Tom Keating (American football)
Encyclopedia
For the famous art forger of the same name, see Tom Keating
.
For the priest and author of the same name see Thomas Keating
.
Thomas Arthur Keating (born September 2, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois) is a retired American collegiate and Professional Football
player. A defensive tackle, he played for the University of Michigan
before he was drafted in 1964
in the fifth round of the American Football League
draft by the Buffalo Bills
. After two seasons with the Bills, he joined the AFL's Oakland Raiders
, where he earned AFL All-Star
honors in 1966 and 1967. He was the starting right tackle for the Raiders in their 1967 and their AFL Championship victory over the Houston Oilers
as well as their Super Bowl II
loss to the Green Bay Packers
. In that 13-1 won-lost regular season, he anchored a defensive line which finished with the fewest yards rushing and the fewest rushing yards per attempt in the AFL, as well as 3rd in fewest passing yards and 2nd in least points allowed. The front four of Keating, Dan Birdwell
, Ike Lassiter
, and Ben Davidson
was an important cause of 67 sacks and 666 yards lost against the opposing offense. He played for the AFL Raiders through 1969 and then with the same team
in the National Football League
from 1970 to 1972, then for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers
and Kansas City Chiefs
.
As with the more famous Bob Lilly
of the Dallas Cowboys
, he had a distinct 4-point stance, placing both hands on the ground instead of the usual one, thereby generating greater force when rushing straight ahead, as he could compensate with his speed and agility whenever turning sideways.
Tom is now a private investigator
, residing in Walnut Creek, CA, with his wife Karen Sprecher-Keating and son James Alexander Keating. His brother Bill Keating, also from the University of Michigan, played in the American Football League as well, for the Denver Broncos
and the Miami Dolphins
.
Tom Keating
For the football player of the same name see Tom Keating .For the priest and author of the same name see Thomas Keating....
.
For the priest and author of the same name see Thomas Keating
Thomas Keating
For the famous art forger of the same name, see Tom Keating.For the American football player of the same name, see Tom Keating .Fr...
.
Thomas Arthur Keating (born September 2, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois) is a retired American collegiate and Professional Football
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
player. A defensive tackle, he played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
before he was drafted in 1964
1964 American Football League Draft
-First round:-See also:*List of American Football League players*History of American Football League draft*List of Professional Football Drafts-External links:*...
in the fifth round of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
draft by 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...
. After two seasons with the Bills, he joined the AFL's Oakland Raiders
History of the Oakland Raiders
-Early years :A few months after the first AFL draft in 1959, the owners of the yet-unnamed Minneapolis franchise accepted an offer to join the established National Football League as an expansion team in 1961, sending the AFL scrambling for a replacement. At the time, Oakland seemed an unlikely...
, where he earned AFL All-Star
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
honors in 1966 and 1967. He was the starting right tackle for the Raiders in their 1967 and their AFL Championship victory over the Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
as well as their Super Bowl II
Super Bowl II
The second AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
loss to the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. In that 13-1 won-lost regular season, he anchored a defensive line which finished with the fewest yards rushing and the fewest rushing yards per attempt in the AFL, as well as 3rd in fewest passing yards and 2nd in least points allowed. The front four of Keating, Dan Birdwell
Dan Birdwell
Dan Birdwell was an American college and professional football player. A defensive lineman, he played collegiately for the University of Houston and professionally for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League from 1962 to 1969...
, Ike Lassiter
Ike Lassiter
Ike Lassiter is a former American college and professional football defensive lineman. He is an alumnus of St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in physical education...
, and Ben Davidson
Ben Davidson
Benjamin Earl Davidson is a former collegiate and professional American football player between 1961 and 1972, most notably in the American Football League with the Oakland Raiders from 1964 through 1969, and for the NFL Raiders from 1970 through 1972. He had also played in the NFL for the league...
was an important cause of 67 sacks and 666 yards lost against the opposing offense. He played for the AFL Raiders through 1969 and then with the same team
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 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...
from 1970 to 1972, then for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
.
As with the more famous Bob Lilly
Bob Lilly
Robert Lewis Lilly is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and photographer. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.-College career:...
of 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...
, he had a distinct 4-point stance, placing both hands on the ground instead of the usual one, thereby generating greater force when rushing straight ahead, as he could compensate with his speed and agility whenever turning sideways.
Tom is now a private investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
, residing in Walnut Creek, CA, with his wife Karen Sprecher-Keating and son James Alexander Keating. His brother Bill Keating, also from the University of Michigan, played in the American Football League as well, for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.