Dennis Kelly

BIOGRAPHY

Dennis Andrew Kelly was born on January 16th, 1990, in Chicago Heights, Illinois. He is a tackle in the NFL.

He attended Marian Catholic high school, where he was a three-year starter at tight end, all-area, and team captain as a senior; he played for Coach Dave Mattio and also played basketball.

He played college football at Purdue University; as a freshman in 2008, he appeared in five games as a reserve. As a sophomore in 2009, he was Academic All-Big Ten and started all 12 games at left tackle. In 2010 as a junior, he was the Team Most Valuable Player – offense and was Academic All-Big Ten as wee as an honorable mention All-Big Ten (media). He started all 12 games and played nearly every snap. As a senior in 2011, he was voted co-captain by his teammates following spring drills.

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Kelly in the fifth round, 153rd overall, in the 2012 NFL Draft; he started ten games as a rookie—three starts at right guard and seven starts at right tackle.

On August 16th, 2016, Kelly was traded to the Tennessee Titans; he appeared in all 16 games for the first time in his career and recorded six starts in his first campaign in Tennessee. In 2018, Kelly saw action in 11 games and logged five starts at right tackle.

In 2018, he played in 11 games, starting five as the Titans finished 9–7 for the third straight season. During a week 14 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he replaced Taylor Lewan when he left the game with an injury and subsequently replaced an injured Jack Conklin in the same game after Lewan returned. He then started the final three games of the season as Conklin was placed on injured reserve. In those final three games, he blocked for Derrick Henry as he won AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December.

Set to become a free agent after the 2019 season, Kelly signed a three-year, $21 million contract extension with the Titans on March 16, 2020.

Incumbent starting right tackle Jack Conklin departed for free agency in the 2020 offseason. The Titans drafted offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Kelly was expected to compete with him to be the starting right tackle. Wilson, however, only appeared in a single game. Kelly started all 16 games and helped Derrick Henry rush for over 2,000 yards on the way to an 11–5 record.

Kelly signed with the Green Bay Packers on July 29, 2021. He played in 10 games during the 2021 regular season, starting the last four in place of injured starting right tackle Billy Turner. The Packers finished with a 13–4 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

On July 19, 2023, Kelly signed a one-year contract with the Eagles.