Eddie George facts for kids
.png)
George in 2022
|
|
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Tennessee State |
| Conference | OVC |
| Record | 24–22 |
| Annual salary | $400,000 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | September 24, 1973 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University |
| Playing career | |
| 1992–1995 | Ohio State |
| 1996–2003 | Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans |
| 2004 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Position(s) | Running back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2021–present | Tennessee State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 24–22 |
| Tournaments | 0–1 (NCAA D–I playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
|
|
| Awards | |
|
|
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2011 (profile) |
|
Edward Nathan George Jr. (born September 24, 1973) is a famous American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Tennessee State University. Eddie George played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He is best known for his time with the Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans team.
George played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He won the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 1995, an award given to the most outstanding player in college football. After college, he was picked in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft. He played professionally for the Tennessee Titans and the Dallas Cowboys. In 2011, George was added to the College Football Hall of Fame. He also joined the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.
After his football career, Eddie George earned a business degree (MBA) from Northwestern University. He also showed his talents off the field. In 2015, he appeared on the TV show Comedy Bang! Bang!. In 2016, he performed on Broadway in the musical Chicago. He played the character of Billy Flynn, a clever lawyer.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Eddie George was born in Philadelphia. He started playing football at a young age in a league called Pop Warner. He went to Abington Senior High School for two years. Then, he moved to Fork Union Military Academy.
At Fork Union, George decided to stay for an extra year of prep school. This is often done by high school players to get more attention from colleges. Even though it meant another year of strict military life, George rushed for 1,372 yards in that extra year. This helped him get noticed by many big colleges.
College Football Career
George went to Ohio State University and studied landscape architecture. He played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. As a freshman, he scored three touchdowns in a game. However, he had a tough game against Illinois, losing two fumbles that led to touchdowns for the other team.
After that difficult freshman year, George worked hard. In his second year, he was the third-string running back but showed his skill by gaining many yards per carry. By his junior year, he became the main running back. He rushed for 1,442 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
His senior year in 1995 was amazing. George rushed for a school record of 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also caught 47 passes for 417 yards. One of his best games was against Notre Dame, where he rushed for 207 yards. He also set a school record with 314 rushing yards against Illinois.
After his freshman year, George rarely fumbled the ball. Ohio State finished the 1995 season with a great record of 11 wins and 2 losses. George was named a unanimous All-American, meaning he was recognized as one of the best players in the country by all major selectors. He won the Heisman Trophy in a very close vote. He finished his college career as one of Ohio State's top rushers ever.
College Statistics (Simplified)
| Season | Team | Games Played | Rushing Yards | Rushing Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Ohio State | 11 | 176 | 5 |
| 1993 | Ohio State | 12 | 223 | 3 |
| 1994 | Ohio State | 13 | 1,442 | 12 |
| 1995 | Ohio State | 13 | 1,927 | 24 |
Professional Football Career
Eddie George was picked by the Houston Oilers (who later became the Tennessee Titans) in the 1996 NFL Draft. He was the 14th player chosen overall. He quickly became a star, winning the NFL Rookie of the Year award in 1996.
He was the starting tailback for the Oilers/Titans until 2003. He never missed a single game during this time. George was chosen for the Pro Bowl four years in a row (1997–2000). He helped the Titans reach the Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999, where they lost a close game to the St. Louis Rams. In that Super Bowl, George scored two touchdowns.
Eddie George is one of only two NFL running backs to rush for over 10,000 yards without ever missing a start. Only Walter Payton started more games in a row than George.
He rushed for over 1,000 yards in all but one of his seasons with the Titans. However, some experts thought his heavy workload might have affected his performance later on. In 2004, the Titans released him due to salary reasons and his declining production.
Dallas Cowboys
After leaving the Titans, George signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 2004. He started 8 games for the Cowboys. He finished the season with 432 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. Eddie George officially retired from football in 2006.
His career totals include 10,441 rushing yards and 78 touchdowns. In 2019, the Tennessee Titans retired his No. 27 jersey. This means no other player on the team will wear that number again. His former teammate Steve McNair's No. 9 jersey was also retired. In 2021, George became a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Titans Franchise Records
Eddie George holds many records for the Titans team. Here are some of them:
- Most Rush Attempts (career): 2,733
- Most Rush Attempts (season): 403 (2000)
- Most Rush Yards (career): 10,009
- Most Total Touchdowns (career): 74
- Most Yards from Scrimmage (career): 12,153 (This means total yards from rushing and receiving)
- Most 1000+ rushing yard seasons: 7
Coaching Career
On April 13, 2021, Eddie George was named the head coach for the Tennessee State football team. He signed a five-year contract.
In 2024, his fourth year as head coach, George was recognized as the Big South–OVC Coach of the Year.
Head Coaching Record (Simplified)
| Year | Team | Overall Record | Conference Record | Conference Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tennessee State | 5–6 | 3–3 | T–4th |
| 2022 | Tennessee State | 4–7 | 2–3 | T–3rd |
| 2023 | Tennessee State | 6–5 | 2–4 | T–6th |
| 2024 | Tennessee State | 9–4 | 6–2 | T–1st |
Personal Life
.jpg)
In 2006, Eddie George became a spokesperson for Tennessee's GetFitTN program. This program helps people prevent Type 2 diabetes and encourages healthy lifestyles. In 2007, George ran a half marathon, which he said was tougher than playing in the NFL! He wore his old jersey number, 27, during the race.
After retiring from football, George went back to Ohio State University to finish his bachelor's degree. He also earned his MBA degree from Northwestern University.
In 2004, George married American singer and actress Tamara "Taj" Johnson. She was part of the music group SWV. She also appeared on the reality TV show Survivor. Eddie surprised her with a visit during the show.
On September 15, 2019, the Titans retired Eddie George's No. 27 jersey. This happened during a halftime ceremony. His former teammate Steve McNair's No. 9 jersey was also retired at the same time.
Images for kids
-
George in 2022
-
George in 2007
