Kenn was selected by the
Atlanta Falcons in the first round (13th overall pick) of the
1978 NFL draft. He started all 16 games for the Falcons at left tackle and was named to the NFL all-rookie team in 1978. In 1979, he again started all 16 games and allowed only four-and-a-half sacks and was penalized only four times. "He's quite close to becoming one of the elite tackles in the NFL" said his head coach
Leeman Bennett. "If he can continue improvement of the first two years he could be the best in the NFL". In 1981, Kenn was voted to his second Pro Bowl and was voted second-team All-Pro and allowed four sacks and was penalized only four times while starting all 16 games for the fourth consecutive season. Additionally, Kenn played every down (1,144) of the 1981 season, and has started 67 consecutive games without a miss. He had a remarkable penalty free streak of 26 consecutive games (New Orleans, 11/25/79 - St. Louis, 10/18/81) that included the entire 1980 season. Kenn was only flagged a total of seven times during the prior three seasons (three in 1979, zero in 1980, four in 1981), and played every down of the season in three of the previous four years (1979, 1980 and 1981). In 1982, Kenn started all nine games (seven games cancelled due to NFL players strike) and allowed two sacks and was called for holding once. Kenn was voted second-team All-Pro and voted to his third consecutive Pro Bowl. He was voted as the NFC choice for the NFLPA/
Coca-Cola Offensive Lineman of the Year Award for 1981 and 1982. In 1984, Kenn started all 16 games and was voted second-team All-NFL by the UPI. Kenn's consecutive game-starting streak was broken in 1985 when he had a knee injury that caused him to miss the final games. Kenn rebounded in 1986 to allow just four-and-a-half sacks and was called for only two holding penalties. Head coach
Dan Henning said, "He's got the physical gifts, he's bright, and now he has a great deal of experience, "That's the desirable combination." In 1988 Kenn was called for only one holding penalty and allowed 6½ sacks and was voted as a Pro Bowl Alternate."He is already one of the best offensive tackles of the last ten years, and could become one of the best of all time," said Henning. In 1991, Kenn shut down the NFL's top sacker and Defensive Player of the Year
Pat Swilling, who did not register a sack when facing Kenn. His pass blocking allowed the Falcons to set a team record by giving up only 31 sacks in 531 passing attempts. Kenn only gave up one. For his efforts, he was voted first-team All-Pro by the
Associated Press. The following season Kenn was called for one penalty and allowed five sacks and was an alternate to the Pro Bowl. In 1993 and 1994, Kenn remained the Falcons starting left tackle and retired after the 1994 season. While playing in the NFL, Kenn grew to 286 pounds. ==Later years and honors==