A 2 time All-American at Purdue playing LB, Keena was selected in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft by the San Fransisco 49ers in 1980.
Played the next 11 seasons there, witnessing the rise of the 49ers dynasty, and winning 4 Super Bowl titles.
Best season came in ’84 with 70 tackles, 2 sacks, and 4 interceptions.
Retired after the 1990 season, and served as LB coach at Stanford from 1992-94.
Since 2001, has been in the front office of the San Fransisco 49ers organization, working in player development and alumni coordination, up to VP & Senior Advisor to the GM.
Score 1990, #539Score Supplemental 1989, #354S
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1984
NOTES:
Keena was one of the first players I played as on defense on the original Tecmo Bowl on Nintendo. (They converted him from LB to defensive end.)
CARDS: Pro Set 1990, Score 1990 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 9/26 RECEIVED: 10/4 (8 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Nate Odomes played CB at Wisconsin from 1985 to 1986.
A fast and dangerous speed merchant, Nate was also utilized by the Badgers in the return game, returning 36 punts for 359 yards, and 25 kick returns for 616 yards.
Selected in the second round of the 1987 draft by the Buffalo Bills.
He’d start right out of the gate and be the youngest starting DB in the NFL that year.
On the year his 12 pass deflections led the team.
Nate recorded his first interception of his career against the New England Patriots in 1988.
The following season he developed a true nose for the ball, notching 5 picks.
In 1991, Odomes had another 5 picks for a career high 120 yards and a TD.
And in ’92, he put up 5 interceptions again for a 3rd time.
Still not satisfied, Nate had a ’93 to remember, intercepting a career high 9 passes to lead the NFL, garnering Defensive Player of the Year attention.
After the season, Nate signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
Unfortunately he’d blow out his knee during a pickup game of basketball in 1994.
He’d never suit up for the Seahawks, and after two years of rehabilitation, was released by the team.
Nate played half a season for the Falcons in 1996, but early in October of that year, his sports car slammed into a tree in the suburbs north of Atlanta, and he was charged with DUI, effectively ending his career.
ACCOLADES:
1987 All Rookie Team
Pro Bowl 1992, ’93
All-Pro 1993
NOTES:
I was going through a friend’s collection of Pro Set 1990 cards, and I stopped to look at Nate’s card. It left such a mark in my mind that when I saw that he was signing, I decided to send it right out.
I sent out three cards. The Pro Set, Score, and a Topps 1990 card. He kept the Topps card, which I wasn’t surprised because it was for once a pretty good looking card.
It had been a long time since I wrote Shane, and he has so many set needs that I felt it was fine time to get him on a few more. I realized afterwards I missed on the Skybox 1993 card- which happens to have him as a member of the Rams. Conlan like many great pros before him, to me is iconic as a member of his primary team- the Buffalo Bills. Anything else just seems a bit forgetful or bizarre to me.
Upper Deck 1991, #153Topps 1989, #41
Still a few scattered Canton Acquisitions cards here and there. I was not a huge fan of any of these cards. Those cards being the Topps and Score issued cards. In these cards you can see the gap in his teeth where one of them is missing. It got knocked out in a high school game.
And here’s an Upper Deck card. Wow. How exciting. For priding themselves on being a leader of exciting sports photography on trading card canvases- that must have been an exciting phone call.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
