Derek Tennell

Derek Tennell

No. 81, 46, 89
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1964-02-12)February 12, 1964 Los Angeles, California,U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:	West Covina (West Covina, California)
College:	UCLA
NFL draft:	1987/ round: 7 / pick: 185
Career history
Seattle Seahawks(1987)* Cleveland Browns(1987–1989) San Francisco 49ers(1990)* Detroit Lions(1991) Minnesota Vikings(1992) Dallas Cowboys(1992) Minnesota Vikings (1993)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion(XXVII)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 40 Receiving yards: 371 Touchdowns: 5 Statsat Pro Football Reference

Derek Wayne Tennell(born February 12, 1964) is an American former professionalfootballtight endin theNational Football League(NFL) for theCleveland Browns,Detroit Lions,Dallas Cowboys,andMinnesota Vikings.He playedcollege footballatUCLA.He wonSuper Bowl XXVIIwith Dallas.

Early life

Tennell attendedWest Covina High Schoolwhere he practiced football,basketballand track. In his senior year as arunning back,he registered 807 rushing yards and 7touchdowns.

Inbasketball,he averaged 19 points and 12.5 rebounds, while helping this team reach the Sierra League championship. In the440-yard dash,he set the school record of 49.2 seconds.

College career

Tennell accepted a football scholarship fromUCLAand began his college career as afullback.As a sophomore, he was converted into atight end.He was named the starter and was fourth on the team with 20 receptions for 167 yards.

As a junior, he had 24 receptions (third on the team) for 252 yards (fourth on the team). As a senior, he posted 15 receptions for 152 yards and 3touchdowns.He finished his college career as a three-year starter with 64 receptions for 602 yards and 3touchdowns.

Professional career

Seattle Seahawks

Tennell was selected by theSeattle Seahawksin the seventh round (185th overall) of the1987 NFL draft.He was waived on September 8.

Cleveland Browns

In1987,after the players went on a strike on the third week of the season, those games were canceled (reducing the 16 game season to 15) and theNFLdecided that the games would be played with replacement players. Tennell was signed to be a part of theCleveland Brownsreplacement team. He ended up playing well in those games as the starter attight endand was kept for the rest of the season.He was the backup toOzzie Newsomeand played mainly onspecial teams.

In1988,he started 3 games, registering 9 receptions for 88 yards and onetouchdown.He was released on December 11,1989.

San Francisco 49ers

In1990,he was signed by theSan Francisco 49ersand was cut on August 31.

Detroit Lions

On April 26,1991,he was signed as afree agentby theDetroit Lions,before being released on August 26.He was later re-signed after the season opener and played in the NFC title game against theWashington Redskins.He was cut on August 31,1992.

Minnesota Vikings (first stint)

On September 28,1992,he was signed as afree agentby theMinnesota Vikings,after starterMike Ticesuffered an injury.On November 3, he was cut after playing in 3 games.

Dallas Cowboys

On December 29,1992,he was signed as afree agentto replace blocking tight endAlfredo Roberts,who had suffered a season-ending right knee injury in the last game against theChicago Bears.In the playoff 34-10 win against thePhiladelphia Eagles,he scored a touchdown.He was a part of theSuper Bowl XXVIIwinning team.

Minnesota Vikings (second stint)

On April 21,1993,he was signed as afree agentby theMinnesota Vikings.He was released on August 22,1994.

External links

• Cowboy Tennell Thinks of Father: Former UCLA tight end has more than Super Bowl on his mind