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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 Dennis Collins/Getty Images
Photo by Dennis Collins/Getty Images /

player. 1976-1979. Years in NFL: 11. Roland James. 5. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis

Teams played for:

  • New England Patriots; 1980-1990

In 1979, Roland James became Tennessee football’s first All-American under Johnny Majors, largely because of his ability as a punt returner with a return touchdown. However, his best defensive year was 1978, when he had seven interceptions and a pick-six. Over the course of four years, James had 10 career interceptions and six forced fumbles.

With that success, he was taken by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft. James joined UT receiver Stanley Morgan to create a tandem of reliable Vols with the Pats throughout the 1980s. At 6’2″ 191 pounds, James spent time at both safety and cornerback through his first two years, and he was the feature punt returner in 1980.

However, despite a punt return touchdown his rookie year, James began to focus more solely on defense and became the full-time starter at safety by 1982. Over the next nine years, James would be a staple with the Patriots. He helped them make back-to-back NFL Playoff appearances in 1985 and 1986, reaching the Super Bowl in 1985 before losing to the Chicago Bears.

After 1990, his career came to an end, but he had spent 11 years in the pros and appeared in 145 games, starting in 122 of them. In addition to his punt return, James had 29 career interceptions, including four in three separate years and five in another year. He was a ball-hawking safety, and his consistency is what puts him up here.

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