David Fulcher facts for kids
Fulcher in 2008
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| No. 33, 45 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | September 28, 1964 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 236 lb (107 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | John C. Fremont (Los Angeles) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Arizona State (1983–1985) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1986 / Round: 3 / Pick: 78 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||||||||
| Career: | 0–22 (.000) | ||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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David Dwayne Fulcher, born on September 28, 1964, is a former American football player. He was a safety, a defensive position, for two NFL teams: the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Raiders. Before playing professionally, he was a college football star for the Arizona State Sun Devils. David Fulcher was honored by being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
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David Fulcher's College Football Journey
After finishing high school at John C. Fremont Senior High School in Los Angeles, David Fulcher played college football. He attended Arizona State University and played for the Sun Devils.
Playing Style and "Fo-Rock" Nickname
While playing for the Sun Devils, Fulcher was known for his great "cover skills." This means he was good at defending against passes. He was also known for his strong tackles. He even earned the nickname "Fo-Rock." This happened after he tackled an opposing wide receiver. The player felt like he had run into a rock! Fulcher explained that his teammates started calling him "Rock." Since some people said his last name as "Fo-cher," he put "Fo" in front of "Rock."
College Statistics and Hall of Fame
After his junior year in 1986, Fulcher decided to enter the NFL draft. During his three seasons at Arizona State, he made 12 interceptions. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. He returned these interceptions for a total of 193 yards and scored one touchdown. In 2021, David Fulcher was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for college football players.
David Fulcher's NFL Career Highlights
The Cincinnati Bengals picked David Fulcher in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft. After just two seasons in the NFL, many people saw Fulcher as one of the best defensive backs in the league.
First Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XXIII
In 1988, Fulcher had a great season. He recorded five interceptions and scored one touchdown. This earned him his first trip to the Pro Bowl, which is an all-star game for the best players. The Bengals had a fantastic season, finishing with 12 wins and 4 losses. They made it all the way to Super Bowl XXIII. In this big game, they played against the San Francisco 49ers. The Bengals lost a very close game 20–16. The 49ers' quarterback, Joe Montana, threw the winning touchdown pass with only 34 seconds left. In the Super Bowl, Fulcher made several important tackles, a sack, and forced a fumble. A fumble is when a player loses control of the ball. The Bengals recovered the ball after his forced fumble. Fulcher later said that playing in this Super Bowl was his most memorable NFL moment. He especially remembered hearing his name called during the introductions.
More Pro Bowl Selections and Records
In 1989, Fulcher had an even better year for interceptions. He recorded eight interceptions, which was the second-highest number ever by a Bengals player at that time. He also tied a Bengals record by getting three interceptions in one game, and he did this twice! Fulcher was chosen for the Pro Bowl again. However, the Bengals finished the year with an 8–8 record and did not make the playoffs.
In 1990, Fulcher made the Pro Bowl for the third year in a row. He intercepted four passes and forced three fumbles. He also made 53 solo tackles. The Bengals finished the season with 9 wins and 7 losses. They made it to the divisional playoffs, and Fulcher even got an interception in both of their playoff games. This was the last winning season Fulcher had with the Bengals.
Final Seasons and Career Statistics
In 1991, Fulcher led the Bengals with 68 solo tackles. He also forced four fumbles, recovering three of them. He intercepted four passes, returning them for 51 yards and a touchdown. In his last season with Cincinnati in 1992, he intercepted three passes and recovered five fumbles.
Fulcher then joined the Los Angeles Raiders in 1993. However, he only played three games due to injuries and retired after that season. In his eight NFL seasons, David Fulcher had an impressive career. He recorded 10 forced fumbles, 9 fumble recoveries, and 31 interceptions. His 31 interceptions are the third most in the history of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Life After the NFL
After his professional football career, David Fulcher remained active. In 2017, he was ranked sixth on a list of "All-Time Cincinnati Bengals" players. He is involved in fundraising and raising awareness for important causes, especially for multiple sclerosis. He also started a non-profit organization called MANA (Mentoring Against Negative Actions). This group works with people to teach them important life skills. Fulcher is also the Alumni President for the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Coaching Career
David Fulcher also spent time coaching football. He was the head football coach at Cincinnati Christian High School from 2011 to 2015. On June 1, 2015, he was announced as the head coach for Cincinnati Christian University's first football season in 2016.
Family Life
David Fulcher is married and has two children. He is also a proud grandfather to three grandchildren.
