Former CFL quarterback Kerry Joseph has been selected for induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
The native of New Iberia, La. is being inducted in recognition for his collegiate career at McNeese State, which is located in Lake Charles, La. He threw for 7,874 yards and 67 touchdowns as a member of the Cowboys, the latter of which remains a program record.
The team won its first-ever postseason game under Joseph in 1992 and went a perfect 11-0 with him at the helm in 1995. They were also the top-ranked team in the country at the Division I-AA level that same year, though they lost to Marshall in the semi-final round of the playoffs.
Joseph then spent five years in the NFL, primarily as a defensive back with the Seattle Seahawks. He played in 56 games with 14 starts and recorded 143 tackles, six tackles for loss, 11 pass knockdowns, and three interceptions. He also spent time as a kick returner.
The six-foot, 215-pounder reported to the CFL in 2003 as a quarterback where he played 12 seasons as a member of the Ottawa Renegades, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Toronto Argonauts, and Edmonton Football Team and threw for 28,097 yards, 148 touchdowns, and 126 interceptions. He was also an effective runner, adding 4,584 rushing yards and 63 touchdowns along the ground.
Joseph was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2007 as a member of the Riders and helped lead the team to its third Grey Cup in franchise history.
The 49-year-old will be inducted alongside Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees, eight-time WNBA all-star Seimone Augustus, mixed martial arts icon Daniel Cormier, 1992 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kevin Jackson, former Tulane basketball coach Perry Clark, high school football coach Frank Monica, Breeders’ Cup-winning thoroughbred jockey Ray Sibille, and retired Grambling baseball coach Wilbert Ellis.
“First, I want to thank God for blessing me with the talent and ability to play the game of football,” Joseph told McNeeseSports.com. “A big thank you to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Committee for selecting me into the 2024 class.
“This is a great honour to be able to represent my home state. I want to thank my dad, Donald ‘Duck’ Joseph and my mom, Geraldine Joseph, for providing me with the opportunity to find and chase my dream as an athlete. I want to thank my brothers, Kevin, and Kendall for the competitive brotherhood, that helped me to find a competitive edge to compete at the highest level. Also, thanks to a group of cousins that pushed me to compete when I was the smallest of the group.
“Thanks to all the coaches that have played a part in my career and journey. God truly blessed me with great men that taught me how to play the game of football and how to be a great teammate. Big thanks to all my teammates that I have shared the field with at all levels of my career. Football is such a great team sport that has provided me with a lifetime of friends.”
Joseph has spent the past decade as a coach at the collegiate and professional levels and currently serves as the assistant quarterbacks coach of the Seahawks.
The inductees were selected by a 40-member Louisiana Sports Writers Association committee, who considered 149 nominees.
