Austin Denney
Austin Cheek Denney Jr. (January 2, 1944 – January 20, 2009) was an American football tight end in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of Tennessee.
| No. 84 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | January 2, 1944 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | January 20, 2009 (aged 65) Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Donelson (TN) | ||||||||
| College: | Tennessee | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1966 / Round: 11 / Pick: 160 | ||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1966 / Round: Red Shirt 2 / Pick: 14 (by the New York Jets) | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||
Early years edit
Denney attended Donelson High School, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee.
As a junior, he was moved from fullback to tight end, becoming a starter, while posting 14 receptions for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns. As a senior, he posted 21 receptions for 264 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns (school record for tight ends). He finished his college career with 35 receptions for 470 yards and 9 touchdowns (school record for tight ends).[1]
Professional career edit
Dallas Cowboys edit
Denney was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the eleventh round (160th overall) of the 1966 NFL Draft with a future draft pick, which allowed the team to draft him before his college eligibility was over.[2] He also was selected in the redshirt round 2 (14th overall) of the 1966 AFL Draft.[3] On September 6, 1967, he was traded along with Mac Percival to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a third round draft choice (#71-Ed Harmon).[4]
Chicago Bears edit
In 1967, Denney became a starter at tight end for the Chicago Bears. His best season was 1968, when he registered 23 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns.[5] He was released on September 1, 1970.
Buffalo Bills edit
On September 2, 1970, he was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills.[6] He was named the starter at tight end, making 14 receptions for 201 yards.[7] He was released on September 15, 1971.
Personal life edit
On January 20, 2009, he died from an undisclosed illness.[8]
References edit
- ^ "Vols Mourn Loss of Former All-America Tight End Denney". University of Tennessee Athletics. January 22, 2009. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "1966 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "1966 AFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "Talented Toe Could Give Bears Title". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Denney 1968 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "Baker Cut By Philadelphia". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Denney 1970 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "Former Vol Tight End Austin Denney Passes Away". Chattanoogan.com. January 22, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2019.