Eric Metcalf facts for kids
Metcalf in 2013
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| Position: | Running back Wide receiver |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | January 23, 1968 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Bishop Denis J. O'Connell (Arlington, Virginia) |
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| College: | Texas | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1989 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Eric Quinn Metcalf (born January 23, 1968) is a former American football player. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for many teams, including the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons. Eric was known for being a very fast and exciting player. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times during his career.
Eric was also an amazing track and field athlete. He was the U.S. Track and Field Champion in the long jump in 1988. He also won two NCAA (college) championships in the long jump while at the University of Texas. His father, Terry Metcalf, was also a famous football player.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Eric Metcalf grew up in Seattle, Washington, with his mother. From a young age, it was clear he was a very talented athlete.
After one year at a high school in Seattle, Eric moved to Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington County, Virginia. This move allowed him to play football. He lived with his father, who had just finished his NFL career and helped coach the football team.
At O'Connell High, Eric played both football and competed in track and field. In 1983, he helped his team win the state championship. He ran for over 1,000 yards and scored 24 touchdowns. He was named the best player in the D.C. area.
In track, Eric set school records that still stand today. These include records in the long jump, triple jump, and several sprint races. His long jump of 24 feet 5.5 inches in 1983 was one of the longest jumps ever by a high school boy.
Eric was honored for his high school achievements. He was inducted into the Bishop O'Connell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2023, he joined the Arlington County Sports Hall of Fame.
College Football and Track Success
Many colleges wanted Eric Metcalf to play for them. He chose to attend the University of Texas at Austin. There, he became a top player in the Southwest Conference (SWC) three times. In 1987, he was named the SWC Offensive Player of the Year.
During his four years at Texas, Eric gained over 4,000 yards from running and catching the ball. He also caught 125 passes and scored 31 touchdowns. He added another 1,650 yards returning kicks. He set many school records, including most career catches and most all-purpose yards. He was the only player in Texas history to lead the team in all-purpose yards for all four years.
Eric was also a star in track at the University of Texas. He was a four-time All-American. He set the school's long jump record, which is still held today, at 8.44 meters (about 27 feet 8 inches). He won the NCAA National Long Jump Championship in 1986 and 1988. He also won SWC long jump titles. In 1988, he competed in the USA Olympic Trials, finishing 8th.
After college, Eric played in the Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl in 1989. In 2002, he was inducted into the Texas Longhorns Hall of Honor. In 2017, he joined the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
4.46 s | 1.58 s | 2.59 s | 33.0 in (0.84 m) |
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| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Playing for the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns picked Eric Metcalf as the 13th player in the 1989 NFL draft. The Browns traded several draft picks to move up and get him. Eric signed with the team in August, just before the season started.
Eric was a very versatile player. He was great at playing offense and returning kicks on special teams. In his first year, he gained over 2,000 all-purpose yards. He also set a Browns' rookie record for rushing yards. The Browns won their division and reached the 1989 AFC Championship game that season.
In his second NFL season (1990), Eric led the league in kickoff return yards with 1,052. He also had two kickoff return touchdowns, including one for 101 yards. In 1991, he had an injury, but new coach Bill Belichick started using him to return punts. This was a great decision!
Eric led the NFL in punt returns in 1992. He also scored a punt return touchdown. He went on to lead the NFL in punt return touchdowns in four different seasons (1993–1995, 1997). In 1993, he led the league in all-purpose yards. He was named First-Team All-Pro as both a kickoff and punt returner. He also made the Pro Bowl. In 1994, he made the Pro Bowl again. The Browns made the playoffs that season.
Time with the Atlanta Falcons
In 1995, Eric was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons used him as a slot receiver in their "Run and Shoot" offense. He led the team with 104 catches for over 1,000 yards. He helped the Falcons make the playoffs. He also set a personal best with 1,983 all-purpose yards that year. In 1996, his role in the offense was smaller, but he still had 1,937 all-purpose yards.
Playing for the San Diego Chargers
After the 1996 season, Eric became a free agent and signed with the San Diego Chargers. In San Diego, he played as a receiver again. In his only season there, he was named an All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl. He led the league with a career-high three punt return touchdowns.
Later Career Teams
After San Diego, Eric played for the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. His playing time was less, but in the last game of the season, he returned a kickoff 46 yards. This play helped the Cardinals win and make the playoffs.
In 1999, Eric was briefly with the Baltimore Ravens before signing with the Carolina Panthers. While with the Panthers, he became the first player in NFL history to have 7,000 yards in offense and 7,000 yards in kick returns.
After not playing in 2000, Eric signed with the Washington Redskins in October 2001. His father had played for the Redskins. Eric had an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown, which was the longest in the NFL that season. This set a new record for career punt return touchdowns at the time.
He played his last NFL game for the Green Bay Packers in 2002. After that season, he retired from playing football.
Eric Metcalf's NFL Records
Eric Metcalf finished his NFL career with amazing statistics. He had 2,392 rushing yards, 541 catches for 5,572 yards, and over 9,000 yards from returning punts and kickoffs. This gave him a total of 17,230 all-purpose yards, which was 9th best in NFL history when he retired.
He scored 55 touchdowns in his career. Ten of these were punt return touchdowns, which was an NFL record for many years. He is still second all-time in punt returns. Eric is also third all-time in total return touchdowns (12).
In 2008, Eric Metcalf was named a Cleveland Browns legend. He has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame several times.
Personal Life and Coaching
After retiring from playing, Eric Metcalf became a coach. He coached football and track at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Washington. He helped the football team reach the state semi-finals in 2005–2006.
He also started a track and field club called Seatown Express for high school athletes. In 2013, he became a volunteer track and field coach at the University of Washington. He worked with jumpers and sprinters. In 2016, he became an Assistant Coach for sprints there. He has helped many sprinters break school records and achieve great success.
