Ernie Kellerman
Encyclopedia
Ernie James Kellerman was an American football
defensive back
who played with the National Football League
's Cleveland Browns
, Cincinnati Bengals
, and the Buffalo Bills
. Kellerman was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
in the 1965 NFL Draft
out of Miami (Ohio)
, where he was a quarterback
.
Kellerman played football for the St. Peter Chanel High School
Firebirds and he was a member of the first graduating class of the school in 1961.
He was a three-time all-Mid-American Conference quarterback from 1962-64. He established 14 records and is still Miami's all-time total offensive leader with 3,978 yards. His biggest game passing-wise came against Houston in the Tangerine Bowl in 1962 when he completed 17 of 40 passes for 265 yards. In his senior year he set four passing records by completing 88 of 149 passes for 1, 260 yards and a completion percentage of .591. His 88-yard touchdown pass enabled Miami to defeat Purdue, 10-7, for the upset of the collegiate football season in 1962.
Kellerman did not make the Cowboys squad in 1965, but signed with his hometown Cleveland Browns, making the team in 1966 as a converted defensive back. He played safety for the Browns through through the 1971 season, recording 17 interceptions over those six seasons. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1968; he intercepted six passes that year, his highest season total. His lone NFL touchdown came in 1969 on an interception return. He played for Cincinnnati in 1972 and Buffalo in 1973. Throughout his NFL career, Kellerman wore jersey #24.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
who played with the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, and the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Kellerman was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the 1965 NFL Draft
1965 NFL Draft
The 1965 National Football League Draft took place on November 28, 1964. The first player selected was Tucker Frederickson, back from Auburn, by the New York Giants. The draft was marked by the failure of the St...
out of Miami (Ohio)
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, where he was a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
.
Kellerman played football for the St. Peter Chanel High School
St. Peter Chanel High School
Saint Peter Chanel High School is located in Bedford, Ohio, a southeast suburb of Cleveland. It is run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.-Building:...
Firebirds and he was a member of the first graduating class of the school in 1961.
He was a three-time all-Mid-American Conference quarterback from 1962-64. He established 14 records and is still Miami's all-time total offensive leader with 3,978 yards. His biggest game passing-wise came against Houston in the Tangerine Bowl in 1962 when he completed 17 of 40 passes for 265 yards. In his senior year he set four passing records by completing 88 of 149 passes for 1, 260 yards and a completion percentage of .591. His 88-yard touchdown pass enabled Miami to defeat Purdue, 10-7, for the upset of the collegiate football season in 1962.
Kellerman did not make the Cowboys squad in 1965, but signed with his hometown Cleveland Browns, making the team in 1966 as a converted defensive back. He played safety for the Browns through through the 1971 season, recording 17 interceptions over those six seasons. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1968; he intercepted six passes that year, his highest season total. His lone NFL touchdown came in 1969 on an interception return. He played for Cincinnnati in 1972 and Buffalo in 1973. Throughout his NFL career, Kellerman wore jersey #24.