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Former New York Giants offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie, one of the more studious players in franchise history, is in the news again, this time for academic reasons.
The two-time Super Bowl champion, who started 105 games in seven seasons with Big Blue as well as 11 in the postseason, is considered one of the best free-agent signings in team history. McKenzie played his first four seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets.
The 44-year-old recently earned a Ph.D. in counseling and supervision from Kean University on May 16.
“(My) graduation actually took place on the third anniversary of my father’s death. So that in and of itself was a monumental day and it was very emotional, and I will say mentally taxing to go through,” the former Penn State star told NJ Advance Media.
McKenzie, who once had aspirations to become a lawyer, saw that he could add more value as a counselor, sharing his life experience in football and helping others.
“From a mental standpoint, I’d say counseling is more difficult,” McKenzie told Kean’s website. “Football, it’s just a matter of doing the work and making sure you’re prepared on Sunday. With counseling, you can’t actually prepare for who walks through that door. Football is pretty simple — either you win or lose. As a counselor, every day you’re dealing with someone who’s in crisis.”
As for his time with the Giants, which ended in 2012, McKenzie, as usual, credited his teammates for most of the success.
“I think one of the main things that I look back upon, almost 12 years ago now, is the camaraderie I had with my teammates … and the things we were able to accomplish as a team. overall, throughout those years,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie grew up in a single-parent home, raised by his mother, and came from humble beginnings — something he hasn’t forgotten.
“I had to figure out a way to get there myself, and football was the most viable outlet at that time,” McKenzie said.
In 2016, McKenzie earned a master’s degree in counseling from William Paterson University and went on to work at a nonprofit organization that started an adolescent abuse program. It was there he decided to take his career to the next step. He now focuses on working with teenage drug users.
“It’s not a one size fits all. You have to … understand you can go ahead and have that approach where they’re allowing you to lead the session, but you’re also respecting your sense of personhood and the circumstances in which you’re dealing with,” McKenzie said.
“The prospects of employment and/or teaching and future research, the sky’s the limit. So really, just to go ahead and allow myself the space to process and think and just let my brain relax for a little bit, I think, is the most prominent concern for me.”
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