Steve Tannen

Steven Olson Tannen (born July 23, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the early 1970s. Tannen played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as an All-American. He was a first-round pick in the 1970 NFL draft, and played his entire professional career for the New York Jets of the NFL.

Early life Tannen is Jewish, was born in Miami, Florida, and attended Southwest Miami High School. He was an outstanding track and field athlete in the Florida Relays as a senior in high school, competing in the high hurdles, pole vault, high jump and the 440 relay, as well as starring in high school football for the Southwest Miami Eagles. In 2007, 41 years after he graduated from high school, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) recognized Tannen as one of the "100 Greatest Players of the First 100 Years" of Florida high school football.

College career Tannen accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played defensive back for coach Ray Graves' Florida Gators football team from 1967 to 1969. He developed a reputation for tough play and being brash and cocky. Tannen was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection in 1968, a first-team All-American in 1969, and the recipient of the Gators' Fergie Ferguson Award recognizing the "senior football player who displays outstanding leadership, character and courage." A versatile athlete, Tannen finished his three-season college career with 11 interceptions, and led the team in punt return yardage as a senior. In 2006, the sportswriters of The Gainesville Sun chose him as No. 15 among the 100 greatest players from the first 100 years of Florida Gators football.

Professional career The New York Jets selected Tannen in the first round (20th pick overall) of the 1970 NFL draft, and he played for the Jets for five seasons from to . As a rookie, he blocked a punt, recovered the ball and scored against Buffalo in . A series of muscle pulls idled him in . Shoulder injuries slowed him, but he managed to play in 13 of the games and led the team in interceptions with seven during the season. In he managed to start three games at free safety and spent the bulk of the season as backup man at either safety or at cornerback since he had experience at all positions. During his five-year NFL career, Tannen played in 64 games and had 12 interceptions with 204 return yards.