, and subsequently named Kendricks his replacement as the starting middle linebacker. In Week 6, Kendricks collected a season-high ten combined tackles (nine solo) during a 16–10 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs . His ten combined tackles tied a franchise record by a rookie, along with Harrison Smith (2012) and Malik Boyd in (1994). On October 25, 2015, Kendricks recorded six solo tackles and a season-high two sacks on quarterback Matthew Stafford as the Vikings defeated the Detroit Lions 28–19. On October 29, 2015, Kendricks was named the NFL Defensive Rookie for the month of October, when he posted 20 combined tackles, four sacks and 5 quarterback pressures in just three games. He became the first Vikings defensive player to win Rookie of the Month honors since Kevin Williams did it in (2003), and the eighth to win it overall. The last Vikings player to be selected Rookie of the Month was Cordarrelle Patterson in December 2013.{{Cite web |title=Eric Kendricks Named Defensive Rookie of the Month |url=http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Eric-Kendricks-Named-Defensive-Rookie-of-the-Month/2b10cf72-1300-405d-a27e-563a89ef3b1f |access-date=October 29, 2015 |website=www.vikings.com}} He was inactive for two games (Weeks 9–10) due to a rib injury.{{Cite web |last=Pantorno |first=Joe |date=November 6, 2015 |title=Eric Kendricks Injury: Updates on Vikings LB's Ribs and Return |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2586829-eric-kendricks-injury-updates-on-vikings-lbs-ribs-and-return |access-date=September 21, 2023 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} He also posted 4.0 sacks, which is tied with Anthony Barr for the 2nd-most sacks by a rookie linebacker in team history, trailing only Dwayne Rudd, who finished his rookie season in 2015 with 5.0 sacks. On January 19, 2016, Kendricks was named to the Pro Football Writers of America's (PFWA) 2015 NFL All-Rookie team.{{Cite web |title=2015 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2015.htm |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He led the Vikings defense in total tackles as a rookie with 92 combined tackles, marking the first time a rookie has led the club in tackles since Rip Hawkins in (1961). Kendricks completed his rookie campaign with a total of 92 combined tackles (72 solo), four sacks, and one pass deflection in 14 games and 11 starts.{{cite web | title=Eric Kendricks 2015 Game Log | website=Pro Football Reference| url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KendEr00/gamelog/2015/ | access-date=2024-09-10}}

After missing the entire preseason due to a hamstring injury he suffered early in training camp, Kendricks returned for the season opener game to bring back his first career interception 77 yards for a touchdown and post six tackles, including one for a loss, in Minnesota's 25–16 win over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.[http://www.twincities.com/2016/09/11/eric-kendricks-comes-up-big-for-vikings-after-missing-entire-preseason/ Eric Kendricks comes up big for Vikings] His interception return late in the third quarter gave the Vikings their first lead of the game at 12–10 and was the sixth-longest by a Vikings linebacker ever and the longest interception return in the NFL during a Kickoff Weekend since Harrison Smith's 81 yarder at St. Louis in 2014.{{Cite web |url=http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/3-Stats-that-Stood-Out-Vikings-at-Titans/b49cae2e-f150-4f9e-b486-d82800ba8e21 |title=3 Stats that Stood Out: Vikings at Titans |access-date=September 14, 2016 |archive-date=September 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913154813/http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/3-Stats-that-Stood-Out-Vikings-at-Titans/b49cae2e-f150-4f9e-b486-d82800ba8e21 |url-status=dead }} For his stellar performance in week 1, Kendricks earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, becoming the eighth different Viking to win the award under head coach Mike Zimmer.{{Cite web |title=Eric Kendricks Wins NFC Defensive Player of the Week |url=http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Eric-Kendricks-Wins-NFC-Defensive-Player-of-the-Week/c4d08c34-da58-4225-8b78-c676a38b2066 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185632/http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Eric-Kendricks-Wins-NFC-Defensive-Player-of-the-Week/c4d08c34-da58-4225-8b78-c676a38b2066 |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |access-date=September 14, 2016}} In Week 5, Kendricks was stellar in coverage against the Houston Texans, as he gave up just two receptions on seven targets for 19 yards and broke up a pass according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).{{cite web | last=Liskiewitz | first=Josh | title=HOU-MIN grades: Vikings defense forces Osweiler into awful game | website=PFF | date=2016-10-09 | url=https://www.pff.com/news/pro-hou-min-grades-vikings-defense-forces-osweiler-into-awful-game | access-date=2025-02-23}}

In 2017, Kendricks started all 16 games, recording a career-high and team-leading 113 tackles.{{Cite web |title=Eric Kendricks 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KendEr00/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=September 25, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2017 Minnesota Vikings Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2017.htm |access-date=September 25, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

On April 16, 2018, Kendricks signed a five-year, $50 million contract extension with the Vikings with $25 million guaranteed.{{Cite web |last=Wesseling |first=Chris |date=April 16, 2018 |title=Vikings sign Eric Kendricks to 5-year, $50M extension |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/vikings-sign-eric-kendricks-to-5-year-50m-extension-0ap3000000926650 |website=NFL.com}} He played in and started 14 games. He finished the season with 108 tackles, two interceptions, one sack and a forced fumble.{{Cite web |title=Eric Kendricks 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KendEr00/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=September 25, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

In Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kendricks forced a fumble on tight end Zach Ertz that was recovered by teammate Anthony Barr in the 38–20 win.{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2019 |title=Cousins, Diggs fly past Eagles in Vikings' 38–20 win |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128123 |access-date=October 13, 2019 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} In Week 7 against the Lions, Kendricks recorded a team high 12 tackles in the 42–30 win.{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2019 |title=Cousins has 4 TD passes as Vikings surge past Lions 42–30 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127947 |access-date=October 20, 2019 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} In Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football, Kendricks recovered a fumble forced by Anthony Barr on Aaron Jones and recovered another fumble forced by Harrison Smith on Davante Adams during the 23–10 loss. During Kendricks' second fumble recovery, he suffered a quad injury and was forced to exit the game.{{Cite web |date=December 23, 2019 |title=Packers clinch NFC North with 23–10 win over Vikings |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127946 |access-date=December 23, 2019 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}

In the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the San Francisco 49ers, Kendricks intercepted a pass thrown by Jimmy Garoppolo and returned it for four yards during the 27–10 loss.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2020 |title=49ers win 1st playoff game in 6 years, 27–10 over Vikings |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401131040 |access-date=January 11, 2020 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}

In Week 9 of the 2020 season against the Lions, Kendricks recorded his first interception of the season off a pass thrown by Matthew Stafford during the 34–20 win.{{Cite web |title=Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – November 8th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202011080min.htm |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} On November 13, 2022, Kendricks recovered a botched snap in the endzone for a touchdown to give the Vikings the lead against the Bills.{{Cite web |title=Vikings 33-30 Bills (Nov 13, 2022) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401437833 |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=ESPN |language=en}}

On March 6, 2023, the Vikings released Kendricks.{{cite web|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/eric-kendricks-linebacker-released-roster-contract-terminated|title=Vikings Release Eric Kendricks Ahead of 2023 Free Agency|date=March 6, 2023|accessdate=March 6, 2023|first=Craig|last=Peters}}

On March 14, 2023, Kendricks signed a two-year, $13.25 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web |date=March 14, 2023 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Sign All-Pro Linebacker Eric Kendricks |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/eric-kendricks-los-angeles-chargers-sign-all-pro-linebacker |access-date=September 21, 2023 |website=Chargers.com}} He finished second on the team in tackles with 117 through 15 games.{{cite web | title=2023 Los Angeles Chargers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports | website=Pro Football Reference | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2023.htm | access-date=2024-09-10}} He added 3.5 sacks, six passes defended, and one forced fumble.{{cite web | title=Eric Kendricks 2023 Game Log | website=Pro Football Reference| url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KendEr00/gamelog/2023/ | access-date=2024-09-10}}

On March 5, 2024, Kendricks was released by the Chargers.{{Cite web |last=Simmons |first=Myles |date=March 5, 2024 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Release Linebacker Eric Kendricks |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/chargers-release-eric-kendricks |access-date=March 5, 2024 |website=NBC Sports}}{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2024 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Release Eric Kendricks |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-release-eric-kendricks-2024 |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Chargers.com}}

On March 14, 2024, Kendricks signed with the Dallas Cowboys.{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Nick |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Cowboys agree to terms with LB Eric Kendricks |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-agree-to-terms-with-lb-eric-kendricks |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=DallasCowboys.com}}

Kendricks' brother, Mychal, was a linebacker in the NFL. Their father led the Bruins in rushing in 1970 and 1971.{{Cite book |last1=Boyles |first1=Bob |url={{Google books|plainurl=yes|id=eNThHqwUK7kC|page=1317 }} |title=The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia 2009–2010 |last2=Guido |first2=Paul |publisher=Skyhorse |year=2009 |isbn=9781602396777 |page=1317 |access-date=January 11, 2015}} Kendricks is the only active NFL player to be born on a leap day.{{Cite web |last=Kaduk |first=Kevin |date=February 28, 2020 |title=Leap Day: Athletes who were born on February 29 |url=https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/02/28/leap-day-athletes-who-were-born-on-february-29-2/ |access-date=September 25, 2020 |website=Touchdown Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}

Kendricks met model and former athlete Ally Courtnall at UCLA in 2010, and they began dating in 2013. The couple married on July 2, 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.brides.com/nfl-eric-kendricks-napa-valley-wedding-ben-smith-8549439|title=These Athletes Brought the Competition to Their Napa Valley Wedding With Arcade Games and a Round of Flip Cup|last=Blomquist|first=Lilly|date=2024-01-29|magazine=Brides|access-date=2024-12-14}} Their son, Knight, was born on May 3, 2023.{{cite magazine|url=https://lifestyle.si.com/news/ally-courtnall-and-nfl-player-husband-eric-kendricks-share-adorable-first-photo-of-new-baby-boy-knight|title=Ally Courtnall and NFL Player Husband Eric Kendricks Share Adorable First Photo of New Baby Boy, Knight|last=Panchal|first=Ananya|date=2023-05-11|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=2024-12-14}}

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• [http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30500&ATCLID=207914026 UCLA Bruins bio]

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Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:Players of American football from Clovis, California

Category:American football linebackers

Category:UCLA Bruins football players

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Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players