Isaiah Kacyvenski NFL Outside Linebacker

Isaiah Kacyvenski started his life in a below poverty level family to rise in life to a level he cherished through his determination and hard work . He is currently is an NFL outside linebacker with the Oakland Raiders. Born in Syracruse, New York on 3rd October,1977.

Isaiah Kacyvenski grew up the youngest of five children in upstate Endicott, New York near the Pennsylvania border, with his parents amid difficult financial condition . His mother was very supportive and loving whereas his father was sometimes abusive and alcoholic. His mother left to do missionary work when he was thirteen, with their father taking care of him and his siblings .

Isaiah Kacyvenski was an honors student of Union Endicott High School where he was captain of the football team as well. From his adolescence, Isaiah was determined to improve his standing in life . His eventual target was earning a football scholarship to University of Notre Dame. He worked very hard to achieve his goal. Towards the end of his senior year, Harvard University coach Tim Murphy offered him an academic scholarship.

Very fond of his mother, the football match Isaiah Kacyvenski played on the night of her death in an accident is termed by him as one of his best games. When in Harvard as a freshman, a photo of his mother wearing a Harvard sweatshirt and her bible with the passage on motherhood, Isaiah 49.15, highlighted, assured him these were signs of his being right in his decisions. Isaiah's college jersey number, by coincidence, was 49.

Determined not to be 'outworked', Isaiah Kacyvenski started every game at Harvard University. As a freshman, he received Ivy League Rookie of the Year award. He won All-Ivy League first team honours for three years. He achieved a school single-season record of 135 tackles, and for his college career, finished with a school career-record with 395 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, and 8 fumble recoveries. He received the Nils V 'Swede' Nelson Award for sportsmanship following his senior season.

Isaiah Kacyvenski graduated from Harvard University 'cum laude' with a pre-med degree, He was selected in the 4th round of the 2000 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He did not attend his graduation ceremony at Harvard though Seahawks had granted him permission. His father, himself not a graduate from college and reconciled with the family after being sober for ten years, accepted his diploma. This was his tribute to his my mother and his siblings for their support to Issaiah's life.

Isaiah Kacyvenski played for 7 years with the Seattle Hawks , i.e., till September 30, 2006, recording 267 tackles in 90 games. He signed a one year deal each with the St Louis Rams on October 3, 2006 and the Oakland Raiders on July 11, 2007.Issaiah appeared on the July 12, 2007 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show when he talked about rough childhood and reconciliation with his abusive father. He is married to his old sweetheart Lauren. Isaiah_Kacyvenski