Dennis Andrew Kelly (born January 16, 1990) is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Purdue and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Kelly played with the Eagles for four seasons primarily as a reserve lineman before playing for the Tennessee Titans from 2016 to 2020, where he saw an expanded role. He has also been a member of the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts.
Early life
Kelly was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, to an Irish family. He is the brother of NFL coach Tim Kelly. Kelly attended Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, where he played tight end and some basketball.
College career
Kelly studied organizational leadership and supervision at Purdue University from 2008 to 2011 and appeared in 42 games, including 37 starts. During the 2014 offseason, he returned to Purdue to finish his degree.
Professional career
Philadelphia Eagles
Kelly was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round, 153rd overall, in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Kelly played in thirteen games as a rookie. He started the last ten games, three at right guard and seven at right tackle. The Eagles finished with a 4–12 record. He did not play in any games in 2013 as the Eagles finished with a 10–6 record and qualified for the playoffs, losing to the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round. He played in three games in 2014 from weeks 2–4, starting all three. The Eagles finished with another 10–6 record but did not qualify for the playoffs. On September 9, 2015, Kelly signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles through 2016. He played in fourteen games, starting two, in 2015. The Eagles finished with a 7–9 record. On April 27, 2016, Kelly signed another one-year contract extension with the Eagles through 2017.
Tennessee Titans
2016 season
On August 16, 2016, Kelly was traded to the Tennessee Titans for wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. In his first season with the Titans, he played in all sixteen games, starting six, often being used as a sixth lineman for an offensive line that blocked for DeMarco Murray as he led the AFC in rushing yards. He notably replaced Taylor Lewan when he was ejected during the week 10 47–25 win against the Green Bay Packers. The offense amassed 446 yards and 6 touchdowns during that game. The Titans finished 9–7 from a 3–13 record last season. On July 26, 2017, Kelly signed a multi-year contract extension with the Titans.
2017 season
In 2017, Kelly remained in a backup role behind starting left tackle Taylor Lewan and starting right tackle Jack Conklin, playing in all 16 games starting one. The Titans again finished 9–7 and qualified for the playoffs, where they won the Wild Card game against the Kansas City Chiefs and lost the Divisional Round to the New England Patriots. He played in both games and replaced Conklin when he tore his ACL in the latter.
2018 season
In 2018, he played in 11 games, starting five as the Titans finished 9–7 for the third straight season. During a week 14 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he replaced Taylor Lewan when he left the game with an injury and subsequently replaced an injured Jack Conklin in the same game after Lewan returned. He then started the final three games of the season as Conklin was placed on injured reserve. In those final three games, he blocked for Derrick Henry as he won AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December.
2019 season
Kelly played in 15 games in 2019 and started the first four games of the season in place of Taylor Lewan as he was suspended for PED violations. On November 24, 2019, Kelly scored his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard pass from Ryan Tannehill in a 42–20 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Titans once again finished the regular season with a 9–7 record, and qualified for the playoffs where he played in both upset victories against the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. On January 19, 2020, he scored his second career touchdown during a 35–24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, and became the heaviest player, at , in NFL history to catch a postseason touchdown pass.
2020 season
Set to become a free agent after the 2019 season, Kelly signed a three-year, $21 million contract extension with the Titans on March 16, 2020.