Keisha Kirkland: Levon Kirkland Wife Tragic Story and Net Worth

Levon Kirkland’s wife, Dr. Keisha Kirkland, passed away on October 30, 2013, because of cancer. She perished away after losing a five-year battle with lung cancer, first diagnosed in 2008.

Keisha Kirkland was well known among WYFF4 viewers for her weather forecast news, but a wider audience across the country was also aware of her as the station’s weekend morning weather anchor.

It was a typical day in 2008 when she decided to show to a hospital to run some tests. Keisha visited the doctor to get some tests done because she has a family history of heart illness. Her heart was OK, but the physicians discovered something unusual in her lung region.

Battle With A Lung Cancer

Keisha, a former weather broadcaster at WYFF TV in Greenville, was diagnosed with “stage 3A non-small cell lung cancer” after the diagnosis. It was heartbreaking and quite unsettling for her and her husband Levon, as Keisha had never smoked in her life, nor had she done anything that would affect her lung.

Dr. Kirkland underwent surgery and underwent radiation, and chemotherapy for months. As a lung cancer patient, Kirkland had dedicated to assisting others in their fight against the disease.

However, she continued to work and forecast the weather for WYFF through 2013 while still receiving treatment. She also gave speeches on the value of health, prevention, and recovery through faith to several churches and support organizations.

Keisha was still relentlessly working until May 2013, delivering weather news at News 4. During the 2017 South Carolina Football Hall of Fame ceremony, the former American linebacker could not resist but shed some tears and dedicate a few words to her late wife. 

“I miss her every day,” Kirkland expressed. “It was devastating for me because she was the one I truly loved…As time goes by, with the grace of God, I’m able to move forward and be relatively happy.” His fans and supporters also heave a sigh of relief after hearing his speech.

Keisha Kirkland, the late wife of American football legend Levon despite all the effort, passed away in 2008 at 41.

She was a healthy and non-smoker woman who was suddenly diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer in 2008 when she went to the hospital to perform some tests on her heart. But instead, she found out the cancer was eating her lung.

Keisha, a Danville, Kentucky native, studied at the University of Louisville before completing her doctorate in chiropractic at Life University. Kirkland’s late wife was a news reporter and weather forecaster for WYFF Channel 4 – NBC Affiliate in Greenville.

She was a multifaceted woman with a long list of successes and awards; her talents range from modeling and medical to academics and sports. Keisha, who was no stranger to life-threatening diseases, learned she had a Pituitary macroadenoma in the final semester of her chiropractic studies. Keisha overcame the diagnosis after undergoing many brain operations, experiencing brief paralysis, and enduring a difficult recovery.

Dr. Kirkland was a kind person who gave her time and abilities to charities around the nation, including Uniting Against Lung Cancer and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

One brave woman, Keisha, shared a missive of hope, faith, and endurance while waging a day-by-day battle against lung cancer with the help of her husband, former football player Levon Kirkland.

Levon Kirkland has accumulated a sumptuous net worth of $6 million through his profession.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker made a respectable amount from his playing career and later earned a handsome sum through his coaching career.

Following his selection through the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft till the end of his playing career, Kirkland made a fortune of $26,325,000 in career earnings. 

Steelers extended his contract in 1995, a $6 million four-year contract including a $900k signing bonus. It was a huge deal back in the day, and the club’s investment in the youngster paid off. He spent the next nine seasons with the club, twice receiving All-Pro accolades.

Kirkland is still committed to improving his coaching credentials in the interim. Before entering the professional ranks, Kirkland worked as an assistant coach at Florida A&M for two years before working at Wade Hampton.

Despite being 15 years into retirement, Kirkland claimed he still has regular nightmares of donning his uniform again and making a play. Moreover, he also acts as the vice president of SCFHOF. From 2013 to 2015, Kirkland worked as a defensive coordinator at Florida A&M University, managing and coaching all young defensive student players at the institute. 

Levon Kirkland Contract History

Career Earnings: $26,325,000
Career APY: $2,393,182

Levon Kirkland, 53, remained unmarried since her beloved wife Keisha perished in 2013 due to lung cancer.

The former NFL linebacker could not move on for a number of years after her wife’s tragic passing.

He was affiliated with Florida A&M University for coaching linebackers when her spouse Keisha lost her battle with cancer and expired. Though he is in a much better condition than a few years back, those memories still haunt him and sometimes propel him to shed tears.

Kirkland does not have in his mind remarrying someone. He feels that would be a disrespect to his late wife. The 53-year-old football coach is living a happy life currently with his two children, daughter Kennedy and son Zach.

On his Instagram, he posted pictures of her daughter with the caption “Happy Daughters Day! I think?” a few days ago on Daughters Day. His daughter Kennedy recently joined college and is in her first year. She is enrolled at a public university in Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University, Kentucky. Kennedy loves sports, and she plays volleyball in high school.

Levon Kirkland debuted as a young and naive football linebacker in NFL in 1993, and he quickly climbed to the top.

Kirkland established himself as a massive inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. By the end of the 1995 season, he was not only the Steelers’ top player but was regarded as one of the top inside linebackers in the National Football League (NFL).

Following the 1997 campaign, Kirkland was also selected to the Pro Bowl. The Steelers advanced to the AFC Championship game due to his 126 tackles, a team-high, and a career-high five sacks.

Highlights and Awards

• Consensus All-American in 1991
• NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
• 1997 NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year 
• 2× Pro Bowl
• 1996 Second-team All-Pro
• 1997 First-team All-Pro