Rubio, a Republican representing Florida, sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting the White House review Kinley’s request to delay his military service to pursue a professional football career. The Tampa Bay Times first reported the news on Monday.
Kinley signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on May 2, one day after the 2021 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-2, 204-pound cornerback was permitted to attend Tampa Bay’s Rookie-Free Agent Mini-Camp a few weekends later and performed well.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Harker put an abrupt end to Kinley’s dream of making the NFL by declining to forward his request to delay his five-year military commitment to the Secretary of Defense.