Marlin Thomas McKeever (January 1, 1940 – October 27, 2006) was an American professionalfootball player in theNational Football League (NFL) who playedlinebacker andtight end during his 13-year career. He was anAll-American college football player at theUniversity of Southern California (USC) where he played bothoffensive anddefensive end,fullback andpunter.

McKeever, and his twin brotherMike McKeever were born during a blizzard on January 1, 1940, inCheyenne, Wyoming, to William and Moneta (Conlogue) McKeever.^[1][2] They grew up inLos Angeles. The brothers were standout athletes at Mt. Carmel High School in Los Angeles, and were featured on the cover ofSports Illustrated.^[1] They were high school All-Americans in football.^[3]

The McKeevers (class of 1957) were high school football teammates ofKermit Alexander (class of 1959), who went on to play atUCLA and in the NFL. In 2012, the Alexander-McKeever Field located on the site of the former Mt. Carmel High School was dedicated in their honor, as part of the Mt. Carmel Recreation Center.^[4] McKeever and Alexander were NFL teammates in 1971 (Los Angeles Rams) and 1973 (Philadelphia Eagles).^[5][6]

McKeever and his brother attended USC, though their mother had always wanted them to attend theUniversity of Notre Dame.^[2] From 1958-60, McKeever played both offensive and defensive end on theTrojans football team, as well as fullback and punter. He earned two-time first-teamAll-American honors as a junior and senior, and was All-Conference first-team each of his three varsity years.^[1][7] In 1959, he tiedLuther Hayes with a team-leading nine receptions; and in 1960 he led the team with 15 receptions.^[8][9] In 1958 and 1960, he led the team in punting.^[7]

In USC's 1960 upset victory over favored rival UCLA, McKeever caught a 21-yard touchdown pass fromBill Nelson. As a defensive end in the game, he was switched to thestrong side with the aim of controlling UCLA starBilly Kilmer, whom McKeever successfully throttled in the USC victory. He was honored as Player of the Game. FutureCollege Football Hall of Fame USC coachJohn McKay, then in his first year, later said that victory saved his job.^{[1][10][11][12]} McKeever was also named USC's Lineman of the Year in 1960. He played in the 1960East-West Shrine Game and 1961College All-Star Game andHula Bowl.^[7]

At USC, McKeever wore number 86 and his brother number 68. As seniors, they were 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and 230 lb. (104.3 kg). Mike ran the 100-yard dash in 10.2 seconds, and McKeever in 10.3. The brothers were extroverts, who enjoyed the publicity they received at USC, and did considerable public speaking as college students.^[2]

Mike McKeever played left guard at USC, was its 1960 team captain, an All-American in football, and twice an Academic All-American; later being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (1987). The brothers were the first twins to both earn All-America status. In a 1959 game against Baylor where Mike had five quarterback sacks and 13 tackles, and McKeever 12 tackles, theAssociated Press (AP) named them co-linemen of the week. During the 1960 season, Mike's career was cut short when he suffered a head injury in a game against Stanford, resulting in two blood clots in his brain.^{[1][7][13][2]}

The brothers competed indiscus andshot put on USC's track team, with McKeever competing in 1959-60. McKeever was an honors finance student at USC, and graduated in 1960 as an Academic All-American.^[1][7]

The McKeever brothers were both inducted into the USC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.^[14] FuturePro Football Hall of Fame tackleRon Mix was an All-American tackle at USC, and a year ahead of the McKeevers. He did weight training with the brothers at a time when this was discouraged, and the three worked together after practice to hone their football skills. He presented McKeever at McKeever's induction into USC's Athletics Hall of Fame.^[15][16]

McKeever's work at linebacker got the attention of professional football scouts.^{[citation needed]}

McKeever was a first round pick in the1961 NFL draft by theLos Angeles Rams, the fourth overall selection. The Rams also selected Mike McKeever in the 13th round (though he would never play in the NFL).^[17] McKeever was also taken in the third round of the1961 American Football League draft by theSan Diego Chargers.^[18] McKeever chose the Rams, and played in the NFL from1961 to1973.^[5]

He spent 1961–66 with the Rams, 1967 with theMinnesota Vikings, 1968–70 with theWashington Redskins, 1971–72 back with the Rams and finally 1973 with thePhiladelphia Eagles before retiring.^[5] During his professional career, he was coached by five members of thePro Football Hall of Fame:George Allen,^[19][20]Bud Grant,^[21][22]Otto Graham,^[23][24]Bob Waterfield^[25][26] andVince Lombardi.^[27][28] (Graham and Waterfield were inducted as quarterbacks, not coaches).

In his rookie year, McKeever played in only three games, but in 1962, he started 13 out of 14 games at linebacker, with two interceptions. In 1963, McKeever continued at linebacker, but the Rams began using him as a tight end, catching 11 passes for 152 yards (13.8 yards per catch). He became a full-time tight end the next three years for the Rams, catching career bests 41 passes for 582 yards in 1964, and 44 passes for 542 yards and four touchdowns in 1965.^[5]

In 1966, he made his onlyPro Bowl appearance, being selected as a tight end.^[29] However, on August 18, 1966^{[citation needed]}, McKeever was a passenger in Rams' quarterbackRoman Gabriel's car and lost the ring finger on his right hand when Gabriel crashed into a parked car.^[1][30] McKeever only wound up playing in 11 games that year, starting seven, with only 23 receptions.^[5][31] After the 1966 season, Allen traded McKeever and a first round draft choice (who would be future Hall of FamerAlan Page) to the Minnesota Vikings forTommy Mason.^[32][33]

In 1967, he played one final year at starting tight end while playing for the Minnesota Vikings, catching 14 passes for 184 yards during Grant's first season as coach. These were the last receptions of his career.^[34][35] After the 1967 season, the Vikings traded McKeever to Washington for future Hall of Fame safetyPaul Krause.^[32][36]

In his first year with Washington, Graham's last as coach, McKeever did not start any games, and was a backup tight end.^[37] In 1969, under new coach Vince Lombardi, he started four games at middle linebacker.^[38] In 1970, afterBill Austin took over as coach for the deceased Lombardi, he started 12 games at middle linebacker.^[39] Allen, McKeever's former Rams coach, was hired to take over in Washington for the 1971 season, and he traded McKeever back to Los Angeles.^[40]

McKeever was traded along with first- and third-round selections in1971 (10th and 63rd overall–Isiah Robertson andDave Elmendorf respectively) included first- and third-round selections in1971 (10th and 63rd overall–Isiah Robertson andDave Elmendorf respectively) and third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounders in1972 (73rd, 99th, 125th, 151st and 177th overall–toNew England Patriots, traded toPhiladelphia Eagles forJoe Carollo,Bob Christiansen,Texas Southern defensive tackle Eddie Herbert and toNew York Giants respectively) from the Redskins to the Rams forJack Pardee,Maxie Baughan,Myron Pottios,Diron Talbert,John Wilbur,Jeff Jordan and a1971 fifth-round pick (124th overall–traded toGreen Bay Packers forBoyd Dowler) on January 28, 1971.^[41][42]

McKeever started all 28 games from 1971-72 at middle linebacker for the Rams, coached byTommy Prothro in both seasons.^[5] In 1971, he had four interceptions and twoquarterback sacks,^[43] and two more interceptions in 1972.^[44] Ron Mix has stated that if McKeever would have played his entire NFL career as a linebacker, then McKeever would have made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.^[16]

In 1973, McKeever played his final NFL season in Philadelphia, starting 11 games at middle linebacker. He had three fumble recoveries and one sack. Over his entire NFL career, he had nine interceptions and nine sacks.^[5]

In 1974, about a year after hisNFL playing career ended, McKeever made a long shot bid for theCalifornia State Assembly as a Republican. Then incumbentJohn Quimby was defeated in the Democratic primary byRichard H. Robinson, who went on to beat McKeever by more than 21 points in what was then a Democratic-leaning Orange County district.

Mike died on August 24, 1967, after a car accident that left him in acoma for 22 months.^[1][13] Thirty-six years later, McKeever said "'There's not a day that passes that I don't think of him. He was part of me. He will always be part of me.'"^[1]

Both he and his brother appeared in the 1962Three Stooges comedy filmThe Three Stooges Meet Hercules playing the Siamese Cyclops twins Ajax and Argo.^[45] The brothers also appeared in Disney's 1961 film,The Absent Minded Professor.^[1] They played slaves inSpartacus, and policemen inElmer Gantry.^[2] Marlin appeared with several of hisLos Angeles Rams teammates as football players in the 1965Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the 12th Wildcat."^[46]

In 1974, McKeever was director of player relations for theWorld Football League, and vice president for player administration for the league'sSouthern California Sun.^[1]

After the NFL, McKeever became astockbroker andinsurance executive.^[7] He also became the leader of the Trojan Football Alumni Club and close friend of recent USC coaches, includingPete Carroll.^[1]

McKeever's nieceTeri McKeever, Mike McKeever's daughter, was an All-American swimmer at USC, and later became the women's swimming and diving coach at theUniversity of California.^[47] Teri McKeever was the first woman to serve as a U.S. Olympics swimming coach.^[48]

On October 26, 2006, Marlin McKeever fell at his home and slipped into a coma shortly thereafter.^[1][49] Doctors in theintensive care unit atSt. Mary Medical Center inLong Beach, California, reported a blood clot on his brain. He died from his injuries the next day. His interment was in Culver City'sHoly Cross Cemetery.

• Marlin McKeever atIMDb

• 1940 births
• 2006 deaths
• American football linebackers
• American football tight ends
• American stockbrokers
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• Western Conference Pro Bowl players
• Players of American football from Cheyenne, Wyoming
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• Twin teammates in sports

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