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, California) |
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| College: | Arizona State (1983–1985) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1986 / Round: 3 / Pick: 78 | ||||||||||||
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| Career: | 0–22 (.000) | ||||||||||||
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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 in the National Football League (NFL). David played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Raiders. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Arizona State University. In 2021, he was honored by being added to the College Football Hall of Fame.
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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 went to Arizona State University. He played college football there for the Sun Devils. David was known for his strong tackles and great skills in covering players.
How David Fulcher Got His Nickname
He earned the nickname "Fo-Rock" during a game against New Mexico State University. David explained how he got the name: "The guy laid there for a while, then got up and was dizzy. Then he said 'Man, I feel like I ran into a rock.'" His teammates started calling him 'Rock'. Since many people say his last name as 'Fo-cher', he combined it to 'Fo-Rock'.
College Stats and Honors
After his junior year in 1986, Fulcher decided to join the NFL draft. In his three seasons at Arizona State, he made 12 interceptions. He had 4 as a freshman, 2 as a sophomore, and 6 as a junior. 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.
David Fulcher's NFL Career
The Cincinnati Bengals picked David Fulcher in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft. After playing just two seasons, he was already seen as one of the best defensive players in the NFL.
Playing for the Cincinnati Bengals
In 1988, David made five interceptions and scored one touchdown. This earned him his first trip to the Pro Bowl, which is a special game for the best players. The Bengals had a great season with 12 wins and 4 losses. They went on to play against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII. The Bengals lost a close game 20–16. The 49ers' quarterback, Joe Montana, threw the winning touchdown pass with only 34 seconds left.
In that Super Bowl game, Fulcher made several important tackles. He also got a sack and forced a fumble that the Bengals recovered. David later said that this Super Bowl was his most memorable NFL moment. He remembered "the time they called my name during the introductions at the Super Bowl." He also recalled "Walking out of the tunnel at Joe Robbie Stadium, making sure I did not trip on the turf and fall down."
In 1989, Fulcher made eight interceptions. This was the second-highest number of interceptions by a Bengals player in one season at that time. He also tied a Bengals record by getting three interceptions in a single 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 it to the playoffs.
In 1990, David Fulcher was selected for 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 9-7 and reached the divisional playoffs. Fulcher made an interception in both of their playoff games. This was the last winning season David had with the Bengals. The team would not have another winning record until 2005.
In 1991, David led the team with 68 solo tackles. He forced four fumbles, recovering three of them. He also 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.
Moving to the Los Angeles Raiders
Fulcher joined the Los Angeles Raiders in 1993. However, he only played three games due to injuries. He retired after that season. In his eight NFL seasons, David Fulcher had 10 forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries. He also made 31 interceptions, returning them for 246 yards, and scored two defensive touchdowns. His 31 interceptions are the third most in Bengals history.
Life After the NFL
In 2017, David Fulcher was ranked sixth on a list of "All-Time Cincinnati Bengals" players. He is very active in helping others. He raises money and awareness for multiple sclerosis, a health condition. He also started a non-profit group called MANA (Mentoring Against Negative Actions). This group works with people who have been in prison to teach them important life skills. David Fulcher is also the Alumni President for the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
David Fulcher also coached 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.
David Fulcher is married and has two children and three grandchildren.
