Tennessee Hall of Famer Steve Kiner Dies at 77

Steve Kiner, a College Football Hall of Famer and former All-American linebacker at the University of Tennessee, has died at age 77. He led the Volunteers to two SEC championships, earned consensus All-America honors in 1968 and 1969, and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting as a senior. Kiner was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1970 and played nine NFL seasons with Dallas, New England, and Houston, totaling 10 interceptions, 19 sacks, and 114 games. After football, he earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and established a mental health practice in Georgia. Kiner was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and multiple other halls of fame. His passing was announced just hours before the 2025 NFL Draft, and he is remembered for his contributions both on and off the field.