Derek Tennell

Derek Tennell

No. 81, 46, 89
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1964-02-12) February 12, 1964
Height:
Weight:
Career information
High school:	West Covina (CA)
College:	UCLA
NFL draft:	1987 / Round: 7 / Pick: 185 (By the Seattle Seahawks)
Career history
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 Receiving TDs: 5 Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Derek Wayne Tennell (born February 12, 1964 in Los Angeles, California) is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for UCLA.

Early years

Tennell attended West Covina High School where he practiced football, basketball and track. In his senior year as a running back, he registered 807 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. In basketball he averaged 19 points and 12.5 rebounds, while helping this team reach the Sierra League championship. In the 440-yard dash, he set the school record of 49.2 seconds.

He accepted a scholarship from UCLA and began his college career as a fullback, before being converted into a tight end as a sophomore. He finished his college career as a three-year starter with 64 receptions for 608 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Professional career

Seattle Seahawks

Tennell was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round (185th overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft. He was waived on September 8.

Cleveland Browns

In 1987, 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 the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. Tennell was signed to be a part of the Cleveland Browns replacement team. He ended up playing well in those games as the starter at tight end and was kept for the rest of the season, playing mainly as a backup and on special teams. He was backup to Ozzie Newsome and played in the AFC title game in 1987. He was released on December 11, 1989.

San Francisco 49ers

In 1990, he was cut by the San Francisco 49ers before the start of the season.

Detroit Lions

On April 26, 1991, he was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Lions, before being released on August 26. He was later re-signed after the season opener and played in the NFC title game against the Washington Redskins. He was cut on August 31, 1992.

Minnesota Vikings (first stint)

On September 28, 1992, he was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Vikings, after starter Mike Tice suffered an injury. On November 3, he was cut after playing in 3 games.

Dallas Cowboys

A season-ending right knee injury to blocking tight end Alfredo Roberts prompted the Cowboys to sign Tennell as a free agent on December 29, 1992. In the playoff 34-10 win against the Philadelphia Eagles, he scored a touchdown.

Minnesota Vikings (second stint)

On April 21, 1993, he was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota 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