Leap-Year Linebacker Eric Kendricks Celebrates '7th Birthday'

[Viktor]

Being that, as a professional athlete, Kendricks' bio info is regularly available via a quick Google search, I asked the linebacker if he gets asked much about the unique birthdate.


"It's usually when someone checks my ID or when I need to prove my identification at an airport or something," he said. "Or if I'm at a doctor's office and put my date of birth. People don't believe it's real. They're like, 'No, shut up.' But I'm like, 'No, for real. It's really on the 29th.' "


For legal purposes, some states' drivers' licenses do not officially recognize Feb. 29 but instead list Feb. 28 or March 1 as the individual's birthdate. Kendricks' license has his actual birthday, and he admits that it has complicated things over the years.


In college, he accompanied friends to a California club to celebrate his 21st birthday; they arrived at 11 p.m. on Feb. 28.


"I was pleading my case. 'Listen, I am 21 years old. My birthday's on Leap Year. My birthday's in an hour. Can you just let me in? And really, in an hour it will be the 1st.' " Kendricks recounted with a laugh. "They were just looking at me, like, 'What?' It was pretty funny."


He later added: "Honestly, I love the birthday because it gives me more of an excuse to act childish and just be youthful forever."


So, does the unique birthday make Kendricks the youngest player in Minnesota's locker room – a title last season believed to belong to 21-year-old Irv Smith, Jr.?


"I assume so," he deadpanned. "I feel like I'm really just the youngest one doing it in the NFL, period."


And as he prepares to celebrate over a build-your-own-dinner party tonight with friends and family, Kendricks offered one last shout-out from the heart:


"To all the 7-year-olds out there, just know that anything is possible. You just have to put your mind to it and go grind.


"People said that I wouldn't be able to do this by 7 years old, but look where I'm at," he added. "Go ahead and go for it."