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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) /
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Photo by Otto Greule /Allsport
Photo by Otto Greule /Allsport /

1989 (Round 1; Pick 28). 4. 839. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Linebacker. Keith DeLong

We go from the father in a Tennessee football legacy duo to the son. Keith DeLong was the son of Outland Trophy winner Steve DeLong, who won it for the Vols way back in 1964, Doug Dickey’s first season on Rocky Top. That was one year before UT would take off in the Dickey-early Bill Battle era.

Well, Keith DeLong’s last year was just one year before the Vols would take off in the modern era. He had over 120 tackles each of his last two seasons on Rocky Top, but in a bad 5-6 year in 1988 for the Vols, DeLong was a bright spot, earning All-American honors with 159 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, two sacks and four passes broken up.

Because of that production, like Todd Kelly would do four years later, DeLong became a first-round draft pic. And like Kelly, Cory Fleming and Craig Puki, he got to cash in on joining a dynasty by walking away with a Super Bowl championship. The 6’2 “245-pound linebacker played in 15 games and secured an interception while winning a Super Bowl his rookie year.

DeLong was part of the critical transition from Joe Montana to Steve Young, and he became a three-year starter from 1990 to 1992. His career ended in 1993. He played all five of his seasons with the 49ers, appearing in 64 games and starting in 39 of them.

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