Kevin Kaesviharn

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Kevin Kaesviharn
New Orleans Saints — No. 43
Safety
Date of birth: August 29, 1976 (1976-08-29) (age 31)
Place of birth: Paramount, California
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 196 lb (89 kg)
National Football League debut
2001 for the Cincinnati Bengals
Career history
College: Augustana College
 Teams:
Career highlights and awards
  • No notable achievements
Stats at NFL.com

Kevin Robert Kaesviharn (born August 29, 1976 in Paramount, California) is an American football safety with the National Football League's New Orleans Saints. Kevin is of Thai descent, his father having been born in Thailand. At 6' 1" and 196 pounds, he can play both free safety and strong safety, as well as cornerback. His fan-given nicknames are "Neo" and "Keanu" for his resemblance to actor Keanu Reeves, though he has been referred to as "Quesadilla" and the shortened "Kase" by many of his fellow players and in the media. He was working as an Algebra teacher after graduation when he decided to try his hand at a professional football career. His first taste of the NFL was spent in training camp with the Green Bay Packers in 2001 after playing for the San Francisco Demons in the inaugural season of the now defunct XFL. He was released by Green Bay just prior to the season opener, but was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals' squad four weeks later. During his stretch with the Bengals, Kaesviharn played in 87 games and logged 363 tackles (286 solo), six sacks, 15 interceptions, 28 passes defended and four fumble recoveries, one of which resulted in a touchdown when he returned the ball three yards on a Lee Suggs fumble in the second quarter vs. the Cleveland Browns on October 17, 2004. On March 13, 2007, after 5 full seasons with the Bengals, Kaesviharn signed a four year contract with the New Orleans Saints.

[edit] High school and college

At Lakeville High School in Lakeville, Minnesota, Kaesviharn lettered in football, track, and basketball. Graduating in 1994, He attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a NCAA Division II school and was a three year starter for the Vikings. He finished his collegiate career with 167 tackles, six interceptions, and 34 passes defensed. As a freshman, Kaesviharn was credited with seven tackles (four solo) and one pass defense. In 1995, he started at cornerback, recording 45 tackles (29 solo), two interceptions, 10 passes defended and two fumble recoveries. He had a stand out year in 1997, and was named an All-North Central Conference Second Team defensive back, picking up 47 tackles (26 solo), two interceptions and 11 passes defended. Kaesviharn finished his collegiate career at cornerback in 1997 as a four-year letter winner. Shortly after his senior season he participated in the Division II All-Star game and was named First-Team All-North Central Conference at cornerback, Academic All-North Central Conference, GTE Academic All-American District VII Second Team and Daktronics Division II All-Midwest Region Second Team. At season end, he was ranked third on the team with 68 tackles (44 of which were solo), and led the team with two interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

Also a member of Augustana's Track and Field Program, he placed fourth in the triple jump and sixth in the long jump in the North Central Conference Outdoor Championships.

Kaesviharn graduated with a degree in Mathematics and Physical Education.

[edit] Arena football and the XFL

Before signing with the Bengals as a free agent in 2001, Kaesviharn played one year for the XFL's San Francisco Demons and two years with the Arena Football League's Iowa Barnstormers where it has been incorrectly reported that he was a teammate of current Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, who emerged from obscurity to lead the St. Louis Rams to a championship in Super Bowl XXXIV over the Tennessee Titans. They missed each other by one year. However, Kaesviharn did play with the Barnstormers at the same time as fellow Augustana teammate, Roger Pedersen, the 1993 South African National Wrestling Champion. As a Barnstormer, Kaesviharn recorded 133 tackles, 15 interceptions,19 pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and caught six passes for 93 yards as a wide receiver. In 1999, Kaesviharn was named the Barnstormers' Rookie of the Year, leading the team with five interceptions for the season. This after having played in only 10 games before breaking a bone in his foot. His strong success continued into 2000, when Kaesviharn was named to the All-Arena First Team at Defensive Specialist, as only the third player in AFL history to register more than 100 tackles in a single season. His 107 tackles were ranked second in the AFL overall. He also set a new Barnstormers record that year with 10 interceptions (for 81 yards) in one season.

In 2000, Kaesviharn was drafted by the San Francisco Demons for the inaugural season of the infamous and now defunct XFL. Over the course of the season he was credited with 41 tackles (32 solo), three interceptions and three passes defended. He also recorded 3 punt returns for a total of 25 yards (averaging 8.3 yards per carry). The Demons went 8-8 for the season, winning their division and going on to the Million Dollar Game vs. the Los Angeles Xtreme. On April 21, 2001, the Xtreme defeated the Demons 38-6. On May 10, 2001, Vince McMahon, the XFL's founder and creator, announced the closure of the league.

[edit] External links