Levon Kirkland Lorenzo Levon Kirkland ( born February 17 , 1969 ) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League . A second - round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1992 NFL Draft , he went on to play 11 years in the NFL including nine seasons with the Steelers , and one each for the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles . Professional career . Kirkland was a massive inside linebacker , just 6 - 1 but weighing anywhere from 275 - 300 pounds during his career . Yet he had great speed and agility for a big man . He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season , 1993 , replacing Pro Bowler David Little . By 1995 , he was recognized as one of the top inside linebackers in the league , and had a stellar performance in Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys at the end of the season . In that game , the Steelers defense held the Cowboys to just 15 first down s and Emmitt Smith and the Cowboys powerful running attack to just 56 yards , despite losing 27 - 17 in large part due to two key interception s thrown by Steelers quarterback Neil O ' Donnell . Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman . That game and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All - Pro honors after the 1996 season . The Steelers had lost their emotional leader , outside linebacker Greg Lloyd , at the start of the season to a knee injury , but Kirkland took over the mantle of leadership . He also took over Lloyd ' s role in pass coverage as the only linebacker in the Steelers nickel defense . Opponents thought Kirkland would not be as adept in pass coverage as the fast Lloyd , but they quickly found out that Kirkland was just as fast and quick . He had four interceptions that season , a high number for an inside linebacker , to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles . He made the Pro Bowl after the 1997 season as well , making a career - high and team - leading 126 tackles and career - high five sacks , as the Steelers went to the AFC Championship game ( losing to the Denver Broncos ) . Although Kirkland played well in the next three seasons ( 1998 - 2000 ) , the Steelers struggled on offense , and failed to make the playoffs , and Kirkland did not earn any more Pro Bowl berths despite his strong play . In a surprise move , the Steelers waived Kirkland just before the 2001 season due to salary cap pressure . That year many star players were waived due the salary cap including John Randle , Troy Aikman , and Jerry Rice . Kirkland went to the Seattle Seahawks where he became a leader on the defense and had over 100 tackles . The next year he played his final season for the Eagles , becoming the veteran leader of a defense that ranked seventh in the league and advanced to the NFC Championship game before losing to the Buccaneers . Post NFL . In 1996 , Kirkland was named to Clemson University ' s All - Centennial team and was inducted into the University ' s Hall of Fame in 2001 . After retiring from the NFL , he returned to Clemson and earned his sociology degree in 2004 and worked for Clemson coordinating minority recruitment in admissions for the university . He was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 . Kirkland also educates student - athletes across the country on the college recruiting process as an Educational Speaker for the National Collegiate Scouting Association . Personal life . Kirkland ' s wife , Keisha , with whom he has a daughter , Kennedy , died in October 2013 due to lung cancer . Kirkland ' s cousin , Devon Still , also plays in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals .