Steve Kiner, a former All-American linebacker at Tennessee and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, died on April 24. He was 77.
Kiner’s career with the Volunteers began in 1967 as he joined the program as a sophomore after Florida revoked his scholarship offer. Under coach Doug Dickey, Kiner became an immediate impact player, earning SEC Sophomore of the Year.
Kiner was fierce and teamed with Jack Reynolds and Jackie Walker to form one of college football’s most formidable linebacking corps.
Kiner was named All-SEC and All-America in 1968-69, becoming Dickey’s first player to be a two-time consensus All-American.
He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 1969, highlighted by 11 tackles, five sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in a 41-14 victory over Alabama.
He finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting that year.
In a 2012 interview with the News Sentinel, former teammate Tim Priest recalled he was told as a sophomore by Kiner, ‘ ‘You don’t go to class this week. It’s Alabama week. Get ready.’ I did whatever Steve said because he was tough.”
Kiner was the leading tackler in his junior and senior seasons and had nine career interceptions. Tennessee went 26-6-1 in his three years and won two SEC titles in 1967 and 1969.
He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft, but he was traded to the New England Patriots after the season.
He bounced around teams, including stints with the Miami Dolphins, Washington and a second run with New England, before he was traded to the Houston Oilers in 1974, where he spent the last four years of his career.
He had 10 career interceptions in the NFL.
Kiner played high school football at Hillsborough in Tampa, Florida.
In 1994, Kiner earned his doctorate in clinical psychology, starting a practice in mental health therapy in Carrollton, Georgia.
In 1999, Kiner was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame.
‘This is a tremendous honor for me,’ Kiner said during the induction ceremony, ‘and from the time I was notified, it made me think a lot about my career at Tennessee. To be the first of a number of great linebackers who have played at Tennessee is very special.’
Kiner is also a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (1998) and the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame (2016).
Phil Kaplan is sports director for the South Region of the USA TODAY Network and sports editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel.