Eric Metcalf facts for kids
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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 great at running with the ball and returning kicks.
He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times, which is a big honor in the NFL. Besides football, Eric was also an amazing track and field athlete. He was a champion in the long jump in college and at the national level. His father, Terry Metcalf, was also a famous football player.
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Early Life and Athletic Beginnings
Eric Metcalf grew up in Seattle, Washington, with his mother. From a young age, he showed incredible talent in sports. He first attended a Catholic high school in Seattle.
Later, he moved to Arlington County, Virginia, to live with his father. His father, who had just finished his NFL career, helped coach the football team at Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School. Eric played both football and competed in track and field there.
High School Football Success
In 1983, Eric led his high school football team, the O'Connell Knights, to a state championship. He ran for over 1,000 yards and scored 24 touchdowns. These touchdowns came from offense, defense, and special teams. He was named the best player in the Washington D.C. area. The next season, he continued to excel, scoring 11 touchdowns.
Track and Field Achievements
Eric also set many school records in track. These included records in the long jump, triple jump, and short-distance races. His long jump of 24 feet 5.5 inches in 1983 was one of the longest jumps ever by a high school boy. He still holds some of these impressive records today.
In 1991, Eric was honored by being inducted into his high school's Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2023, he joined the Arlington County Sports Hall of Fame.
College Career at the University of Texas
Many colleges wanted Eric to play for them. He chose to attend the University of Texas at Austin. There, he became a star player for the Texas Longhorns.
Football Highlights
Eric was named an All-Southwest Conference player three times. In 1987, he was the Southwest Conference Player of the Year. He was also named a second-team All-American.
Over his four years, Eric gained over 4,000 yards from running and catching the ball. He also added more than 1,600 yards from special teams returns. He scored 31 touchdowns in total. Eric set many school records, including the most career catches and most receiving yards by a running back. He is the only player in Texas history to lead the team in all-purpose yards for all four years. He helped his team win two Bluebonnet Bowl games, winning the 1987 game.
Track and Field Excellence
Eric was also a four-time All-American in track. He set the University of Texas's long jump record, which is still held today. This record was an amazing 8.44 meters (about 27 feet 8 inches).
He won the NCAA National Long Jump Championship twice, in 1986 and 1988. He also won the Southwest Conference long jump titles. In 1988, he even competed in the USA Olympic Trials, showing his world-class talent. He helped his college team win two conference outdoor championships.
In 2002, Eric was inducted into the Texas Longhorns Hall of Honor. In 2017, he joined the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Journey
Eric Metcalf was a highly anticipated player in the 1989 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns picked him as the 13th overall player. They traded several draft picks to move up and get him.
Making an Impact with the Cleveland Browns
Eric quickly showed his many talents with the Browns. He was great on offense and as a returner on special teams. In his first year, he gained over 2,000 all-purpose yards. He helped the Browns win their division and reach the 1989 AFC Championship game.
In his second season, he led the entire NFL in kickoff return yards. He also scored two kickoff return touchdowns, including an amazing 101-yard return. Later, under coach Bill Belichick, Eric started returning punts. He became one of the best punt returners in NFL history.
He led the NFL in punt return touchdowns in four different seasons. In 1993, he was named First Team All-Pro as both a kickoff and punt returner. He also made the Pro Bowl. He had a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown that year. In 1994, he again made the Pro Bowl.
Moving to the Atlanta Falcons
In 1995, Eric was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. There, he played 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 career high with 1,983 all-purpose yards that season.
Time with the San Diego Chargers
After the Falcons, Eric signed with the San Diego Chargers. In his one season there, he was again named an All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl. He led the league with three punt return touchdowns that year.
Later Career Teams
Eric later played for the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, and Green Bay Packers. Even though his playing time was less, he still made important plays. For example, with the Cardinals, he had a big kickoff return that helped them win a game and make the playoffs.
With the Redskins in 2001, he had an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown. This set a new NFL record for most career punt return touchdowns at the time. He retired after playing one game with the Green Bay Packers in 2002.
NFL Career Achievements
Eric Metcalf finished his NFL career with incredible statistics. He had over 2,300 rushing yards and over 5,500 receiving yards. He also had over 9,200 yards from returning punts and kickoffs. This gave him a total of 17,230 all-purpose yards, which was among the top players in NFL history when he retired.
He scored 55 touchdowns in his career. His 12 return touchdowns (10 punt, 2 kickoff) rank among the best in NFL history. His 10 punt return touchdowns were an NFL record for many years. In 2008, he was named a Cleveland Browns legend.
Life After Playing Football
After retiring from playing, Eric Metcalf became a coach. He coached football and track at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle. He helped lead the football team to the state semi-finals. He also started a track and field club 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 the sprinters break several school records. For example, the women's 4x400-meter relay team he coached qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time ever.
