Eric Kumerow

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Eric Kumerow
No. 90, 70
Position:Linebacker
Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1965-04-17) April 17, 1965 (age 59)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight:264 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:Oak Park (IL) River Forest
College:Ohio State
NFL draft:1988 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:5.0
Interceptions:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Eric Palmer Kumerow (born April 17, 1965) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for three seasons for the Miami Dolphins and one season with the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). He played 42 games in his NFL career.

Kumerow attended Oak Park and River Forest High School. He played quarterback and defensive back there before going to Ohio State and playing linebacker. Kumerow was selected in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. He did not perform as well as expected and was considered to be a draft "bust". Kumerow played three seasons with the Dolphins before going to the Chicago Bears. He tore his Achilles tendon before his fourth season started and subsequently retired.

Early and personal life[edit]

Eric Kumerow was born on April 17, 1965, in Chicago. His parents were NFL star Palmer Pyle and Marie Accardo, daughter of Chicago Outfit boss Tony Accardo.[1] After their divorce, Marie married Ernest Kumerow, a minor league baseball player and later official of the Laborers' International Union of North America,[1][2][3] whose surname Eric & his sister, Cheryl, took.[4]

Other NFL players related to Kumerow are his son Jake Kumerow, his uncle Mike Pyle, his brother-in-law John Bosa, and Bosa's sons, Joey and Nick Bosa.[5]

At Oak Park and River Forest High School, Kumerow played quarterback and defensive back, and was named a 1982 USA Today High School All-American for the defensive back position. He won numerous other awards in football and basketball, receiving The Tribune Athlete of the Month Award in December 1982, and being added to The Tribune All-State, the Associated Press and the United Press International All-State teams during the football season of 1982.[6] In addition to football, Kumerow was a standout basketball player. His basketball coach, Bob Parker, said, "Eric's the best athlete I've ever coached."[6]

As of 2018, Kumerow lived in the Chicago suburb of Bartlett, Illinois.[7]

College career[edit]

Kumerow went to college at Ohio State. He started his career as a quarterback, which he played in high school, but switched to defense after spending his first season "on the bench."[8] When Kumerow went to Ohio State, he focused more on football and did not play basketball.[8] In college he played linebacker, and was named Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the year in 1986.[8] Kumerow played alongside future pro bowl linebacker Chris Spielman while at Ohio State. In 1986, when he won Defensive Lineman of the Year honors, he had 66 tackles (nine for a total loss of 62 yards), had an interception, and six passes defended.[9] Kumerow's best game of the season came against Iowa, in which he had eight tackles, a sack, and a pass defended to earn Associated Press Lineman of the Week honors.[9] He was named team captain in 1987 and was named First-team All Big Ten.[7] Kumerow finished his college career with 23 sacks, which ranks sixth among all Ohio State players.[7] He was 6-7 and 250 pounds during his college career.[10] He was also an Honorable Mention All-American in his senior year.[11]

Professional career[edit]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Hand span
6 ft 7 in
(2.01 m) 		257 lb
(117 kg) 		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)
All values from NFL Combine[12]

NFL Draft[edit]

In the 1988 NFL draft, Kumerow was selected in the first round by the Miami Dolphins with the 16th overall pick.[13][14] It was one year after they drafted his brother-in-law John Bosa with the same pick.[15] His drafting received negative response from Dolphins fans because he was predicted to be drafted much later in the draft.[16][17][18] According to some sources, the pick even surprised Kumerow.[19]

Miami Dolphins[edit]

Kumerow was switched from linebacker to defensive end in his second week of training camp.[20] His first game was played against the Chicago Bears, a team he would later play for.[21] In his first season, Kumerow played 14 games, had 13 tackles[22] and three sacks.[23] He played 12 games in 1989 and all 16 in 1990. Kumerow had two sacks in 1989 but none in 1990. He had his only career interception in 1990, which he returned for five yards. Kumerow did not start in any games in a Dolphins uniform.

Chicago Bears[edit]

In 1991, Kumerow was signed by the Chicago Bears, who originally wanted to draft him.[24][25] He later tore his Achilles tendon and retired afterwards. Kumerow finished his career with 42 games played and five sacks.[23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "The Great-Grandfather". Sports Illustrated. April 22, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  2. ^ "Ernest Kumerow Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  3. ^ Grotto, Jason (October 12, 2011). "Head of Chicago pension fund tried to collect an unearned union pension". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Schalter, Ty. "Chasing a Family Legacy, Jake Kumerow's NFL Draft Dream Comes Full Circle". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  5. ^ Wertheim, Jon (May 2, 2019). "Nick Bosa and the 2019 Draft's Oddest Note". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Storm, Rich (January 9, 1983). "Seasons change, not Kumerow". Chicago Tribune – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c "99 Warriors: No. 14, Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and All-Conference Selection Eric Kumerow". Eleven Warriors. August 18, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Conklin, Mike (April 25, 1984). "Kumerow adopts defensive posture". Chicago Tribune. p. 42. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b Patterson, Jack (September 4, 1987). "Kumerow gives Buckeyes ideal inebacker tandem". The Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "eric kumerow family | College Football Crazy". January 22, 2015.
  11. ^ "Eric Kumerow". South Florida Sun Sentinel. April 25, 1988 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Eric Kumerow, Combine Results, DE - Ohio State". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  14. ^ Hill, Bob (May 8, 1988). "A 'foggy' Kumerow has ally in practice". Fort Lauderdale News – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Ohio State football: 5 great players who didn't live up to the NFL hype". May 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "Many thought Kumerow would go much later". South Florida Sun Sentinel. April 25, 1988 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Consensus of Dolphans: anger over "wasted pick"". The Miami Herald. April 25, 1988 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ HILL, BOB (April 25, 1988). "1988: Kumerow the surprise pick". sun-sentinel.com.
  19. ^ Hill, Bob (April 25, 1988). "Dolphins' first selection even surprises Kumerow". South Florida Sun Sentinel – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Moffett, Dan (August 20, 1988). "It's just a hunch, but Kumerow has a long way to go". The Palm Beach Post – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Eric Kumerow 1988 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  22. ^ Dolch, Craig (May 2, 1989). "Kumerow better prepared for dual role". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b "Eric Kumerow Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  24. ^ "Bears eyed Kumerow to replace Marshall". The Miami Herald. April 26, 1988 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "It's a new team but the same Eric Kumerow". The Miami Herald. July 25, 1991 – via Newspapers.com.
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