College Football Hall of Famer Steve Kiner Passes Away

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – College Football Hall of Famer Steve Kiner, a two-time first-team All-American linebacker and a cornerstone of Tennessee’s defenses in the late 1960s, has passed away at the age of 77.

The Volunteers compiled a 26-6-1 overall record and a 15-2-1 mark in Southeastern Conference play during Kiner’s on-field career from 1967-69, claiming two SEC championships in the process.

After spending the 1966 season on the freshman team, the hard-hitting Kiner rose to prominence in 1967 and was tabbed the SEC Sophomore of the Year. He played in 10 games and led the Vols to a 9-1 overall record and a No. 2 final ranking. Kiner logged two interceptions that fall as UT won the SEC and earned a berth to the Orange Bowl.

The following year, Kiner received consensus first-team All-America status as a junior. The first-team All-SEC recipient guided the Vols to an 8-1-1 record with a broken wrist for much of the season. Kiner recorded two interceptions for 57 yards and the highlight came in a 31-0 rout of Ole Miss in which he logged 12 tackles and two picks.

Kiner left his mark as one of the program’s all-time greats in 1969, a year he was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year while playing alongside teammate Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds. He completed the year with five interceptions, finished ninth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy and earned unanimous All-America honors.

Kiner lifted the Vols to their second SEC title in three years as a senior and their third straight victory over Alabama. His most prominent performance came on Oct. 18, as he recorded 14 tackles – 11 solo – five tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble in a 10-9 victory over the Crimson Tide. Legendary Tide coach Bear Bryant called Kiner “the best in this league since Leroy Jordan played for us.”

Kiner appeared in the 1970 Senior Bowl and was selected with the No. 73 overall pick in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played nine NFL seasons from 1970-78 with Dallas, New England, Washington and Houston.

Kiner was selected to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999, the SEC Legends class in 1999 and the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.