Austin Denney

Austin Cheek Denney Jr. (January 2, 1944 – January 20, 2009) was an American football tight end in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of Tennessee.

Austin Denney
No. 84
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born:(1944-01-02)January 2, 1944
Nashville, Tennessee
Died:January 20, 2009(2009-01-20) (aged 65)
Knoxville, Tennessee
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:Donelson (TN)
College:Tennessee
NFL Draft:1966 / Round: 11 / Pick: 160
AFL draft:1966 / Round: Red Shirt 2 / Pick: 14
(by the New York Jets)
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:50
Receptions:71
Yards:764
Touchdowns:3
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Denney attended Donelson High School, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee.

As a junior, he was moved from fullback to tight end, becoming a starter, while posting 14 receptions for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns. As a senior, he posted 21 receptions for 264 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns (school record for tight ends). He finished his college career with 35 receptions for 470 yards and 9 touchdowns (school record for tight ends).[1]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Denney was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the eleventh round (160th overall) of the 1966 NFL Draft with a future draft pick, which allowed the team to draft him before his college eligibility was over. He also was selected in the redshirt round 2 (14th overall) of the 1966 AFL Draft.[2] On September 6, 1967, he was traded along with Mac Percival to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a third round draft choice (#71-Ed Harmon).[3]

Chicago Bears

In 1967, Denney became a starter at tight end for the Chicago Bears. His best season was 1968, when he registered 23 receptions for 247 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was released on September 1, 1970.

Buffalo Bills

On September 2, 1970, he was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills.[4] He was named the starter at tight end, making 14 receptions for 201 yards. He was released on September 15, 1971.

Personal life

On January 20, 2009, he died from an undisclosed illness.[5]

References
  1. "Vols Mourn Loss of Former All-America Tight End Denney". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  2. "1966 AFL Draft". Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  3. "Talented Toe Could Give Bears Title". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  4. "Baker Cut By Philadelphia". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  5. "Former Vol Tight End Austin Denney Passes Away". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
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