DAYTON — Former University of Tennessee quarterback Andy Kelly has been named to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Kelly was suprised by the announcement as his family kept it a secret until TNHOF Executive Director Brad Willis came to Dayton on Monday to inform Kelly of the honor.
“Andy Kelly’s contributions to Tennessee football, both at the collegiate and professional levels, make him a true legend in our state’s sports history,” Willis said. “He was a leader on the field and remains a great ambassador for Tennessee football. we are thrilled to welcome him to the Tennessee Sports Hall of fame Class of 2025.”
Kelly joins Ron Slay, Joe Behling, the late Jack Jenkins, Chris Woodruff, Deon Grant, Dough Mathews, Derrick mason, Stephen Gostkowski, Larry Kenon, Priscilla Gary Sweeney, the late Ronnie Robinson, the late Phillip Clark, Tony Allen, Elston Turner, George Pitts and Bob Brown as announced members of the Class of 2025. The full list of the 2025 class will be released at a later date.
A native of Dayton, Kelly played football at Rhea County High School before going on to play quarterback for the University of Tennessee. He lettered at Tennessee from 1988 to 1991 under head coach Johnny Majors and led the Vols to SEC championships in 1989 and 1990. He also quarterbacked the Vols to an upset win over Notre dame in 1991.
Kelly finished his Tennessee career as one o the most prolific passers in school history, ranking among the program’s all-time leaders in passing yards, completions and touchdowns at the time of graduation.
Phillip Fulmer, who is on the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors, and Kelly spoke by phone briefly after the announcement. Fulmer said he remembrerd starting to follow Kelly during the 7th grade.
Following his time at Tennessee, Kelly had tryouts with the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. An injury hurt his chances with the Cardinals and the Steelers cut him on the final day of trimming the roster.
Not being deterred, Kelly turned his attention to the Arena Football League, a new indoor football league that featured a 50-yard field and rules that limited defenses and encouraged passing.
Kelly played for nine different AFL teams, but his longest stint was with the Nashville Kats from 1997-2001 where he reconnected with former Vol receiver Cory Fleming. His last year of football was with the Georgia Force in 2008. He threw over 800 touchdown passes in his 15-year AFL career.
After football, Kelly was a sideline reporter for the Vol Network for awhile, before becoming a State Farm Insurance agent in Dayton.
Kelley is married to his wife Carrissa and they have two daughters, Campbell and Abigayle.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: A feature story about Andy Kelly being named to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame will be published at a later date.]
Former Rhea County Eagles and Tennessee Volunteer Andy Kelly has been named to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Kelly was suprised by the announcement as his family kept it secret until Brad Willis, the executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, came in person to inform Kelly that he will be formally inducted on July 19.
“Andy Kelley’s contributions to Tennessee Football, both at the collegiate and professional levels, make him a true legend in our state’s sports history,” Willis said. “He was a leader on the field and remains a great ambassador for Tennessee Football. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025.”
Joining him in the 2025 class are Ron Slay, Joe Behling, the late jack Jenkins, Chris Woodruff, Deon Grant, Dough Mathews, Derrick Mason, Stephen Gostowski, Larry Kenon, Priscilla Gary Sweeney, the late Ronnie Robinson the late Phillip Clark, Tony Allen, Elston Turner, George Pitts and Bob Brown.
A native of Dayton, Kelley attended Rhea County high School before going on to play quarterback for the University of Tennessee. Former Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer, first as the offensive line coach and then offensive coordinator when Kelly played in Knoxville, remembered following Kelly starting in the 7th grade.
Kelly and Fulmer, who is part of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors, talked briefly by phone after the announcement.
Kelly lettered at Tennessee from 1988 to 1991 under head coach Johnny Majors and he was the starting quarterback for two SEC championship seasons in 1989 and 1990. He was also the quarterback for UT’s upset of Notre Dame in 1991.
Following his time at Tennessee, he had a couple of tryouts with the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburg Steelers. He was cut by the Steelers on the last day before the roster was set.
Not letting that deter him, Kelly tried a new league called the Arena Football League, an indoor football league that featured a 50-yard league and rules that limited defense and encouraged passing.
Over 15 season, Kelly threw for more than 800 career touchdown passes. He played for nine different AFL teams, but his longest stay was with the Nashville Kats from 1997-2001, where he reconnected with former Vol receiver Cory Fleming.
Kelly’s last year of football was with the Georgia Force in 2008.
Kelly still lives in Dayton and goes to several Rhea County sporting events. He was part of the Vol Network as a sideline reporter for awhile, before giving that up to start a State Farm Insurance business.
