Tom Keane

For other uses, see Tom Keane (disambiguation).

For other people of the same name, see Tom Kean (disambiguation).

Thomas Lawrence Keane (September 7, 1926 – June 19, 2001) was an American football cornerback.

High school

Keane played football and graduated from Linsly Military Institute in Wheeling, West Virginia (now known as the Linsly School) in 1944. During his high school career he was an All-OVAC selection in football and basketball in 1943 and 1944. He was also All-City in basketball.

College

He then went to play football at Ohio State University where he lettered as a freshman. After freshman year, he joined the United States Navy where he served for 20 months. After the navy he enrolled at West Virginia University, where he lettered in football in 1946 and 1947.

Professional Football

Keane was a third round selection and 18th overall pick in the 1948 NFL Draft. He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams. He played four years with the Rams, where he won the 1951 NFL title. He left the Rams to go play a year for the Dallas Texans. Followed by two years with the Baltimore Colts and finally ending his career with the Chicago Cardinals in 1955. During his career he was selected All-Pro twice and played in the 1953 Pro Bowl.

Coaching career

Keane served as an assistant for the Chicago Cardinals from 1957-1959. From 1962-1964 he served as Head Coach of the Wheeling Ironmen of the United Football League. Then he went back to the NFL to the Pittsburgh Steelers as an assistant in 1965. He served as a longtime assistant to the Miami Dolphins where he coached from 1966-1985. He was one of the assistants on the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins team under head coach Don Shula.

• 1957-1959 Chicago Cardinals (DB)
• 1962-1964 Wheeling Ironmen (HC)
• 1965 Pittsburgh Steelers (DB)
• 1966-1975 Miami Dolphins (DB)
• 1976-1983 Miami Dolphins (DB/ST)
• 1984 Miami Dolphins (DB)
• 1985 Miami Dolphins (ST)

References

Tom Keane, OVAC Hall of Fame