Brian Kelly: Pick #45 in the 1998 NFL Draft

Brian Kelly is a former cornerback out of USC, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 45th overall pick (round 2) in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played 141 regular-season games from 1998 to 2008. From 1999 on, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions.

Draft Details

Year

1998

Round

Round 2

Pick

45th overall

Team

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Position

CB

College

USC

Brian Kelly Career Stats

Primary starter for 5 seasons.
Ranks 6th in the 1998 draft class in interceptions (22).

Career Totals

Games	Solo Tkl	Sacks	Def INT
141	372	3.5	22

Defense

Season	Team	G	Solo	Ast	TFL	Sacks	QB Hits	INT	PD	FF
1999	TB	15	25	5	0	0	0	1	12	0
2000	TB	16	40	4	0	0	0	1	11	0
2001	TB	16	43	11	4	1.5	2	0	4	0
2002	TB	16	49	8	0	1	1	8	21	1
2003	TB	5	11	2	0	0	0	1	5	0
2004	TB	15	42	7	0	0	0	4	22	0
2005	TB	15	38	9	0	1	0	4	16	1
2006	TB	2	10	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
2007	TB	10	16	2	0	0	0	2	7	0
2008	DET	10	18	3	0	0	0	0	1	0
Since 1999		120	292	52	4	3.5	3	21	99	2

G = games with at least one recorded statistic; the career games total in the summary above includes every game played.

Season-by-season detail is available from 1999 on; career totals above cover the full career.

Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026

People Also Search For

More from the 1998 Draft

Rd	Pick	Team	Player	Pos	College
1	1	IND	Peyton Manning	QB	Tennessee
1	2	LAC	Ryan Leaf	QB	Washington State
1	3	ARI	Andre Wadsworth	DE	Florida State
1	4	LV	Charles Woodson	FS	Michigan
1	5	CHI	Curtis Enis	RB	Penn State
1	6	LA	Grant Wistrom	DE	Nebraska
1	7	NO	Kyle Turley	OT	San Diego State
1	8	DAL	Greg Ellis	DE	North Carolina
2	1	GB	Mike Wahle	G	Navy
2	2	LAC	Jamal Williams	NT	Oklahoma State, Kemper Military Junior College