Kelly Kirchbaum
{{Short description|American football player (born 1957)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kelly Kirchbaum
| image =
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|6|14}}
| birth_place = Fort Knox, Kentucky, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 240
| high_school = North Hardin {{avoid wrap|(Radcliff, Kentucky)}}
| college = Kentucky (1975–1978)
| draftyear = 1979
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 123
| pastteams =
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|1979|1980}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|1980}})
- Houston Oilers ({{NFL Year|1982}})*
- Tampa Bay Bandits ({{USFL Year|1983}}–{{USFL Year|1985}})
- Denver Dynamite ({{AFL Year|1987}})
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1987}})
| highlights =
| pfr = /K/KircKe20
| afl = Kelly_Kirchbaum-906
}}
Kelly L. Kirchbaum (born June 14, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. He was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 1979 NFL draft after playing college football for the Kentucky Wildcats. Kirchbaum also played for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League (USFL) and the Denver Dynamite of the Arena Football League (AFL).
Early life and college
Kelly L. Kirchbaum was born on June 14, 1957, in Fort Knox, Kentucky.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/k/kirc00200.html | title=KELLY KIRCHBAUM | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=22 June 2025}} He participated in both football and wrestling at North Hardin High School in Radcliff, Kentucky.{{cite web | url=https://sites.google.com/hardin.kyschools.us/northhardinathletics/hall-of-fame | title=North Hardin High School Athletic Hall of Fame 2007 | publisher=North Hardin High School | accessdate=22 June 2025}} He was inducted into the North Hardin High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
Kirchbaum was a four-year letterman for the Kentucky Wildcats of the University of Kentucky from 1975 to 1978. He recorded one interception in 1977.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kelly-kirchbaum-1.html | title=Kelly Kirchbaum | publisher=Sports Reference | accessdate=22 June 2025}}
Professional career
Kirchbaum was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round, with the 123rd overall pick, of the 1979 NFL draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players//K/KircKe20.htm | title=KELLY KIRCHBAUM | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=22 June 2025}} He was placed on injured reserve on August 21, 1979, and spent the entire season there.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/k/kirc00200.html | title=Kelly Kirchbaum Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=22 June 2025}} He was placed on injured reserve again on September 1, 1980, and was later waived on December 16, 1980.
Kirchbaum was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs on December 18, 1980. He played in one game for the Chiefs during the 1980 season. He was released on July 25, 1981.
Kirchbaum signed with the Houston Oilers on June 7, 1982, and was released on August 3, 1982.
On September 7, 1982, Kirchbaum signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League (USFL) for the 1983 USFL season. He played in eight games, all starts, for the Bandits in 1983, recording one sack and one fumble recovery. He started 17 games, recovering one fumble, in 1984 as the team finished with a 14–4 record and lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals to the
Birmingham Stallions.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1984usfltb.html | title=1984 Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=22 June 2025}} Kirchbaum posted one sack and two fumble recoveries for Tampa Bay in 1985. The USFL folded after the 1985 season.
Kirchbaum played in three games for the Denver Dynamite of the Arena Football League (AFL) during the league's inaugural 1987 season, posting nine solo tackles, four assisted tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup. He also played offense during his time in the AFL as the league played under ironman rules. The Dynamite finished the season with a 4–2 record and won ArenaBowl I against the Pittsburgh Gladiators.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1987arflden.html | title=1987 Denver Dynamite (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=22 June 2025}} For his performance during the 1987 season, Kirchbaum was named second-team All-Arena as an offensive lineman/defensive lineman.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=906&pageview=bio | title=KELLY KIRCHBAUM | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=22 June 2025}}
On September 25, 1987, Kirchbaum signed with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 1987 NFL players strike. He played in three games for the Eagles and recovered one fumble. He was released on October 19, 1987, after the strike ended.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=kirchkel001 Stats Crew profile]
{{Jets1979DraftPicks}}
{{ArenaBowl I}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirchbaum, Kelly}}
Category:Players of American football from Kentucky
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players
Category:New York Jets players
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:Houston Oilers players
Category:Tampa Bay Bandits players
Category:Denver Dynamite (arena football) players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:People from Radcliff, Kentucky