Tom Keane

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Tom Keane

| image = Tom Keane - 1954 Bowman.jpg

| caption = Keane on a 1954 Bowman football card

| number = 10, 21

| position = Cornerback
End

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1926|9|7|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Bellaire, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2001|6|1|1926|9|7}}

| death_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 192

| high_school = Linsly Military Institute
(Wheeling, West Virginia)

| college = Ohio State
West Virginia

| draftyear = 1948

| draftround = 3

| draftpick = 18

| pastteams =

Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1948|1949}})
Chicago Cardinals (1950)*
Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1950|1951}})
Dallas Texans ({{NFL Year|1952}})
Baltimore Colts ({{NFL Year|1953|1954}})
Chicago Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1955}})

| pastcoaching =

Chicago Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1957|1959}})
Defensive backs coach
Wheeling Ironmen (1962–1964)
Head coach
Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1965}})
Defensive backs coach
Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1966|1975}})
Defensive backs coach
Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1976|1983}})
Defensive backs coach / Special teams
Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1984}})
Defensive backs coach
Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1985}})
Special teams

| highlights =

NFL champion (1951)
Pro Bowl (1953)
First-team All-Pro (1953)

| statlabel1 = Interceptions

| statvalue1 = 40

| statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue2 = 10

| statlabel3 = Receptions

| statvalue3 = 34

| statlabel4 = Receiving yards

| statvalue4 = 551

| statlabel5 = Total touchdowns

| statvalue5 = 3

| pfr = KeanTo00

}}

Thomas Lawrence Keane (September 7, 1926 – June 19, 2001) was an American professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and West Virginia Mountaineers.

Early life

Keane played football and graduated from Linsly Military Institute in Wheeling, West Virginia (now known as the Linsly School) in 1944. During his high school career, he was an All-OVAC selection in football and basketball in 1943 and 1944. He was also All-City in basketball.

College career

He then went to play football at Ohio State University where he lettered as a freshman. After freshman year, he joined the United States Navy where he served for 20 months. After the navy he enrolled at West Virginia University, where he lettered in football in 1946 and 1947.

Professional career

Keane was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round, with the 18th overall pick, of the 1948 NFL draft. He played for the Rams from 1948 to 1949. On June 2, 1950, Keane, Bob Shaw, and Gerard Cowhig were traded to the Chicago Cardinals for Bob Reinhard.{{cite web | url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Gerry+Cowhig&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search | title=Search Results | publisher=prosportstransactions.com | accessdate=19 December 2024}} Keane was released by the Cardinals on September 11, 1950. He was re-signed by the Rams on September 20, 1950, and played for them during the 1950 and 1951 seasons.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/k/kean00400.html | title=Tom Keane NFL Transactions | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=19 December 2024}} He won the 1951 NFL title with the Rams. In 1952, the Rams traded him again to the expansion Dallas Texans, one of eleven players sent to Dallas in exchange for future Hall of Famer Les Richter. (Of the eleven, Keane turned out to be the only one to play in the NFL beyond 1952; six of them never played a down for Dallas or any other NFL team.) Due to injuries, he was occasionally used on offense, catching three passes for 73 yards. Keane moved with the Texans from Dallas to Baltimore, playing for the Colts, and ended his career with the Chicago Cardinals in 1955. During his career he was selected All-Pro twice and played in the 1953 Pro Bowl.

Coaching career

Keane served as an assistant for the Chicago Cardinals from 1957–1959. From 1962–1964 he served as Head Coach of the Wheeling Ironmen of the United Football League. Then he went back to the NFL to the Pittsburgh Steelers as an assistant in 1965. He served as a longtime assistant to the Miami Dolphins where he coached from 1966–1985. He was one of the assistants on the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins team under head coach Don Shula.