All for Tennessee
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Top 10 NFL careers of Tennessee football DBs

By Caleb Calhoun

11 Sep 1994: Defensive back Terry McDaniel of the Los Angeles Raiders returns an intereception for a touchdown during a game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Seahawks won the game, 38-9.
11 Sep 1994: Defensive back Terry McDaniel of the Los Angeles Raiders returns an intereception for a touchdown during a game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Seahawks won the game, 38-9. /
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Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images /

1949-1951. 6. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 839. Years in NFL: 10. Bert Rechichar

Teams played for:

  • Cleveland Browns; 1952
  • Baltimore Colts; 1953-1959
  • Pittsburgh Steelers; 1960
  • New York Titans (AFL); 1961

He was known as a do-it-all guy for Tennessee football, particularly on special teams. Bert Rechichar was a kicker and a punt returner while tripling as a defensive back, and he did have a pick-six and a punt return touchdown in one game in 1950. In three years, he helped the Vols win back to back national titles and earned All-SEC in 1951.

After two career punt return touchdowns, 42 made extra points, two field goals and nine interceptions, Rechichar, who passed away in 2019, was taken by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 1952 NFL Draft. At 6’1″ 209 pounds, he started 12 games that year as a safety and came away with six picks.

The next year, Rechichar joined the Baltimore Colts and turned into a star. He tripled as a safety, field goal kicker and punt returner for five years. Sometimes, he even played receiver. From 1955 to 1957, Rechichar made three straight Pro Bowls, and he then won back to back NFL Championships, just like he did in college, this time in 1958 and 1959.

Rechichar finished his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1960, but we’re counting his 1961 season with the New York Titans. The 1970 merger means years with AFL teams count. Anyway, over 10 years, Rechichar appeared in 99 games and started 67 of them. He had 31 interceptions, a pick-six, two receiving touchdowns and 31 made field goals. So he was a star.

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