Todd Kelly (American football)

Kelly attended Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia, where he played football and baseball, and ran track. He played defensive end and tight end for the football team, registering six sacks and five interceptions on defense, and catching 18 passes and scoring five touchdowns on offense during his senior year to win All-State honors. He was timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which was unusually fast for a defensive lineman.

As a member of the track team, Kelly won the state's high hurdles title as a sophomore, with a best of 14.1 seconds."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=750&pg=88 1989 Tennessee Signees]{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}," 1989 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide, p. 86. He received All-State honors in baseball, and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1989 June Amateur Draft."[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=kelly-000tod Todd Kelly]," BaseballReference.com. Retrieved: August 7, 2013.

Kelly initially committed to South Carolina in 1989, but switched his commitment to Tennessee following the death of South Carolina coach Joe Morrison.John Shearer, "[http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2012/aug/16/todd-kelly-found-new-team-wife-on-visit-to-vols/ Todd Kelly Found New Team, Wife on Visit to Vols]," Knoxville News Sentinel, August 16, 2012. Retrieved: August 7, 2013. Due to a lack of depth on the defensive line, he played in eight games during his freshman year as a backup to veteran Marion Hobby, picking up 6 tackles and a sack."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=703&pg=74 1990 Squad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101647/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=703&pg=74 |date=March 4, 2016 }}," 1990 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide, pp. 72–73. While working with defensive coaches Larry Lacewell and Rex Norris,Tom Mattingly, "[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=15&pg=20&catid=22&s=todd%20kelly Todd Kelly: Moving to the Top] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094429/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=15&pg=20&catid=22&s=todd%20kelly |date=March 4, 2016 }}," Tennessee vs. Florida Football Program (1992), pp. 18–19. Kelly remained on the second unit during the 1990 season, picking up 21 tackles (14 solo) and a team-leading 5 sacks. He had two sacks in Tennessee's 45–3 win over Florida, and forced a fumble that led to a score in the Vols' 26–26 tie against Auburn."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=665&pg=75 1991 Squad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094356/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=665&pg=75 |date=March 4, 2016 }}," 1991 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide, p. 73.

During his junior year in 1991, Kelly registered 23 tackles (14 solo) and 5.5 sacks (3rd-highest on the team), playing mostly as a backup to senior Chuck Smith. He had three tackles and a sack in the Vols' 30–21 win over Auburn, and registered four tackles and a sack in the team's loss to Florida. He had a sack and forced a fumble in Tennessee's 25–24 loss to Alabama."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=760&pg=24&catid=21 Player Sketches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061343/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=760&pg=24&catid=21 |date=March 4, 2016 }}," 1992 Fiesta Bowl Program, p. 23. He tallied four tackles and a sack in Tennessee's loss to Penn State in the 1992 Fiesta Bowl.

Kelly's first career start came in Tennessee's 1992 season-opening win over Southwest Louisiana, in which he registered three tackles and a sack. He registered 2.5 sacks in Tennessee's 34–31 win over Georgia,David Grim, "[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=15&pg=8&catid=22&s=todd%20kelly Today's Game] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061512/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=15&pg=8&catid=22&s=todd%20kelly |date=March 4, 2016 }}," Tennessee vs. Florida Football Program (1992), p. 6. and led a rushing defense that held Florida to just 68 yards on the ground in the Vols' 31–14 win over the Gators."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=608&pg=28&catid=22&s=todd%20kelly Tennessee Road to Tampa Bay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084018/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=608&pg=28&catid=22&s=todd%20kelly |date=March 4, 2016 }}," 1993 Hall of Fame Bowl Program, p. 26. He recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter of Tennessee's 17–10 loss to Alabama,"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=169&pg=46&catid=22&s=todd%20kelly Tide Subdues Rallying Vols] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072745/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=169&pg=46&catid=22&s=todd%20kelly |date=March 4, 2016 }}," 1992 Hall of Fame Bowl Media Guide, p. 44. and registered a sack in Tennessee's 38–23 win over Boston College in the 1993 Hall of Fame Bowl."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=704&pg=118 Vols Soar by Eagles in Hall of Fame Bowl] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080616/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=704&pg=118 |date=March 4, 2016 }}," 1993 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide, p. 116. He finished the season with 38 tackles (28 solo), a team-leading 11 sacks, and a team-leading 10 tackles-for-loss."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=704&pg=122 1992 Defensive Totals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325060039/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=704&pg=122 |date=March 25, 2014 }}," 1993 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide, p. 120. He was named All-SEC and first-team All-American at the end of the season."{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130807222941/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=704&pg=124 1992 Honorees]}}," 1993 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide, p. 122.

During his four years at Tennessee, Kelly registered 88 tackles (58 solo), 22.5 sacks, 14 tackles-for-loss, and two forced fumbles. He is fifth on the school's career sacks list, trailing only Derek Barnett (33), Reggie White (32), Leonard Little (28) and Jonathan Brown (25). His 11 sacks in 1992 is tied with Little's 1995 tally for the school's fourth-highest single-season total (only White, Brown, and John Henderson have had more sacks in a season).[http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf Individual Football Records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113625/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}, UTSports.com. Retrieved: August 7, 2013. In October 2014, Kelly was named Tennessee's selection for that year's SEC Football Legends Class."[http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101614aad.html Todd Kelly Sr., Named Vols SEC Legend] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027005617/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101614aad.html |date=October 27, 2014 }}," UTSports.com, October 16, 2014.

Kelly was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round (27th pick overall) of the 1993 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1993 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1993/draft.htm |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} During his rookie year, he played in 14 games and started in five, registering one sack. During the 1994 season, Kelly played in 11 games, and registered 9 tackles and 3.5 sacks."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0GkfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E9UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6022,3688630&dq=todd-kelly+1993&hl=en Football]," Daytona Beach News Journal, July 24, 1995, p. 7B. He appeared with the 49ers in the team's 49–26 victory over San Diego in Super Bowl XXIX."[http://www.utsports.com/genrel//011504aab.html Todd Kelly, Pete Kutz to Lead VASF Fund Drive]," UTSports.com, January 15, 2004. Retrieved: August 7, 2013.

Kelly was cut by the 49ers prior to the 1995 season. He was claimed on waivers a few days later by the Cincinnati Bengals."[https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/25/sports/pro-football-eagle-lineman-s-drug-use-will-cost-him-six-games.html Pro Football]," New York Times, July 25, 1995. Retrieved: August 7, 2013. He appeared in all 16 games for the Bengals in 1995, playing primarily as a speed rusher on passing downs."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oJgaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HC0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6551,6653012&dq=todd-kelly+bengals&hl=en NFL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119115002/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oJgaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HC0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6551,6653012&dq=todd-kelly+bengals&hl=en |date=November 19, 2015 }}," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 29, 1995, p. 6C. He was cut by the Bengals prior to the 1996 season, but was re-signed for two games in October."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ENgzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VyEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=999,1923172&dq=todd-kelly+1993&hl=en NFL Roundup]," Lodi News-Sentinel, October 16, 1996, p. 17. He finished the season with the Atlanta Falcons.

During his four seasons in the NFL, Kelly registered 27 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a pass break up."[https://apnews.com/f29fec655ab4680755eeb31fe16b730a Falcons Re-Sign Todd Kelly, Sign CFL's Derek Grier]," AP News Archive, March 17, 1997. Retrieved: August 7, 2013.

Kelly returned to Knoxville, Tennessee, with his family, following his NFL career. He works as a Commercial Excellence Executive for Boston Scientific (Peripheral Intervention), and served as a youth football coach from 2003 to 2009.

Kelly met his wife, Renee, a former Vol Hostess, at Tennessee in 1989. Their son, Todd Kelly, Jr., was a consensus four-star defensive back at the Webb School of Knoxville, and played for Tennessee from 2014 to 2018 and graduated.Terry Brooks, "[http://www.wbir.com/sports/college/football/article/258899/146/Volquestcom-Report-Todd-Kelly-Jr-Commits-to-UT Todd Kelly Jr. Commits to UT] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130807144910/http://www.wbir.com/sports/college/football/article/258899/146/Volquestcom-Report-Todd-Kelly-Jr-Commits-to-UT |date=2013-08-07 }}," WBIR.com, March 10, 2013. Retrieved: August 7, 2013. Their daughter Clarke was on the All-Girl 2015 National Championship cheerleading team at Alabama and was graduate in 2015 .

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• [http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/defensive-lineman-todd-kelly-of-the-cincinnati-bengals-news-photo/298700 1995 Photograph of Todd Kelly] – Getty Images

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Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:Players of American football from Hampton, Virginia

Category:Players of American football from Knoxville, Tennessee

Category:American football linebackers

Category:American football defensive ends

Category:Tennessee Volunteers football players

Category:San Francisco 49ers players

Category:Cincinnati Bengals players

Category:Atlanta Falcons players