Legendary Tennessee Volunteers offensive lineman and member of the College Football Hall of Fame Chip Kell died at 75-years-old.
Kell played for the Volunteers in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Kell was a meaningful part of several successful Tennessee teams.
Former Tennessee Volunteers OL Chip Kell won many awards for his outstanding play
![Fans Saddened by Tennessee Volunteers Legend, CFB Hall of Famer Death 1 tennessee volunteers chip kell](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_22090415_168400517_lowres-1-scaled-e1717122817176.jpg)
During his time with the Tennessee Volunteers, Chip Kell solidified himself as an anchor on the offensive line during a good period for the Tennessee program.
He was an All-American twice and an All-SEC selection three times. Kell was a two-time winner of the Jacobs Memorial Award, which was given to the best blocker in the SEC. The Birmingham Quarterback Club said he was the best offensive lineman in the SEC in 1970, which was his final year with the Volunteers.
Kell earned himself a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame, which was given to him in 2006. Former Tennessee coach Doug Dickey explained the type of player Kell was in an article from Knox News.
“Chip Kell was one of the most powerful athletes that I had ever coached at that time,” former UT coach and athletics director Doug Dickey said in a news release. “He was way ahead of his time in development by use of weight training, and he became a true leader on the football team.”
Tennessee Volunteers OL Chip Kell chose to play the Canadian Football League
![Fans Saddened by Tennessee Volunteers Legend, CFB Hall of Famer Death 2 tennessee volunteers chip kell](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_17029490_168400517_lowres.webp)
Chip Kell carved out a unique career for himself in many ways. For one, Kell held shot put records for the Tennessee Volunteers track and field team. Kell was a three-time SEC champion in the event.
Despite being drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 1971 NFL Draft, Kell decided to go for a career in the Canadian Football League. It is hard to imagine an offensive lineman who was given awards as the best offensive lineman in the SEC being relegated to a two-year CFL career in the modern day.
Kell being picked in the 17th round of the 1971 NFL Draft did not seem to inspire hope that he would meaningfully contribute to the Chargers, so he went on to play for the Edmonton Eskimos.
Mustachioed Chip Kell backed up at Centre and at other positions on the OL for the @EdmontonEsks part-way through 1971 and during the 1972 season, wearing #50 for both years suiting up for the team. pic.twitter.com/reFPBSCYGs
— Edm Football HistorEE (@EdmHistorEE) April 5, 2019
Fans shared their condolences for Chip Kell and the Tennessee Volunteers via social media
![Fans Saddened by Tennessee Volunteers Legend, CFB Hall of Famer Death 3 Tennessee Volunteers](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tennessee-NeylandStadium.jpg)
Many fans took to social media to express their condolences for the passing of Kell.
It is hard enough to leave an impact on a fan base as an offensive lineman, but to do so as an offensive lineman who played from 1967 to 1970 speaks volumes about the type of player Kell was for the Volunteers.
Greatest OL I’ve seen in my 60 years watching the Vols.
— Welliott (@Welliott2557) May 30, 2024
RIP 🙏🏼
— Mitzi🧡🅅🄾🄻🅂🏈⚾️🏀🥎🎄🎅🏻😇 (@mitzi4vols) May 30, 2024
🙏
— Tracy 🙏🇺🇸🧡🍊⚾️🏀🏈🥎 (@MSvolsfan1) May 30, 2024
Kell, who died on May 25 in Cohutta, Georgia has funeral arrangements pending.
Get More NFL and College Football Content
For more news and trends in the professional and college football world, click here or follow me on Twitter @KusleikaAndrew.