Former Penn State LB Terry Killens - Rick Stewart/Getty Images
With the Super Bowl just a couple of weeks away, it has been released that Terry Killens will be one of the umpires for the big game. While college football fans tend to discuss former players competing in the game, Killens is different. He is a former Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker, now refereeing the big game. Here is a look back at Killens’ time at Penn State, as well as in the NFL.
Terry Killens Penn State
Killens’ time at Penn State was a notable one. He was a part of the undefeated 1994 season, one of the most notable years for this team. He played both linebacker and defensive end and was a big reason for their success. Killens was with the team from 1992-1995 and was selected as second-team All-Big Ten in 1995 as well.
His collegiate career ended following the 1995 season. He was then selected in the third round with the 74th overall pick of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers.
Terry Killens NFL
Killens spent eight years in the NFL, starting with his time with the Houston Oilers, which actually switched to Tennessee in his second year. Following five years, Killens moved on to the San Francisco 49ers. In his final season, he spent some time with the 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite playing both linebacker and defensive line, Killens’ focus was on the linebacker position when he made it to the league. In his eight years in the league, Killens totaled 83 combined tackles, 71 solo, and three tackles for loss, according to Pro Football Reference. He also had one sack, one fumble recovery, and three passes defended.
Terry Killens Now
As known, Killens is now a referee in the league. He will be the person to play in a Super Bowl, and now ref in one too. He was a part of the Tennessee game when they faced the St. Louis Rams in 2000. While the refereeing situation in the league has been a big topic of conversation, it will be interesting to see what it is like for a former payer to ref in the Super Bowl, having been in that position before. Will he let the teams play? Call far too many calls? That is a wait-and-see.
If this works out well, and Killens and the rest of his crew do well, perhaps this can be another future career for NFL players when they retire. With so much discussion surrounding officiating, perhaps former players can be a big help, as long as there is no conflict of interest of course.
Super Bowl LVIII will take place on Sunday, February 11th, with the teams yet to be determined.
