Jean Fugett facts for kids

Jean Schloss Fugett, Jr. (born December 16, 1951) is a former American football player. He played as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). Jean Fugett played for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. He also played college football at Amherst College. After his football career, he became a successful lawyer and businessman.

Early Life and College Football

Jean Fugett was born and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a very smart student and skipped two grades in school. He went to Cardinal Gibbons School. There, he started playing football in his senior year. He played both tight end (an offensive player who catches passes) and defensive end (a defensive player who tries to stop the other team).

In 1968, he graduated and was named the Baltimore Catholic Athlete of the Year. He was the first Black athlete to receive this award.

Fugett received a scholarship to Amherst College in Massachusetts. He chose Amherst because he wanted to play both basketball and football. In 1971, during his senior year, he was a star player. He caught 39 passes for 635 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. He was also named a "Little All-American." This award recognizes top college players from smaller schools.

Professional Football Career

Jean Fugett played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was known for his strong catching skills and his ability to score touchdowns.

Playing for the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys picked Jean Fugett in the 1972 NFL draft. He was chosen in the thirteenth round. At 20 years old, he was a rookie. The Cowboys usually only kept two tight ends. But they saw his potential and made an exception for him.

As a rookie, he was a backup player. He played behind Mike Ditka, who later became a famous coach. Fugett was mostly used when the team needed to pass the ball. In 1975, he had a great year. He started nine games because another player was hurt. He caught 38 passes for 488 yards and three touchdowns. He was the team's second-best receiver that year. Fugett also started in Super Bowl X against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Playing for the Washington Redskins

In 1976, Jean Fugett signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent. A free agent is a player who can sign with any team. He became the starting tight end for the Redskins. That year, he caught 27 passes and led the team with 6 receiving touchdowns.

In 1977, he had his best year with the Redskins. He led the team with 36 catches for 631 yards. He also scored 5 touchdowns. Because of his excellent play, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is an all-star game for the best players in the NFL. Before the next season, he had surgery on his left knee.

In 1978, he continued to play well. He caught 25 passes for 367 yards. He also led the team with 7 receiving touchdowns. In 1979, a knee injury limited his playing time. He retired from football before the 1980 season.

During his NFL career, Jean Fugett caught a total of 156 passes. He gained 2,270 receiving yards and scored 28 touchdowns.

Life After Football

While playing for the Redskins, Jean Fugett also went to law school. He attended George Washington University Law School at night. After his football career, he passed the bar exam in Maryland. This meant he could become a lawyer.

He decided to join his older brother, Reginald Lewis, in business. Fugett helped found the TLC Group in 1983. He held important roles in several companies. After his brother passed away in 1993, Fugett took over TLC Beatrice International Foods. At that time, it was the largest Black-owned business in the United States. The company had sales of $2.2 billion at its highest point.

Besides his law practice, Fugett has stayed involved in many areas. He was the president of the Retired Players Steering Committee for the National Football League Players Association. He also works as a legal advisor for a financial firm. He is a managing director at Axum Capital Partners. He also serves on the Leadership Council for the American Diabetes Association in Maryland.

Jean Fugett lives in Baltimore with his wife, Carlotta. He has two sons, Joseph and Reginald, and one daughter, Maude. His daughter Maude married baseball player Adam Jones in 2014. Jean Fugett has five grandchildren.