Vanover spent two seasons at Florida State University, where he was named a first-team All-American in 1992 as a freshman kick returner. He earned national recognition for his kick returns, returning 13 kickoffs for 523 yards and two touchdowns with a 40.2-yard average. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of Year in 1992. Vanover had off-field problems and chose to turn professional after his junior year. He finished his collegiate career with 87 receptions for 1,123 yards in two seasons for Seminoles.
Professional career
The Las Vegas Posse, a CFL expansion franchise, signed Vanover as a marquee player in 1994. He played in 15 games, catching 23 passes for 385 yards with three touchdowns. He returned 31 kickoffs for 718 yards with a 90-yard touchdown return and added 36 punt returns for 341 yards with another touchdown return. When the Posse ceased operations after only a single season, Vanover set his sights on the NFL for 1995, and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. He began a 5-year stint with the Chiefs, playing 70 games, where he caught 39 passes for 564 yards, rushed for 88 yards, returned 181 punts for 1930 yards and 4 touchdowns, and returned 226 kickoffs for 5422 yards and 4 touchdowns. On October 9, 1995, in a home Monday Night Football game against the San Diego Chargers, Vanover returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown, to win the game for the Chiefs, 29-23 in overtime. It was the first time in NFL history that a game had been won, in overtime, on a punt return for a touchdown. He tried the NFL one last time in 2002, playing 7 games with the San Diego Chargers, returning 16 punts and fumbling 3 of them.
Off-field issues
His last season in Kansas City was successful on the field, but marred by a range of problems off the field. He pled guilty to a felony charge of aiding and abetting in the sale of a stolen vehicle after agreeing to cooperate with federal authorities in their continuing investigation of drug-trafficking and stolen-vehicle rings. He was in the news again in March when the Chiefs, faced with having to pay Vanover a $750,000 roster bonus, renegotiated his contract. Finally, the Chiefs released him after federal authorities unsealed records showing he helped finance a marijuana trafficking ring that involved former Chiefs running back Bam Morris. He served two months in prison. Vanover was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of health care fraud by the United States Department of Justice on December 12, 2019. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Personal life
As of 2007, Vanover lives in Lake City, Florida and was the head coach of Lake City Christian Academy's football team. He returned to Florida State as a student, and worked as an assistant with the football team’s wide receivers in 2009.
