Keith Bostic (American football) facts for kids

William Keith Bostic (born January 17, 1961) is a former American football player. He played as a safety for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Keith Bostic played for the Houston Oilers and the Cleveland Browns. He was known for his strong and physical playing style.

During his time with the Houston Oilers, he was a defensive captain. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl once in 1987. In that special season, he caught more passes (interceptions) than anyone else in the American Football Conference.

Before joining the NFL, Keith Bostic played college football for the Michigan Wolverines. He played from 1979 to 1982. While at Michigan, his team won two Big Ten championships. He was also named first-team All-Big Ten. He was very good at recovering fumbles and catching interceptions, and his stats are still among the best in Michigan's history.

College Football Star

Bostic played in two Rose Bowls during his college career.

Keith Bostic was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was a standout player at Pioneer High School in his hometown. After high school, he decided to stay in Ann Arbor. He played college football for the University of Michigan.

He earned a varsity letter in football for four years, from 1979 to 1982. He wore the number 13 jersey. In 1980, he started eight games for Michigan. He even made an interception in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 1981. That game was a big win for Michigan and their coach, Bo Schembechler.

Bostic continued to excel, starting eleven games in 1981 and twelve in 1982. In 1982, he was named first-team All-Big Ten. His team also won the Big Ten championship and played in the Rose Bowl again. When he left college for the NFL, he had 10 career interceptions. This placed him high on Michigan's all-time list. He also recovered six fumbles in his college career.

Professional Football Journey

Keith Bostic was picked by the Houston Oilers in the 1983 NFL draft. He was the 42nd player chosen overall. He joined the Oilers when they were trying to build a younger, stronger team.

Early Years with the Oilers

Bostic quickly became a key player for the Oilers. He started the last 12 games of the 1983 NFL season. After that, he started every game for the Oilers until he left the team in 1989. Even though the Oilers had some tough seasons early on, Bostic became known as one of the best safeties in the league by 1985.

In the 1985 NFL season, he had a great year. He recorded five quarterback sacks, three interceptions, and recovered a fumble. His strong and physical playing style made him a valuable player.

Pro Bowl Season

Keith Bostic's playing style was a perfect fit for coach Jerry Glanville. Glanville became the Oilers' head coach in 1986. Before the 1987 NFL season, Bostic signed a new contract. That year, he had an amazing season.

He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1987. He was also named second-team All-Pro. During the 1987 season, he caught six interceptions, which was a career high. This total led the entire American Football Conference (AFC). He also had three quarterback sacks and recovered a fumble. Coach Glanville led the Oilers to the NFL playoffs in both 1987 and 1988.

By his sixth season, Bostic was one of the longest-serving players on the Oilers. He started 88 games in a row for the team. After leaving the Oilers, he briefly joined the Indianapolis Colts in 1989. In 1990, the Cleveland Browns signed him, but he was later released during that season.

"Batman" on the Field

Keith Bostic was known for his very physical and tough style of play. Other players respected him for it. For example, Lester Hayes, a famous player, called Bostic one of his "sons of dirt." This meant Bostic played with the same strong, tough style as Hayes.

Bostic was known as a big hitter. He had a great mix of strength and speed. Ozzie Newsome, another NFL legend, said Bostic was "as strong as any linebacker and can run like any of the guys on the corner." Because of his intense playing style, Bostic earned the nickname "Batman."

Coach Glanville once asked his team to pick the three toughest players. He said these would be the ones who would "jump on a grenade" for the team. Keith Bostic was the player chosen from the Oilers' defense. Even with his strength, he was also fast enough to chase down speedy players like Tony Dorsett.

Personal Life

During the football offseasons, Keith Bostic often played on the Oilers' summer basketball team. This team traveled around the state to raise money for charities. They played against local All-star teams. Bostic was considered one of the best players ever on this charity team.

He once tried to win a $20 bet with a teammate by playing with tape over his mouth. He wanted to see who could go the longest without talking during NFL training camp.

Keith Bostic has two sons who also played football. His son, Tony Bostic, played running back for the New Mexico State Aggies. His younger son, William, followed in his father's footsteps. He played linebacker for his father's old college team, the University of Michigan.