Kenny Wheaton

Wheaton's cousin, Markus Wheaton, played for Oregon State University and the Pittsburgh Steelers. His other cousin Marquese Wheaton played for the University of Southern Mississippi, and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Buccaneers for the 2012 training camp.

In 2011, he was inducted into the Oregon University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Wheaton was named to CFL East Division All-Star team each year between 2005-2008. He was released on January 9, 2009.

In 2004, during a playoff game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Wheaton intercepted a pass in the end zone. In a play reminiscent of "The Pick" in his famous college game, Wheaton returned an interception from deep in his own end for a touchdown, setting a CFL post-season record for the longest ever interception return for a touchdown (116 yards). He went on to help his team win the 92nd Grey Cup championship with the Argonauts that season.

In 2003, Wheaton signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and was their starting defensive half back.

In 2002, after being out of football for two years rehabbing his knee injury, he signed with the Detroit Fury of the Arena Football League, playing 9 games (6 starts). He was traded to the Colorado Crush during the offseason, only to be cut by the team in training camp.

In 1999, he suffered a knee injury while playing against the Indianapolis Colts in the eighth game, that placed him on the injured reserve list on November 16. The injury would turn to be career threatening and the Cowboys didn't renew his contract at the end of the year.

In 1998, after considering that he was the fifth cornerback on the depth chart and that Deion Sanders and Kevin Smith would be difficult to replace as starters, he asked the coaches to switch him to free safety. At his new position, although he was effective defending the pass, he had problems in run-support. He recorded 36 tackles, one interception and 2 fumble recoveries, playing mainly on the nickel defense.

Wheaton was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (94th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft. His rookie season was a difficult one, a separated shoulder he suffered in a scrimmage against the Oakland Raiders, caused him to miss the first 3 pre-season games, he would return to play in the last exhibition game against the Tennessee Titans, but he re-injured the shoulder and was forced to miss the first 14 regular season games. He also missed time at the end of the year, in order to deal with the death of his younger brother (Derrek), who was killed in a drive-by shooting. He still would play in the last two contests, registering four tackles against the New York Giants in the season finale.

Kenneth Tyron Wheaton (born March 8, 1975 in Phoenix, Arizona) is a former professional American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. He played college football at the University of Oregon.