Terry Killens facts for kids

Terry Deleon Killens (born March 24, 1974) is a famous American football player and official. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played for teams like the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Seattle Seahawks.

Terry Killens also became a football official. He is known for being the first person ever to both play in and officiate a Super Bowl.

Terry Killens: From Player to Official

Terry Killens was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He loved football from a young age. He played college football at Penn State University.

Playing in the NFL

In 1996, Terry Killens was chosen in the third round of the 1996 NFL draft. This meant he was picked by an NFL team to play professionally. He started his career with the Houston Oilers, who later became the Tennessee Titans.

During the 1999 season, Killens and the Titans had a great year. They made it all the way to Super Bowl XXXIV. This is the championship game of the NFL season. Killens played in the Super Bowl as a substitute player. However, his team lost to the St. Louis Rams in a very close game.

After playing for the Titans, Killens also played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. He was a strong linebacker, known for his tackles and helping his team.

Becoming a Football Official

After his playing career, Terry Killens decided to stay involved with football in a different way. He became a football official. Officials are the people who make sure the rules are followed during a game.

He started working as an official in college football games. He worked in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). In 2019, he also worked as an official in another league called the Alliance of American Football (AAF). In these games, he worked as an umpire. An umpire stands behind the defensive line and watches for fouls.

Making History in the NFL

In April 2019, it was announced that Terry Killens would join the NFL officiating staff. This was a big step for him. He continued to work as an umpire in the NFL.

In 2024, Terry Killens made history. He was the umpire for Super Bowl LVIII. This made him the first person ever to both play in a Super Bowl and then later officiate a Super Bowl. It's a very rare and special achievement!