Terrence Kiel

Infobox NFLretired


width=180
position=Safety
number=48
birthdate=November 24 1980
Lufkin, Texas
deathdate=death date and age|2008|7|4|1980|11|24
San Diego, California
debutyear=2003
finalyear=2006
draftyear=2003
draftround=2
draftpick=62
college=Texas A&M
teams=
* San Diego Chargers (2003-2006)
stat1label=Tackles
stat1value=276
stat2label=Interceptions
stat2value=4
stat3label=Sacks
stat3value=2
highlights=
* 2x Honorable mention All-Big 12 (2001-2002)
nfl=KIE151180

Terrence Dewayne Kiel (November 24 1980 — July 4 2008 [cite news|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20080705-9999-7m5kiel.html|date=July 5 2008|title=Former Chargers safety killed in car accident|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |publisher=Union-Tribune Publishing Co. |accessdate=2008-07-05] ) was an American safety in the National Football League. He played his entire career for the San Diego Chargers (2003-2006) after being drafted by them in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas A&M.

Early years

Kiel was born in Lufkin, Texas. As a senior at Lufkin High School, he posted 115 tackles, five interceptions, and three recovered fumbles. He scored four returning touchdowns, including three on punt returns. He also blocked five kick attempts, including three PATs. He received Class 5A all-state mention honors for his efforts.cite web |url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/bios.php?SID=MFB&PID=8&YOS=2001 |title=Terrence Kiel]

College career

Kiel played college football at Texas A&M University from 1999–2002. In his freshman year, he played in 11 games, posting nine tackles, including seven solo. As a sophomore, he started in 10 of 11 games, making 57 tackles (41 solo). He also defended six passes and tied for the team lead with his four interceptions. For that season, he received honorable mention All-Big 12 honors by the "Associated Press". [ [http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/120100/big_120100079.shtml Sports - AP All-Big 12 teams 12/01/00 ] ] As a junior, he started in all 12 games, posting 92 total tackles, including a team-high of 65 solo hits. He recorded one interception and broke five passes. He also had four games where he posted double-digit tackles. In his senior year, he received all-Big 12 honorable mention honors by the league's coaches [ [http://www.huskersnside.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_MENU_ID=325&DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=4987 Two Huskers Named First-Team All-Big 12 - Huskers.com—Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site ] ] and "Associated Press"cite news |url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2003/07/07/FrontPage/Hospital.Releases.Kiel.After.Shooting-513212.shtml |title=Hospital releases Kiel after shooting] after posting a team-high of 95 tackles. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1554955&type=story http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1554955&type=story] ] In the same season, he helped the team upset then-#1 Oklahoma by intercepting the Sooners' final pass of the game. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/playbyplay?gameId=223130245&period=0 |title=Complete Play-by-Play]

Professional career

Kiel was selected by the Chargers with the 62nd pick of the second round in the 2003 NFL Draft. Over his four seasons with the Chargers, he played in 59 games and started 51. He posted 278 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. [cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/opinion/16bissinger.html/|title=Dying the Dream] He was cut on March 1 2007, and was declared a free agent the following day. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/teams/transactions?team=sdg&year=2007 |title=San Diego Chargers Transactions - 2007 San Diego Chargers Transactions - 2007]

Off-the-field problems

In July 2003, Kiel was shot three times during an alleged attempted carjacking incident at a southwest Houston mall parking lot. The assailant, described as a man in his young teens or early 20s, fled the scene. None of Kiel's injuries were serious and he was shortly released by the hospital.

In September 2006, Kiel was arrested for multiple drug charges including possession, possession with the intent to sell, and transportation of a controlled substance. Police came to the Chargers practice facility and arrested him. He was released after posting a $1,550,000 bond. [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20060927-9999-1s27kiel.html Chargers safety Kiel arrested at practice] , "San Diego Union-Tribune", September 27, 2006] cite news |publisher=USA Today |first=Donna |last=Leinwand |title=DEA warns of soft drink-cough syrup mix |date=|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-10-18-lean_x.htm?csp=34 |date=2006-10-18 |accessdate=2008-07-05]

In January 2007, he was cited for publicly urinating outside a San Diego nightclub, but the city dropped the charge. [cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h_CTKnvoyvWrE9_xdp1k7FnrNxogD91NLB7O0|title=Police: Former Chargers safety Terrence Kiel dies] In February 2007, he pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor drug charges for shipping codeine-based cough syrup to Texas. He was released by the Chargers after his plea. The felony charge was dropped after he volunteered for 175 hours and underwent counseling for gambling.cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-kiel6-2008jul06,0,4904705.story|title=Former San Diego Chargers player Terrence Kiel dies in car crash]

Death

On July 4, 2008, San Diego police reported that Kiel had died in a car crash. He was driving back home from a party thrown by Chargers player Stephen Cooper when his 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo hit a wall and he was thrown from the car. [Associated Press, [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h_CTKnvoyvWrE9_xdp1k7FnrNxogD91NL0AG1 Police: Former Chargers safety Terrence Kiel dies] . Accessed July 4 2008]

The autopsy report stated that Kiel died due to mechanical asphyxia. His funeral was held at hometown Lufkin, Texas. [cite news |url=http://www.kbtx.com/sports/headlines/24089379.html |title=Funeral Service Set For Terrence Kiel] [cite news |url=http://www.lufkindailynews.com/hp/content/sports/stories/2008/07/13/kiel_funeral.html |title=100s gather for Kiel's funeral]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.aggieathletics.com/bios.php?SID=MFB&PID=8&YOS=2002 Texas A&M Aggies bio]