All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Ranking NFL careers of 10 Vols previously drafted by 49ers

By Caleb Calhoun

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 09: Parys Haralson #98 of the San Francisco 49ers runs onto the field during player introduction before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Candlestick Park on October 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game 48-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 09: Parys Haralson #98 of the San Francisco 49ers runs onto the field during player introduction before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Candlestick Park on October 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game 48-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 11
Next
Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images /

839. Pick Analysis. Ed Beard. player. Scouting Report. Linebacker. 1964 (Round 14; Pick 183). 2

We already mentioned that Tennessee football’s first pick by the San Francisco 49ers was Ed Morgan. Well, the second pick was another Ed just over a decade later. Ed Beard is a tricky situation, as the Army Black Knights could claim him since he enlisted after lettering with the Vols.

More from Vols Football

In his one letter year with Rocky Top, Beard came away with a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown. During that time, the Vols were sliding as a program under Bowden Wyatt, but they did go 6-4 that year and 4-3 in the SEC. So Beard was part of one of the few good seasons in the early 1960s before turning pro.

Three years later, after his military service, Beard was taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the 14th round of the NFL Draft. He ended up becoming a steal, though, as the 6’1″ 226-pound middle linebacker built an eight-year career in the pros. He started every game in 1966, 1967 and 1968, and he also became the first special teams captain in NFL history.

Related Story. Vols 2020 NFL Draft primer: Live updates, news, features. light

Since we are counting him, that resume puts him high on this list. Beard appeared in 97 games and started in 53 of them over eight years, and he came away with three career interceptions. His level of production earns him a really high spot on this list. After all, if not for his service, he likely would have had a 10-year career at the next level.

Home/Vols Football