Each football season at Kennedy a select group of seniors are chosen to lead the team. This 2025-2026 season, Deacon Kucera, along with four others, pilots the Cougars.
Kucera started his football career his sophomore year. Starting on JV, Kucera fell in love with the sport. This year will be his second year playing on Varsity.
“I’ve always been around the game, whether it’s been just watching it or messing around in my backyard,” Kucera said.. “But I just got my final push my sophomore year that made me go out.”
Even with Kucera’s short time playing the sport, he has had several D1 and D2 offers. He is still undecided what his future will bring him, so there is still a chance for a lot of growth
“I will make my decision on where I would like to play soon,” Kucera said.
Kucera has been a stand out player, and has been talked highly by coaches The praise does not just stop as his performance, coaches applaud his leadership and influence on other players on the team.
“When he came to us he was a phenomenal athlete both offensively and defensively,” Kennedy High School Varsity Head Coach Brian White said. “He now has the tools to be a really good athlete. He models what he preaches, hard work.”
Kucera has had many supporters throughout his career which has made him into the player he is, But most impactful has been his dad Micheal Kucera.
“He’s always supported me. His love for the game and him pushing me to succeed has been huge in me playing football,”Kucera said.
According to coaches Kucera is driven by his competitiveness and his selflessness.
“Deacon wants to win. Individual success is second to team success,” White said. “He is very unselfish, he wants the team to have success, he wants the team to win, and he’ll do whatever it takes for the team to win.”
Kurcera has already had an impressive season with a total of three touchdowns with more to come. As a leader for the team, Kucera is pushing the cougars to success. When asked how he feels about the captain role, he talks just as highly about his team as they do about him.
“It’s an honor being able to guide this group of guys and watching teammates around me continue to grow and see the bonds around our team get stronger as the year goes on,” Kucera said.
With Kucera in the picture they were able to pick one of their captains easily. Coach white expresses his satisfaction for Kucera’s leadership.
“When you have vocal players who can back up with their own play, that makes it easier for other players to follow them,” White said. “He’s a very natural leader because he can back up what he says.”
Deacon is said to take over the game. Even being called a “dude” by coaches, a very high respect and praise to get from people in terms of football.
“In the football world a player that dominates the game is considered a ‘dude’ and deacons a dude,” White said. “It’s always good to have dudes on your team because then you know your a solid team.”
Beyond coaches, players also feel the positive impact that Kucera spreads to his team. Fellow captain Jack Goslin emphasizes Kucera’s positive impact on the team.
“Deacon is a nice and dependable guy and somebody you would want to be on the field with. He is a good teammate and plays hard,” Goslin said.
