Twenty-four years post his remarkable appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV for the Tennessee Titans, Terry Killens will return to the same stage at Super Bowl LVIII. This time though donning the hat of a referee. This unique journey etched his name in history as the first-ever individual to grace American football’s grandest stage both as a player and an official. The wealth that comes with seven seasons of professional play and four years of officiating in the NFL reap not only intangible esteem but also tangible financial rewards.
It would now be fitting to delve into estimates regarding Mr. Killen’s net worth along with details about his salary under his current role as an NFL referee.
The net worth and salary of Terry Killens in 2024
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Throughout his esteemed professional career, the linebacker played for the Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks over seven seasons. As of 2024, Terry Killens boasts an impressive net worth of approximately $5 million. His wealth is largely attributed to his prolific time on the field. However, in recent years he has also seen significant income augmentation due to his newfound career as a referee.
In 2019, the 49-year-old advanced into a new realm when he joined the NFL officiating staff. Within this role, it is estimated that Terry Killens receives an annual salary ranging between $200,000 – $250,000 which aligns with the estimated salary grid for NFL referees. On top of this base salary are an additional $3,000 – $5,000 per game stemming from non-Super Bowl playoff games.
Also, being selected to officiate Super Bowl LVIII may see the Ohio native earn an extra $40-50k for such a prestigious calling duty. This remarkable achievement marks the pinnacle of his officiating career. Nevertheless, Terry Killens’ journey in this profession was not without its fair share of challenges and setbacks.
Killens’ journey to officiating Super Bowl LVIII
Following his retirement, the San Francisco 49ers star ventured into diverse fields such as sports radio and youth football coaching. However, it was at the recommendation of a friend that he considered refereeing and initially commenced working on basketball games.
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However, shortly after he enrolled in a football officials’ class at the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Determined to excel in his craft, Terry Killens attended numerous camps, which eventually led him to officiate college games. In 2019, he achieved a significant milestone by joining the NFL officiating staff. He was assigned Uniform Number 77, previously worn by the esteemed three-time Super Bowl referee Terry McAulay.
Unfortunately, in August 2020, the retired star faced a tremendous setback when his wife and mother of his five children, Rhonda Hill Killens, passed away due to breast cancer. While deeply aggrieved initially by this profound loss, it did not deter him from pursuing his officiating career further.
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