Chip Kell, who was a two-time All-American and three-time SEC All-Star during his playing career at Tennessee (1968-70), passed away on May 25, 2024, in Cohutta, Georgia, at the age of 75.
In 2006, Kell became the 21st player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Kell joined the Vols as a freshman in 1966-67 out of Avondale High School in Decatur, Georgia. He played center as a sophomore in 1968, then moved to guard in 1969 and flourished. He played on a team that went 8-2-1 in 1968, won an SEC title in 1969, and finished 11-1 in 1970, ranking fourth overall. During his playing career at Tennessee, he and the seniors never lost a game at Seals-Watkins Field, with the only blemish on his record being a 17-17 tie with Georgia in the 1968 season opener. Kell and his Tennessee teammates dominated Air Force 34-13 in the 1971 Sugar Bowl, finishing his Tennessee career with 10 straight wins and a 28-5-1 record overall.
Kell twice won the Jacobs Memorial Award as the SEC's best blocker and was named the Birmingham Quarterback Club's SEC Lineman of the Year during his senior season and also played in the Senior Bowl in 1971. After the 1970 game against Kentucky, he was named the nation's best lineman.
A two-sport star at the University of Tennessee, Kell excelled in the shot put for the Tennessee track and field team, where he won both the indoor and outdoor SEC titles in 1969 and also won the indoor title in 1968. At the time of his retirement, he held the school record in the shot put with a 58-7 record in 1968.
“Chip Kell was one of the strongest athletes I ever coached,” said former University of Texas athletic director Doug Dickey, who was his head coach in 1968 and 1969. “He used weight training to become a pioneer in player development at the time and a true leader on the football team.”
Upon receiving the news of his Hall of Fame induction, Kell said, “I give all my thanks to God, my family, my school and football. It was an honor to play for Coach Dickey and Coach Battle, and I owe a lot to my high school coaches, Lefty Thompson and Calvin Ramsey.”
Kell was selected in the 17th round of the 1971 draft by the San Diego Chargers but played two seasons (1971-72) with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
