Education
Tanney broke nearly every school record during his time at Monmouth. His career began in 2007 when he threw for 2,678 yards and 24 TDs. In his sophomore season in 2008, Tanney broke the Monmouth record of single season Territorial Decoration passes with 50.
Foreign his junior campaign, Tanney threw for 3,856 yards and 44 TDs which led him to be named the Melberger Award winner as Doctorate-III"s top player.
After redshirting the 2010 season with an injury, he came back in 2011 and threw for a career high 3,867 yards along with 38 TDs. He won three Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year Awards in his college career along with numerous All-American Awards.
In 2011 a quarterback trick shot video highlighting Tanney"s talent went viral.
Subsequently in July 2011, History Channel’s Stan Lee’s Superhumans filmed an episode featuring Tanney. The episode featured Tanney"s "super-human" throwing accuracy.
On October 29, 2011, in a game against Carroll University, Tanney set the National Collegiate Athletic Association record for all-time all-division career touchdown passes with 150, surpassing Jimmy Terwilliger"s record of 148.
Tanney finished his collegiate career with 157 touchdown passes and also holds the Doctorate-III record for most passing yards in a career with 14,249.
Career
He played collegiately for Monmouth Tanney was a three-sport high school standout athlete at Lexington High School in Lexington, Illinois. He was a two time first team Illinois All-State quarterback and led his team to the IHSA state semi-finals his senior year, and he holds nearly every football passing record at LHS. He was also named an All-State basketball player and is the all time leading point scorer in Lexington High School history. In addition to his football career, Tanney also placed at the IHSA State Track and Field Finals his junior and senior years.
Dallas Cowboys On July 21, 2013, the Cowboys signed Tanney to their roster.
On August 4, 2013, Tanney played the entire second half of the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. In five 2013 preseason games (including the August 29 finale against the Houston Texans, in which he played all but one series) Tanney completed 40 of 73 passes for 423 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions.
Tanney was released by the Cowboys on August 30, 2013. After clearing waivers, Tanney was assigned to the Cowboys" eight-player practice squad.
Cleveland Browns On November 26, 2013, the Cleveland Browns signed Tanney off the Cowboys" practice squad.
On May 12, 2014, the Browns released Tanney. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tanney was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on May 20, 2014. The Buccaneers released Tanney on August 24, 2014.
Tennessee Titans On December 21, 2015 Tanney was signed off the Colts practice squad by the Tennessee Titans.
He relieved Zach Mettenberger to make his NFL regular-season debut against the Colts on January 3, 2016, going 10-for-14 for 99 yards and throwing his first career touchdown pass, to Dorial Green-Beckham. Buffalo Bills Tanney was signed to the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills on September 7, 2015.
This is Tanney"s second experience with the team He had previously received a tryout in 2012 but was not signed.
Tanney was dropped from the practice squad a day later, after the team re-signed Matt Cassel.
Indianapolis Colts Tanney signed to the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts on September 29, 2015. He was released on October 20, and re-signed to the practice squad on November 10.
