Jean Fugett facts for kids

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

Jean Fugett's Early Life

Growing Up in Baltimore

Jean Fugett was born and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a very smart kid and even skipped two grades in school. Jean was raised Catholic and went to Cardinal Gibbons School. He started playing football during his senior year. He played both offense as a tight end and defense as a defensive end.

High School Achievements

Jean graduated from high school in 1968. He was named the Baltimore Catholic Athlete of the Year. This was a big deal because he was the first black athlete to receive this award.

College Football and Basketball

Fugett received a special academic scholarship to attend Amherst College in Massachusetts. He chose Amherst because he wanted to play both basketball and football. In 1971, during his senior year, he was the top player on his team for catching passes and scoring points. He caught 39 passes for 635 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. Because of his great performance, he was named a Little All-American.

Jean Fugett's Professional Football Career

Playing for the Dallas Cowboys

Joining the Cowboys in 1972

The Dallas Cowboys picked Jean Fugett in the 13th round of the 1972 NFL draft. He was the 338th player chosen overall. Usually, the Cowboys only had two tight ends on their team. But they saw how talented Jean was, even though he was only 20 years old. So, they made an exception and added him as their third tight end.

First Seasons as a Backup

As a rookie, Jean was a backup player behind Mike Ditka, who later became a famous player. Jean mostly played when the team needed to throw the ball. In his first year, he caught 7 passes for 94 yards. In 1973, another tight end, Billy Joe DuPree, joined the team and became the main starter. Jean continued as a backup. He caught 9 passes for 168 yards and 3 touchdowns. He led the team with an average of 18.7 yards per catch. In 1974, he played in 12 games and started 2 of them. He caught 4 passes for 60 yards and one touchdown.

Starting for the Cowboys in 1975

In 1975, Jean Fugett got to start nine games because DuPree was injured. He became the team's second-best receiver, right after Drew Pearson. Jean caught 38 passes for 488 yards and three touchdowns that season. He also started in Super Bowl X against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Playing for the Washington Redskins

Moving to Washington in 1976

In 1976, a new rule about free agency allowed players to switch teams more easily. Jean Fugett signed with the Washington Redskins. Many people thought he would replace the famous tight end Jerry Smith. Jean became the starter over Smith. He caught 27 passes for 334 yards and led the team with 6 receiving touchdowns.

Pro Bowl Season in 1977

In 1977, Jean led the Redskins with 36 catches for 631 yards. He also scored 5 touchdowns. His great performance earned him a spot in the 1978 Pro Bowl, which is a special game for the best players in the NFL. After the season, he had surgery on his left knee.

Final Seasons with the Redskins

In 1978, Jean played in 14 games and started 12 of them. He caught 25 passes for 367 yards and led the team with 7 receiving touchdowns. In 1979, a knee injury limited his playing time. He started 6 games before a rookie player, Don Warren, took his starting spot. Jean retired from football before the 1980 season because he did not receive a new contract offer from the Redskins.

Jean Fugett's NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats

Jean Fugett's Life After Football

Becoming a Lawyer and Businessman

While playing for the Redskins, Jean Fugett went to George Washington University Law School at night. He earned his law degree. After playing eight years in the NFL and passing the Maryland state bar exam, he decided to join his older brother, Reginald Lewis, in business.

Leading TLC Beatrice International Foods

Jean Fugett helped his brother start a company called TLC Group in 1983. He held important roles there, including Director and Vice-Chair of the McCall Pattern Company Management Committee. He also helped start a law firm in Baltimore. After his brother passed away in 1993, Jean took over TLC Beatrice International Foods. At that time, it was the largest business in the United States owned and managed by a black person. At its best, TLC Beatrice had sales of $2.2 billion and was ranked among the top 1,000 largest companies by Fortune magazine.

Current Activities and Family Life

Besides his law practice, Jean Fugett has been the President of the Retired Players Steering Committee for the National Football League Players Association. He also works as a legal advisor for an investment firm called GFS Acquisition Partners and is a Managing Director at Axum Capital Partners. He is also part of the Leadership Council for the American Diabetes Association Maryland Chapter.

Jean Fugett lives in Baltimore with his wife, Carlotta. They have two sons, Joseph "Russell" and Reginald. Their daughter, Maude "Audie" Jones, married Adam Jones on December 27, 2014. Jean Fugett now has five grandchildren. Jean is the son of Carolyn and Jean S. Fugett, Sr., and the grandson of Joseph R. Fugett.