[1] After being discharged from the Army, Tanner enrolled at Brevard Junior College, where he played basketball.
After finishing his two years at Brevard he moved on to play basketball at Tennessee Tech University.
[1] Tanner was selected in the ninth round of the 1971 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers.
Tanner was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1972.
[3] He occasionally played tight end and caught two passes for 23 yards, including a two-yard touchdown reception against the Baltimore Colts on November 24.