Steve Kiner, Former Football Linebacker Noted for Drug Use Honesty, Passes Away at 77

During his time at the University of Tennessee, he stood out as a leading player when he began experimenting with various substances including LSD and mescaline. Eventually, he claimed to have overcome his addiction while pursuing his career in the National Football League.

Steve Kiner, who was celebrated both as an All-American linebacker for Tennessee and for his transparency regarding drug use, died in Palm Harbor, Florida, on April 24, at the age of 77.

According to his wife, Carol (Smith) Kiner, his death was due to Alzheimer's disease, likely linked to the numerous concussions he sustained in his football career.

Despite being relatively small for his position at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Kiner was known for his intense and aggressive play style at Tennessee. He was a key part of the Volunteers' defensive line-up alongside Hacksaw Reynolds, who also went on to achieve NFL fame. In 1969, he was honored as the Southeastern Conference's top defensive player.

In 1968, Kiner played through injury, intercepting two passes and making 12 tackles, contributing to Tennessee’s 31-0 victory over an Ole Miss team led by future NFL player Archie Manning. However, Ole Miss took revenge the following year with a 38-0 victory, which followed Kiner’s provocative comments about the team.

In 1969, after Tennessee dispatched Alabama with a 41-14 win, a game in which Kiner made eight tackles and one interception by himself, Bear Bryant, Alabama’s coach, praised Kiner and Reynolds as an extraordinary duo of linebackers.

By that time, Kiner had openly shared that his drug use was extensive.

Kiner described his routine as a heavy user of drugs, saying, "I was on acid every single day for a year straight, or using coke or mescaline — anything I could get a hold of. I was indifferent to others’ opinions — whether my hair reached my waist, or my eyes were too glazed to see clearly."