Rabbit Keen

Delbert Allen "Rabbit" Keen (December 10, 1914 – June 4, 1984) was an American professional football player who was a back for two seasons. A native of Oklahoma, he played college football for two years at Connors Agricultural College—now known as Connors State College—before spending two years at Arkansas. He was not selected in the 1937 NFL draft, but made the roster of the Philadelphia Eagles and appeared in eight games that year, running for 154 yards and throwing the second-longest pass of the season, an 86-yard touchdown against the Green Bay Packers which was ultimately the only completed pass of his career. He split time between the Eagles and the Richmond Arrows of the Dixie League in 1938, and did not play afterwards.

Early life and education Keen was born on December 10, 1914, in Stilwell, Oklahoma. He attended grade school in Okmulgee and later attended Wilson Consolidated High School as well as Henryetta High School. Following high school, Keen attended Connors Agricultural College in Warner, at which he was a star athlete in football, basketball and track and field, running the quarter mile, hurdles, and for the relay team. In 1935, Keen transferred to the University of Arkansas, after two years at Connors. Keen was later named to the Connors All-Time football team in 1936.

Keen saw regular action in his first year at Arkansas and was one of their best receivers, halfbacks, and their "hardest tackler." At 5 ft 9 in and 170 pounds, He started "practically every game" in 1935 and at the end of the year was awarded his first varsity letter. He also earned all-conference honors.

Keen continued as a top player for Arkansas as a senior in 1936, and at the end of the year, a newspaper reported that "from his halfback post [he] has won more games for the Razorbacks than he can recall." Against the Rice University Owls that year, he scored a game-winning 60-yard punt return touchdown. running ability, and blocking despite his size, leading his teammates to nickname him "Rabbit." He was the smallest in the Eagles' backfield, but was still considered one of their best blockers, with Bert Bell saying "He hits harder for his size than any man I've ever seen." Through their second-to-last game, against the Brooklyn Dodgers, he had run 29 times for 122 yards, in addition to five receptions for 45 yards, and three incomplete pass attempts. Through 2020, it was the 14th-longest pass ever thrown by an Eagle and the 11th-longest ever thrown against the Packers, as well as the second-longest in the NFL that season; He returned to the Eagles in 1938, and initially made the team. Soon after, he was sent to the minor league Richmond Arrows of the Dixie League. A triple-threat man, Keen appeared in five games for the Arrows, missing several due to injury, and scored two touchdowns, while passing for three more. He helped the team compile a 4–3 record, placing second in the league, and at the end of the year was voted the most valuable player in the backfield. He was also a fan favorite with the Arrows, being voted the most popular back on the team. at Heavener High School. He married Jean Thurkill in 1940. He died on June 4, 1984, in Overland Park, Kansas, at the age of 69.