Steve Kiner

Steve Kiner
No. 60, 57
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1947-06-12) June 12, 1947
Place of birth: Sandstone, Minnesota
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school: Hillsborough (FL)
College: Tennessee
NFL Draft: 1970 / Round: 3 / Pick: 73
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Steven Albert Kiner (born June 12, 1947) is a former American football linebacker who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and the Houston Oilers. He attended the University of Tennessee from 1967 to 1969, where he was an All-American. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Early years

At Hillsborough High School (Tampa, Florida), he was All-Conference and All-State on both offense (quarterback) and defense (linebacker). Kiner went on to play for the University of Tennessee, where he became a three-year starter, was named SEC Sophomore of the Year in 1967, All-SEC and All-America in 1968 and 1969. His talent made Bear Bryant state, "the best in this league since Lee Roy Jordan played for us". In 1969, he was awarded the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award.

In 1999, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the University of Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame and to the SEC Football Legends. In 1998, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. In 1990, he was named to the “100 Years of Volunteers” All-time team.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Kiner was selected in the third round (73rd overall) of the 1970 NFL Draft. He roomed with Duane Thomas in training camp, and was recognized for his special teams play as a rookie, including Super Bowl V. In 1971, he clashed with Tom Landry, after Chuck Howley was convinced to come back from retirement and gave him the position Kiner thought he deserved, forcing the team to trade him to the New England Patriots in exchange for a fourth round draft choice (#90-Robert West).

New England Patriots (first stint)

With the New England Patriots he lasted just one season, where he became a starter and had 4 interceptions. In 1972, he was expelled from training camp by head coach John Mazur and traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for defensive lineman Bill Griffin.[1]

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins waived him before training camp ended.

Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins claimed him for their taxi squad, before being released on September 11, 1973.[2]

New England Patriots (second stint)

In 1973, he was claimed by the New England Patriots and played one season, before being traded to the Houston Oilers for a ninth round draft choice (#209-Ed McCartney).[3]

Houston Oilers

Kiner turned his career around with the Houston Oilers, where he played five productive seasons and was credited by head coach Bum Phillips "for turning the Houston Oilers into winners".[4] He was waived before the start of the 1979 season.

Personal life

After football he earned two master's degrees and got involved in health care, managing emergency psychiatric services for Emory Healthcare at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.

References

  1. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19720805&id=GMwVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5471,1664657
  2. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19730912&id=OOtRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-nIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5805,3208766
  3. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1913&dat=19730912&id=hQgiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n2gFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2504,1619695
  4. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19790828&id=alYnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bnwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5497,3437513
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