Tommy Kelly (American football)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1980)}}
{{For|other people with the name Tommy Kelly|Thomas Kelly (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image = Tommy Kelly.JPG
| caption = Kelly with the Raiders in 2011
| number = 93, 95
| current_team =
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|12|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 310
| high_school = Jackson (MS) Provine
| college = Mississippi State
| undraftedyear = 2004
| pastteams = * Oakland Raiders ({{NFL Year|2004}}–{{NFL Year|2012}})
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2013}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2014}})
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 479
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 38.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 10
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 4
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 1
| pfr = KellTo21
}}
Tommy Terrell Kelly{{Cite web |title=Tommy Kelly Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KellTo21.htm |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} (born December 27, 1980) is an American former professional football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Mississippi State and was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played with the Raiders and subsequently a single season each with the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals before retiring prior to the 2015 season.
Early life
After a standout basketball career at Jackson's Provine High School, he signed a football scholarship with Mississippi State University, where he played in 22 games and earned 16 starts, making 82 tackles, including 15 for loss and two quarterback sacks. He was signed as a free agent in 2004 by the Oakland Raiders.
Professional career
=Oakland Raiders=
== 2004 season ==
After being signed in 2004 by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted rookie free agent, Tommy Kelly alternated between 3–4 DE and 4–3 DT. In the very few plays that he saw action, he was able to rack up four sacks, including 3 weeks in a row from week 7 through week 9.
== 2005 season ==
In 2005, the Raiders moved away from the 3–4 defense, with Kelly finding a spot as the RE. In week 9 alone, Kelly racked up a total of 3 quarterback sacks—reaching Kansas City veteran Trent Green. In each instance, Kelly had lined up as a DT rather than the RE that he had been playing as previously in the year. By the end of the season, Kelly had a total of 4.5 sacks.
== 2006 season ==
Tommy Kelly appeared in all sixteen games and had a total of 3.5 sacks.
== 2007 season ==
Kelly played in 7 games in 2007, recording 30 tackles and 1 sack[http://www.nfl.com/players/tommykelly/gamelogs?id=KEL742155 NFL Game Log] before suffering a season ending knee injury while playing against the Tennessee Titans.[http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_7319933?source=rss Inside Bay Area] He was placed on injured reserve by the Oakland Raiders on October 31, 2007.[http://www.nfl.com/transactions NFL Transactions]
== 2008 season ==
On February 28, 2008, the Oakland Raiders signed Kelly to the largest contract ever given to a defensive tackle on the eve of free agency. Kelly, a defensive end moving to defensive tackle in 2008, signed a seven-year, $50.5 million contract with $18.125 million in guarantees and $25.125 million in the first three years.[http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/11/27/raiders-fan-favorite-tommy-kelly-hasnt-played-up-to-career-expectations/ Raiders Fan Favorite Tommy Kelly Hasn’t Played Up To Career Expectations]
Kelly can play every spot on the defensive line, but he replaced the retired Warren Sapp at the three technique for the 2008 NFL season.
On September 14, 2008, Kelly was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence.[http://www.tmz.com/2008/09/16/oakland-raiders-star-busted-for-dui/ Oakland Raiders Star Busted for DUI] Kelly finished the 2008 season with 55 tackles (31 solo) and 4.5 sacks matching his career high set in 2005.
== 2009 season ==
Kelly finished the season with just 55 tackles again (37 solo) and a career low 1 sack.
At the end of the season, Kelly had 60 tackles and 7 sacks and was named as an alternate for the 2010 Pro Bowl.
== 2011 season ==
On opening day of the 2011 NFL season, still at right defensive tackle next to Richard Seymour, he recorded 2 tackles and a sack as the Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos. In week 10, he recorded 3 tackles, a game-ending sack and a forced fumble as the Raiders beat the San Diego Chargers. The next week, when the Raiders won against the Minnesota Vikings, he recorded 3 tackles, two sacks and an interception off of a deflected pass.
On March 27, 2013, Kelly was released from the Oakland Raiders making him a free agent.
=New England Patriots=
On April 8, 2013, Kelly agreed to a two-year deal with the New England Patriots.[http://www.patriots.com/news/article-1/Patriots-sign-Free-Agent-DL-Tommy-Kelly/5c775c42-38d9-4b48-acc9-3c15961e9810 Patriots sign Free Agent DL Tommy Kelly]
Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly was placed on injured reserve following Week 8 of the 2013 NFL season which ended his season.{{cite web|title=DT Tommy Kelly's Season Officially Over; OL Josh Kline Promoted from Practice Squad|url=http://www.sportsmedia101.com/newenglandpatriots/2013/11/02/dt-tommy-kellys-season-officially-over-ol-josh-kline-promoted-from-practice-squad/}} The Patriots released Kelly on August 24, 2014.[https://www.nfl.com/news/patriots-cut-tommy-kelly-will-smith-james-anderson-0ap3000000383193 Patriots reportedly release Tommy Kelly, Will Smith]
=Arizona Cardinals=
Kelly signed with the Arizona Cardinals on August 27, 2014.[https://twitter.com/AZCardinals/status/504718645378170880 Arizona Cardinals on Twitter: #AZCardinals sign DL Tommy Kelly (6-6, 310) to a one-year contract and release DL Ryan McBean.] He retired prior to the beginning of the 2015 season.{{Cite web|title = Mathieu's 'journey' enters third season|url = http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/tyrann-mathieu-s-journey-enters-third-season-with-arizona-cardinals-080515|website = FOX Sports|access-date = January 10, 2016}}
=Career statistics=
| class="wikitable" | |||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | GP | COMB | TOTAL | AST | SACK | FF | FR | FR YDS | INT | IR YDS | AVG IR | LNG | TD | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | OAK | 10 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 4.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | OAK | 16 | 45 | 35 | 10 | 4.5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 | OAK | 16 | 68 | 53 | 15 | 3.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2007 | OAK | 7 | 30 | 27 | 3 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 | OAK | 16 | 55 | 31 | 24 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | OAK | 16 | 55 | 37 | 18 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 | OAK | 16 | 60 | 38 | 22 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 | OAK | 16 | 41 | 27 | 14 | 7.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2012 | OAK | 16 | 45 | 25 | 20 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2013 | NE | 5 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 2.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | ARI | 16 | 33 | 23 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 150 | 474 | 324 | 151 | 37.5 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
Key
- GP: games played
- COMB: combined tackles
- TOTAL: total tackles
- AST: assisted tackles
- SACK: sacks
- FF: forced fumbles
- FR: fumble recoveries
- FR YDS: fumble return yards
- INT: interceptions
- IR YDS: interception return yards
- AVG IR: average interception return
- LNG: longest interception return
- TD: interceptions returned for touchdown
- PD: passes defensed
Coaching career
On July 21, 2017, Kelly was hired by the Arizona Cardinals as a coaching intern.{{Cite web |last=Grialou |first=Craig |date=July 21, 2017 |title=Arizona Cardinals 'locked in' as they report to training camp |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/1182359/arizona-cardinals-locked-report-training-camp/ |access-date=July 22, 2017 |website=ArizonaSports.com}}
Personal life
Kelly now lives in Jackson, Mississippi.
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Tommy}}
Category:Players of American football from Jackson, Mississippi
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Hinds Eagles football players
Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football players
Category:Oakland Raiders players
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen
Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen