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.
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.)
I had gotten Eddie way, way back as a kid through the Houston Oilers, and I also believe at training camp one year. There was still 2-3 cards I still wanted to get signed by him, and I stocked a few years prior thinking I could add him during the Houston Oilers 1993 25th Anniversary party, but I am not sure if he was there.
Eddie has two cases of mistaken identity working against him. One, people think that he’s related to former Grambling HC Eddie Robinson Sr. – He is not. And two, where Eddie went to college and recently got hired as HC is at Alabama State University- not Alabama.
Although the Skybox was not my favorite card, his Oilers uniform looks beautiful on the gray canvas. It seemed to make sense to add this one to the collection alongside his Classic 92.
CARDS: Pro Set 1991 Lombardi Award Winner, Action Packed Rookies 1991, Gameday 1992 ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o The Zorich Group* SENT: 9/22 RECEIVED: 10/4 (12 days) FAILURE: TTM C/o Home, 2012, 2020, 2021 * Fee enclosed
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Played for Notre Dame from 1988-90 at NT/DT.
Posted 219 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 6 fumble recoveries over college career.
Looking to reload an aging defensive line the Chicago Bears drafted Zorich during the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft.
Playing in a rotation, Chris didn’t see significant starting time until the following year, posting 53 tackles, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
Best year came in 1993, posting 121 combined tackles, 7 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries in first full 16 game slate.
Had 5.5 sacks and 72 total tackles in 1994.
In final full season in Chicago had 58 total tackles, and a sack.
Split final half year in 1997 between Chicago and Washington, retiring after season.
Action Packed Rookies 1991, #25Pro Set 1991, #33
ACCOLADES:
Lombardi Award 1991
Pro Bowl 1993
NOTES:
Well as you can see here, I tried Chris quite a few times. The first time I tried him back in 2012, I was unaware he’d just been sentenced for tax evasion to prison. I tried again when he resurfaced as an athletic director at Chicago State but again got burnt. Finally I closed in during 2021- where he sent a buckslip requesting a fee. I jumped at the shot to finally get Chris after 3 previously unsuccessful attempts and added him on pretty much all my set needs to close the book on this one. He got back all the cards to me at a quick clip, sent me a personal certification of his autograph, and typed form letter thanking me for being a fan.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
321
16.5
6
0
0
-.-
0
-.-
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.