Hubbry Logo
Terry KillensTerry KillensMain
Open search
Terry Killens
Community hub
Terry Killens
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Terry Killens
Terry Killens
Terry Killens
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Terry Deleon Killens (born March 24, 1974) is an American football official and former linebacker. He played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted in the third round of the 1996 NFL draft.[1] In the 1999 season, the Titans made it to Super Bowl XXXIV, in which Killens appeared as a substitute;[2] however, they lost to the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams.[3]

Key Information

Killens has been a football official since at least 2013, working in the American Athletic Conference (AAC).[4] In 2019, Killens was also an official in the Alliance of American Football (AAF), working as an umpire on the crew led by referee Tra Blake.[4]

It was announced in April 2019 that Killens would be joining the NFL officiating staff for the 2019 season. He wears uniform number 77, which was previously worn by three-time Super Bowl referee Terry McAulay (and before that, Mike Pereira). Killens works at the umpire position, as he did in the AAC and AAF.[5][6]

Killens was the umpire for Super Bowl LVIII in 2024, making him the first person to both play in and officiate a Super Bowl.[7][3]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Terry Killens

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Terry Killens is an American former professional football linebacker and current NFL official known for becoming the first person in NFL history to both play in and officiate a Super Bowl. Born on March 24, 1974, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Killens played college football at Penn State University before entering the NFL as a third-round draft pick by the Houston Oilers in 1996. He went on to play seven seasons as a linebacker and special teams contributor from 1996 to 2002, primarily with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans organization, where he appeared in Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 during the Titans' run to the championship game against the St. Louis Rams. He later played for the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks to close out his playing career. After retiring from playing, Killens transitioned into officiating, starting at lower levels before progressing through high school, college, and other leagues to join the NFL as an umpire in 2019. He made history again by serving as the umpire for Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, marking his unique dual participation in the league's premier event.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Terry Deleon Killens was born on March 24, 1974, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His mother passed away from cancer in May 1995, and he dedicated his senior season at Penn State to her. No verified information is available regarding his father, siblings, or additional early family background.

Education and Early Interests

Terry Killens attended Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he developed as a standout football player and demonstrated his early passion for the sport. He went on to Pennsylvania State University, where he majored in communications and earned a degree in the field. His academic focus on communications reflected an interest in media-related fields alongside his athletic commitments.

Playing Career

College Football at Penn State

Terry Killens played linebacker and defensive end for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1992 to 1995. As a true freshman in 1992, he appeared in every game, showcasing his versatility despite being considered undersized at 6'1" and 223 pounds. In 1993, he played in all 11 games and made a major impact on the defense. Killens contributed significantly to Penn State's undefeated 1994 season, recording 42 tackles and 3 sacks during his junior year while playing outside linebacker. In his senior season of 1995, he transitioned to defensive end, served as co-captain, and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He delivered a standout performance that year with four sacks against Indiana, tying the Penn State single-game sack record. Following his college career, Killens was selected by the Houston Oilers in the third round (74th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft.

NFL Professional Playing Career

Terry Killens began his NFL career as a linebacker after being selected by the Houston Oilers in the third round (74th overall pick) of the 1996 NFL Draft following his college career at Penn State. He played primarily for the Oilers organization, which relocated to Tennessee and became the Tennessee Oilers in 1997 before rebranding as the Titans in 1999, through the 2000 season. During the 1999 season, Killens was a member of the Tennessee Titans team that advanced to Super Bowl XXXIV, where he appeared in a substitute role as the Titans faced the St. Louis Rams. He later joined the San Francisco 49ers for the 2001 season, followed by a stint with the Seattle Seahawks in 2002. His professional playing career spanned from 1996 to 2002, during which he appeared in 97 games and recorded 1.0 sack. He retired from playing after the 2002 season.

Officiating Career

Entry into Football Officiating

After his NFL playing career ended in 2003, Terry Killens initially attempted a coaching career at his high school alma mater, which he later described as unsuccessful, before transitioning to officiating to remain involved in the sport. He first officiated basketball, then took up football officiating at the junior varsity high school level, advancing to varsity games by 2009 and progressing through Division II/III college games, Division I FCS in the SWAC and MEAC, and the American Athletic Conference (AAC) by 2013 as part of the NFL's Officiating Development Program for former players. In 2019, Killens officiated in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) as an umpire on the crew led by referee Tra Blake, wearing uniform number 35 in that league. His performance across college and spring professional leagues positioned him for advancement. In April 2019, the NFL announced that Killens would join its officiating staff for the 2019 season as an umpire, assigned uniform number 77. This marked his entry into the NFL's officiating ranks.

NFL Officiating and Historic Milestones

Terry Killens joined the NFL officiating staff in 2019, serving as an umpire. He has since worked regular season and postseason games as part of various officiating crews. His most prominent achievement came during the 2023 NFL season when he was assigned to the officiating crew for Super Bowl LVIII. Killens served as umpire number 77 under referee Bill Vinovich for the championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, held on February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This assignment marked a historic milestone, as Killens became the first person in NFL history to have both played in a Super Bowl and officiated one. No prior individual had accomplished this dual role across the league's Super Bowl era. The distinction underscores the rarity of transitioning from on-field player to on-field official at the highest level of professional football.

Television Appearances

Appearances as an NFL Player

During his NFL playing career, Terry Killens made several television appearances as himself in NFL-related broadcasts, primarily in game coverage and draft specials. He was first featured in the 1996 NFL Draft television special, appearing as Self - 74th Overall Pick. While with the Tennessee Titans, he appeared on The NFL on CBS from 1999 to 2000 as Self - Tennessee Titans Linebacker in 8 episodes. Later, during his time with the San Francisco 49ers, he was credited on NFL on FOX from 2001 to 2002 as Self - San Francisco 49ers Linebacker in 3 episodes.

Appearances as an NFL Official

Terry Killens has appeared on television in his capacity as an NFL official, most notably in the TV special Super Bowl LVIII (2024), where he is credited as Self - Umpire. This credit corresponds to his role officiating the championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on February 11, 2024, during which he served as umpire on referee Bill Vinovich's crew. The broadcast provided viewers with visibility of Killens performing his on-field duties throughout the event. This stands as his primary documented television appearance in an officiating role.

Personal Life

Family and Post-Football Activities

Terry Killens was married to Rhonda Killens, his high school sweetheart from Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati. The couple raised five children together. Rhonda managed household responsibilities and supported the children's activities, enabling Killens to focus on his professional pursuits. Rhonda passed away in August 2020 from breast cancer at age 46. Following her death, Killens has raised their children as a single parent, with assistance from extended family including his father, who relocated to Cincinnati during school months to help, and his aunt, who provides regular support. He has one grandson. After retiring from the NFL in 2003, Killens explored several career paths outside his later officiating work, including sports radio, coaching at his alma mater Purcell Marian High School, training youth from his neighborhood, and serving as a campus safety specialist in a Cincinnati-area school district. He found coaching emotionally difficult due to lingering player perspectives on wins and losses, and did not continue in that direction long-term.

Legacy and Public Recognition

Terry Killens holds a singular place in NFL history as the first person to both play in and officiate a Super Bowl. This milestone was achieved when he worked Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 as the umpire on Bill Vinovich’s officiating crew, 24 years after participating as a backup linebacker and special teams contributor in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Tennessee Titans in 2000. In Super Bowl XXXIV, the Titans fell 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams after a final-play stop that left them one yard short of the end zone. The announcement of his Super Bowl LVIII assignment drew widespread media coverage that celebrated the rarity of his dual career path. Outlets including CNN and Andscape profiled his journey from player to official, framing it as a groundbreaking contribution to the league. Killens described the officiating role as “a huge accomplishment” and “a big thank you to all the people who helped me along the way,” while underscoring officials’ duty as “guardians of the game” who ensure fairness and enforce rules. Former teammate Eddie George hailed the achievement as “a God wink and a wonderful opportunity for him to finish the job that he started,” adding that “by officiating the game, he’s already won.” This recognition highlights Killens’ enduring legacy as a trailblazer who bridged playing and officiating at the sport’s highest level.

References

  1. https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/07/sport/terry-killens-super-bowl-official-player-spt-intl
  2. https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/former-titans-lb-terry-killens-to-make-history-in-super-bowl-lviii
  3. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/1046/terry-killens
  4. https://library.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/publications/football/yearbooks/FTENTMG-1998-tennessee-titans-media-guide.pdf
  5. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KillTe20.htm
  6. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/1046/terry-killens
  7. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/terry-killens-nfl-referee-play-officiate-super-bowl/f59f6824ef843a0bf235d767
  8. https://andscape.com/features/former-nfl-player-terry-killens-returns-to-super-bowl-as-a-referee/
  9. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1096464/2019/07/26/earning-his-stripes-terry-killens-finds-unique-way-back-to-nfl-16-years-after-playing/
  10. https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/super-bowl-58-penn-state-football-player-terry-killens-player-official
  11. https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/5/30/5763286/only-terry-killens-until-penn-state-football-92-days-countdown-sacks-little-guy-big-game
  12. https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/article/former-penn-state-lb-terry-killens-loving-new-view-of-field-31876703/
  13. https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/article/nfl-season-terry-killens-former-penn-state-linebacker-is-new-league-official-133588133/
  14. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1996/draft.htm
  15. http://www.footballzebras.com/2019/02/officiating-crews-for-the-2019-aaf-season/
  16. https://kids.kiddle.co/Terry_Killens
  17. https://www.profootballarchives.com/officials/kill00100.html
  18. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/bill-vinovich-to-referee-super-bowl-lviii
  19. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3874245/
  20. https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/07/sport/terry-killens-super-bowl-official-player-spt-intl/index.html
  21. https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-terry-killens-wife-who-is-rhonda-hill-killens-mother-of-five-children-who-lost-her-life-due-to-cancer/
  22. https://www.wlwt.com/article/referee-super-bowl-history-terry-killens/46891250
  23. https://www.statecollege.com/articles/columns/he-reminds-me-of-the-story-of-job-former-penn-state-linebacker-terry-killens-journey-to-super-bowl-referee/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.