Sports Birthdays for May 25 – Brian Urlacher and More

Here are just some of the famous athletes born on May 25:

K.C. Jones

Age: 80

Profession: Former NBA Player/Coach

Best Known For: Jones was one of the stars of the Boston Celtics dynasty of the early ’60s. Jones helped lead the Celtics to eight titles as a player and two as a head coach. During his playing career, Jones was known as great defender and scorer. He was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989 and his number 25 was retired by the Celtics.

Kendall Gill

Age: 43

Profession: Comcast Sports Net Analyst/Former NBA Player

Best Known For: Gill played 15 seasons in the NBA, most notably for the Seattle SuperSonics, Charlotte Hornets and the New Jersey Nets. After basketball, Gill took up professional boxing where he is undefeated in four bouts. He is currently a college basketball analyst with Comcast Sports Net and the Big Ten Network.

Brian Urlacher

Age: 34

Profession: NFL Linebacker

Best Known For: Since being drafted in 2000, Brian Urlacher has become one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL. Brian has won both the defensive rookie of the year award and the NFL defensive player of the year award. Urlacher has been to eight Pro Bowls and was named a member of the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade team.

Shawne Merriman

Age: 28

Profession: NFL Linebacker

Best Known For: Merriman was a first-round pick by the San Diego Chargers out of the University of Maryland in 2005. During his career with the Chargers, Merriman won the defensive rookie of the year award and was invited to three straight Pro Bowls. Merriman lead the league in sacks with 17 in 2006, even though he only played 12 games due to suspension. He is currently a member of the Buffalo Bills.

And the late…

Cookie Gilchrist

Profession: Former Professional Football Player

Best Known For: Gilchrist was one of the most pioneer for black running backs in the American Football League. After spending in Canada with three different teams, Gilchrist played most notably for the Buffalo Bills and was the first AFL player to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. He was also known for leading the boycott for the 1965 AFL All-Star Game in New Orleans due to racial prejudice. Cookie passed away at the age of 75 in 2011.