NFL official Terry Killens is not one of the biggest names leading up to Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 11.
But he will be the first to make history when the game kicks off inside Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
A former linebacker for the then-Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks; Killens will become the first individual in NFL history to both play in and officiate a Super Bowl.
The former Penn State star suited up for the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV following the 1999 season. As you likely already know, that game did not end in grand fashion for the Titans with wide receiver Kevin Dyson being stopped one yard short of the end zone as Tennessee trailed the then-St. Louis Rams by the score of 23-16 late in the fourth quarter.
Interestingly enough, Terry Killens played 16 games for the 49ers during the 2001 season. He recorded 28 tackles while starting two games.
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Killens joined the NFL as an official back in 2019. He had in the past worked in the American Athletic Conference in college football and the Alliance of American Football.
As for the entire crew set to call next month’s Super Bowl, it is being headed by Bill Vinovich. He has worked two Super Bowls in his career. Most-recently, Vinovich was the referee for San Francisco’s 33-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas night.