The Three Women Who Built Saints WR Keith Kirkwood

Every NFL story goes beyond the field, and the women who shaped New Orleans Saints wide receiver Keith Kirkwood are paramount examples.

He knew it was coming his way from the moment the playcall came in. New Orleans Saints wide receiver Keith Kirkwood had one third down red zone play that was worked into during the practice week ahead of the team's Week 15 matchup with the New York Giants. With 34 seconds left in the first quarter, he took the field, silenced the crowd and mentally went back to practice. But this time, it was real.

After catching his first touchdown pass in five NFL seasons, Keith Kirkwood wore a smile so big it could be seen by the entire Caesars Superdome audience. That smile carried years of fight and belief in himself, bolstered by a remarkable support system. 

Keith Kirkwood celebrates his touchdowns catch against the Giants / Dec 17, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Keith Kirkwood (18) celebrates with quarterback Taysom Hill (7) after a touchdown catch against the New York Giants during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

A man not defined by his struggles, but instead by the perseverance that has led him through them, Kirkwood credits three strong and important women in his life for it all: his mother, his late aunt and his sister. Through their examples, Kirkwood was forged into the person and player he is today. It all began with an act of defiance.

In high school, Kirkwood was on a sure-fire trajectory to the NBA. He had offers from several Ivy League schools, LIU and Lehigh (the alma mater of New Orleans Pelicans guard C.J. McCollum) among others. He led Neptune High School to a New Jersey state championship game and even played AAU basketball alongside some of today's NBA stars.

But it was Neptune High School's football coach Mark Ciccotelli that encouraged the guard to try out for the football team as a wide receiver. All of a sudden, basketball was the passion, and football was the temptation.

"He was like, 'I want you to come try out for the football team next year,'" Kirkwood reminisced. "It was my Junior year and I hadn't won a state championship. He said I shouldn't limit myself to one sport and I should try everything."

Saints WR Keith Kirkwood awaits kickoff / Sep 10, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Keith Kirkwood (18) waits for the ball to be kicked off by the Tennessee Titans during the first half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

And so try everything he did. From 6-foot-3 guard to 6-foot-3 receiver, he was ready to give it a try. But there was one thing that stood in his way: the permission slip.

When the decorated basketball player approached his parents about the opportunity, they were less than enthused. And thus, they turned him down. The refused to sign the waiver to allow him to play football with the pragmatic goal of maintaining his upward trajectory and already earned scholarships in basketball. That is when Kirkwood called his closest confidant: his late Aunt Ramona.

"I told her what was happening and that I wanted to play football," Kirkwood said. "And then she was like, 'If that's what you want to do baby, that's what you're going to do. I'll sign your mom's signature.' And that's how it all came about."

One forged signature later, he was a wide receiver. This of course came about much to the chagrin of his basketball coaches and cohorts. Kirkwood began missing basketball practices and meetings in order to attend practices and events for football. 

The coaches called his parents and they were understandably displeased. But despite their displeasure, they eventually bought in and he then never left the game.

His mother, Maria, understood the charge to change paths. In fact, she would do it herself. In her 40's, she pivoted with a late-career change to becoming a corrections officer. With her military background, it was a good fit. Much like how Kirkwood's rebounding ability on the court was a sensible transition to making catches on the field.

Keith Kirkwood looks on after a touchdown catch against the New York Giants / Dec 17, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Keith Kirkwood (18) celebrates with quarterback Taysom Hill (7) after a touchdown catch against the New York Giants during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Both his aunt and mother knew what it meant to want. More significantly, each had their own personal experience with what it meant to want and not have; something they did not want for him.

It might seem like a small thing, wanting to play football with the potential of not being allowed. But for Kirkwood and his family, from experience derives greater context.

Kirkwood grew up watching his mother work multiple jobs, changing jobs, sacrificing anything necessary to help support he and his siblings. 

"She was at every single event that we had as a child," Kirkwood said. "She was at every practice. She didn't miss anything" Quite an important example to set for a young man formulating the qualities by which he will later define himself. Later in life, her resilience would go from action to advice. 

"If I can do this. You can do anything."

Similarly his aunt was another shining example of strength and perseverance. She had been incarcerated earlier in life. She had suffered from, managed and beat addiction. His best friend, Kirkwood watched her navigate it all. And through it came the encouragement and example that shaped the trajectory of his life.

"She would tell me, 'Whatever you put your mind to, you can achieve it.' And I just knew it, because she worked hard."

Zack Baun Coming on Strong for Saints

That sentiment continues to live on beyond her passing. Kirkwood has made a six-year NFL career (nearly twice as long as the average career-span) out of belief, dedication and resilience. Perhaps his most palpable example coming from his sister Marissa.

Marissa, who Kirkwood describes as his "heart and soul," has battled heart conditions since birth. She has undergone several procedures including two open-heart surgeries when she was a child and a third less than a month ago. Not only is she doing well after her recent surgery, but she was able watch her brother's touchdown catch against the Giants, and sent him a message after the game. 

The paramount statement: "Remember your story."

It is a story intertwined with challenge and doubt, but countered with shining examples of persistence. How Kirkwood has embodied the examples set by these three powerful women is evident.

With his late shift to the sport, he was not highly recruited coming out of high school. Coming out of Temple University where he would finish his collegiate playing career after a stint with Hawaii, he knew he would not be a high draft pick, nor did he expect to be drafted at all. He is not the most explosive, nor the fastest wideout on the field. But none of that stopped him.

On draft day in 2018 Kirkwood contemplated his paths forward. Is football what he really wanted? And then it hit him. The examples set by these three women, his mother, aunt and sister were now his responsibility to not only tell but display for his daughter, Aria.

"I have to make sure I do this for my daughter," Kirkwood thought that night. "So that when she gets older, she doesn't ever just give up and quit. Because there's that opportunity that's there. If you fail, you fail. You get right back up and you just try it again. And at some point you will have success. And that's kind of my story."

All of which culminated on Sunday in one highlight moment.

Keith Kirkwood celebrates with teammates / Dec 17, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Keith Kirkwood (18) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown catch against the New York Giants during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Since that moment, Kirkwood has proven again and again that work ethic and dedication can go a long way. For all the shortcomings that may have been listed on a scouting report for a player that started the sport late, he has made up for it and built something for his family to be proud. Despite two collarbone fractures, shoulder surgeries, hamstring injuries, concussions and more, Kirkwood was where he needed to be on a 3rd-and-7 late in the first quarter to reel in his third career touchdown reception.

Now, just like the stories of Kirkwood's aunt, mother and sister inspired him, he is using his story to inspire his family and others. "I hope that when people see that touchdown," he said. "That they are inspired to never give up."

Kirkwood practices mindfulness. The art of being present. A discipline that helps filter out noise and focus on what is in front of him. When the play call came in, every bit of his story, the advice he has received and the lessons he has learned all rushed back into his mind. All of that, he had to silence in order to take advantage of what turned out to be the perfect moment.

A perfect moment that he will never forget as the crowd noise rushed back into his focus. A perfect moment he hopes will help someone, somewhere realize their perfect moment when the time comes. Just like Ramona, Maria and Marissa did for him.