Alum du St. Peter Chanel High School, Kellermann helped the Browns make two NFL title games in six seasons with the club. Funeral services are scheduled for this weekend.
Cleveland – Ernie Kellermann, a native Clevelander who won glory as pro Bowl security for the Browns, died at the age of 81.
Kellermann’s family confirms that he died last Wednesday, without a given direct cause. He is survived by his wife Maryann, three children and eight grandchildren.
“Ernie was loved and respected by everyone. He had a lot of friends and colleagues,” wrote the family in Kellermann Online ONCROLOGY. “Ernie had a social gift to Gab, a dry dry sense of humor, and has always been the class clown, adding lightness to many situations. He was also a thoughtful and reflecting individual with a lot of integrity. Ernie left an extraordinary imprint on this Planet, and we will miss a lot. “
Kellermann has rebuilt the vast majority of his life in the Grand Cleveland, growing up in Maple Heights before attending the St. Peter Chanel high school since Closed. At the University of the University of Miami in Oxford, Ohio, it was a selection of triple American conferences three times under the legendary head coaches John Pont and Bo Schembechler. In the second year in 1962, he led the Redskins to a remarkable 10-7 upset victory against Purdue, ninth.
After graduating, Kellermann was chosen by Dallas in the 12th round of the 1965 NFL draft and quickly converted into a defensive back. He never played a game for cowboys, but went to Cleveland after his release. Coach Blanton Collier made him departure security the following year, a position he would hold for the rest of the decade.
In six complete seasons with the Browns, Kellermann collected 17 interceptions and marked a touchdown, with a career in a career of six choices in 1968 leading to his selection Pro Bowl. He helped Cleveland reach the NFL championship match, but twice, the club did not succeed in the Super Bowl (the NFL and the AFL had not yet merged technically).
Kellermann played two additional seasons with the Bengals of Cincinnati and the Buffalo Bills before retiring and returning to Cuyahoga County, living in Chagrin Falls at the time of his death. He remained active in the community and was often invited to Browns Alumni Events.
Kellermann’s funeral will take place this weekend, starting with public visits to Saint-Jean, the funeral house in Chagrin Falls from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., his Christian burial mass will then take place on Saturday at 11 a.m. . .
