Linebacker Keith Bulluck came to the Tennessee Titans by way of Syracuse in 2000. He was an All-American caliber player as early as high school, and displayed an immense versatility while in college. For that, he was selected with the 30th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft.
And, did the Titans ever nail that pick or what? Bulluck was an absolute stud – the quintessential workhorse, and he ended up playing for the Titans for 10 years. He was selected to three All-Pro teams (2002-03, 2007), and made the Pro Bowl in 2003.
He finished his career with 1,069 tackles, 18 sacks, 21 interceptions, 59 passes defensed, and 14 forced fumbles. Mind-boggling numbers for a linebacker.
But, the stats don’t really tell the full story of Bulluck’s impact on the franchise. His longevity was awe-inspiring. He played at a high level for as long as anyone I can remember in a Titans uniform. He developed a reputation as an iron man out on the field.
He was also one of the bridge players that saw the Tennessee Titans come down from their Super Bowl glory days – guys like Bulluck, Cortland Finnegan, and Drew Bennett immediately come to mind. People immediately think back to the days of Eddie George, Steve McNair, and Frank Wycheck. But, these guys deserve a lot of credit as all-time Titans greats, too.
Bulluck’s teams, especially later in his tenure with the Titans, were rarely held in the same regard as that team that went to the Super Bowl. But, it made what he did all the more impressive – especially in seasons like 2005, 2006, and 2009. Up until the two seasons that led to Marcus Mariota, that 2005 team was the worst in Titans history. Yet Bulluck still played hard on every down, always commanding respect from his teammates and his opponents.
It’s what led to him becoming an absolute fan favorite in Nashville. That shit translates to people.
I don’t care that he was one of the guys stomping the Terrible Towel back in 2008 and that curse lasted all the way into 2017 before the Titans got back into the playoffs. We can move past that now.
He’s “Mr. Monday Night.” More on that over at The City Paper if you so choose. But, three interceptions in a Monday night game against the New Orleans Saints will sure strengthen that legacy.
Bulluck played one final season for the New York Giants in 2010 before formally announcing his retirement in 2012.
But, make no mistake, he was as complete a linebacker as a team could ever ask for. It’s going to be a long time before anyone comes along better than he was. You’d better believe that if you wear that #53, fans are going to be paying extra attention to you (no pressure, Daren Bates).
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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