He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions in 1966 and was later signed by the Kansas City Chiefs.

In June 1968, he was killed in an automobile accident at age 26 while riding in a military vehicle as part of his service in the Missouri National Guard.

[3] He was listed on the 1962 roster at the fullback and end positions,[2] but he was ruled academically ineligible to play for Michigan's football team in late August 1962.

[14] He was killed in an automobile crash while traveling in a military vehicle from Ft. Leonard Wood to Camp Clark at Nevada, Missouri.

[10] McLenna was attempting to fulfill his service obligation with the Missouri National Guard before the start of the 1968 AFL season.