LeSean McCoy facts for kids
McCoy with the Buffalo Bills in 2016
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| No. 29, 25 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | July 12, 1988 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Pittsburgh (2007–2008) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2009 / Round: 2 / Pick: 53 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||
LeSean Kamel McCoy (born July 12, 1988), known as "Shady", is a former professional football player. He was a talented running back in the National Football League (NFL). McCoy played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft.
McCoy went to Bishop McDevitt High School from 2002 to 2006. In his final year of high school, he had a serious ankle injury. This injury made his future in football uncertain. During his first year at Pittsburgh in 2007, he ran for over 1,300 yards. He also scored 14 touchdowns. In 2008, McCoy was named a second-team All-American. His 21 rushing touchdowns were among the best in the nation.
In 2010, McCoy became the main running back for the Eagles. He ran for over 1,000 yards that season. In 2011, he was named first-team All-Pro, a top honor. In 2013, McCoy led the entire NFL in rushing yards with 1,607. This broke the Eagles' team record for single-season rushing yards. After the 2014 season, McCoy became the Eagles' all-time leading rusher. He broke the record held by Wilbert Montgomery.
In 2015, McCoy was traded to the Buffalo Bills. He quickly became a star there, making the Pro Bowl three times. He helped the Bills reach the playoffs, ending a 17-year drought. McCoy also joined a small group of NFL running backs with over 10,000 career rushing yards. After four seasons with the Bills, he played one season each for the Kansas City Chiefs (2019) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020). He won a Super Bowl with both teams.
McCoy was chosen for the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. No other player scored more touchdowns or gained more yards than he did from 2010 to 2019. After retiring, McCoy started working in sports media. He became a co-host on the talk show The Facility on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) in September 2024.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
McCoy was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His nickname "Shady" was given to him by his mother. She used it because his moods could change quickly. He attended Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg. He played high school football there for the Crusaders.
As a sophomore, he once rushed for an amazing 406 yards in a single game. In his junior year, he ran for 2,828 yards and scored 35 touchdowns. He earned many awards, including Associated Press Class AAAA player of the year. McCoy had planned to play for Miami after high school. However, academic challenges and a broken ankle led him to attend Milford Academy, a prep school.
At a training camp in 2004, McCoy ran the 40-yard dash in 4.23 seconds. This was the fastest time at the event. Experts called him one of the top high school players. One ESPN evaluation described him as "lightning in a bottle every time he touches the ball." In 2012, Bishop McDevitt High School retired McCoy's number 20 jersey. This is a rare honor for a high school athlete.
High School Stats
| Year | Games | Attempts | Yards | TD |
| 2002 | 6 | 60 | 376 | 2 |
| 2003 | 10 | 272 | 2,561 | 28 |
| 2004 | 13 | 342 | 2,828 | 31 |
| 2005 | 4 | 83 | 889 | 10 |
| Career | 33 | 757 | 6,654 | 71 |
College Football Career
McCoy joined the University of Pittsburgh after prep school. He started his freshman season as a backup running back. But he quickly showed his talent.
Freshman Year: A Strong Start
McCoy became a key player for Pittsburgh's "Wildcat offense". In this special offense, he would line up as a quarterback and take direct snaps. He had one of the best starts for a freshman running back at Pittsburgh since the legendary Tony Dorsett. An ESPN writer noted his "instant impact" on the team. McCoy rushed for 1,328 yards and 14 touchdowns in his freshman year. He was named to the Freshman All-American team. In his final game, he ran for 148 yards against rival West Virginia. This helped Pittsburgh, who were big underdogs, win and stop West Virginia from reaching the national championship game.
Sophomore Year: Continuing to Shine
McCoy entered his sophomore year as one of the top college running backs. His coach, Dave Wannstedt, praised his maturity and dedication. Even Pro Football Hall of Famer, Tony Dorsett, said McCoy reminded him of himself. Pittsburgh started the 2008 season ranked in the top 25. McCoy had a streak of five games where he rushed for over 140 yards. His best game was against West Virginia, where he rushed for a career-high 183 yards. He also scored two touchdowns in that game.
McCoy initially said he would return for his junior year. However, he decided to enter the NFL Draft early. A serious ankle injury from high school influenced his decision. He realized that a career could be taken away quickly. On January 14, 2009, he officially announced he was leaving for the NFL.
College Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2007 | Pittsburgh | 12 | 276 | 1,328 | 4.8 | 14 | 33 | 244 | 7.4 | 1 |
| 2008 | Pittsburgh | 13 | 308 | 1,488 | 4.8 | 21 | 32 | 305 | 9.5 | 0 |
| Career | 25 | 584 | 2,816 | 4.8 | 35 | 65 | 589 | 8.5 | 1 | |
Professional NFL Career
McCoy was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009. He was the 53rd player picked overall.
Philadelphia Eagles: Early Years
McCoy became a starter in Week 3 of his rookie season. He scored his first touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also started against the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. In December 2009, McCoy broke the Eagles' rookie rushing record. He finished his first season with 637 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Eagles made the playoffs that year.
In 2010, McCoy took over as the main running back for the Eagles. He changed his jersey number to 25, which he wore in college. He ran for 120 yards and three touchdowns against the Detroit Lions. He also played through a broken rib against the San Francisco 49ers. McCoy finished the 2010 season with 1,080 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. The Eagles won their division and made the playoffs.
Philadelphia Eagles: Star Seasons
The 2011 season started strong for McCoy. He scored four touchdowns and rushed for 345 yards in his first three games. He rushed for 126 yards against the Washington Redskins. Then, he scored two touchdowns and rushed for 184 yards against the Dallas Cowboys. McCoy finished the 2011 season as the league's fourth leading rusher. His 17 rushing touchdowns tied him for third all-time for a running back aged 23 or younger. He broke the Eagles' single-season touchdown records. McCoy was voted into the Pro Bowl and named First Team All-Pro.
In 2012, McCoy signed a five-year contract extension with the Eagles. He started the season with 110 rushing yards against the Cleveland Browns. He also had 123 rushing yards against the New York Giants. McCoy missed four games due to a concussion that season. He finished with 840 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The 2013 season was a standout year for McCoy. He rushed for 184 yards in the first game against the Washington Redskins. He also had 158 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. In a snowy game against the Detroit Lions, McCoy rushed for a franchise-record 217 yards. He scored two touchdowns in that game. He broke Steve Van Buren's record of 207 rushing yards. McCoy finished the 2013 season leading the NFL with 1,607 rushing yards. He also led the league in total yards from scrimmage with 2,146. The Eagles made the playoffs with a 10–6 record.
In 2014, McCoy rushed for 1,319 yards, ranking third in the league. He became the Eagles' all-time leading rusher with 6,792 yards. This was a huge achievement, as he reached it in just six seasons.
Buffalo Bills: New Team, Same Star Power
On March 10, 2015, McCoy was traded to the Buffalo Bills. He signed a new five-year contract. After a slow start due to a hamstring injury, McCoy returned to his top form. He had a streak of seven straight weeks with over 100 yards from scrimmage. He finished the 2015 season with 895 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 12 games.
In 2016, McCoy continued to shine for the Bills. He ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals. He also had 150 yards against the Los Angeles Rams. In Week 6, he tied his career high with three rushing touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers. McCoy finished the 2016 season with 1,267 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named to his fifth Pro Bowl. He helped Buffalo lead the NFL in rushing yards for the second year in a row.
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In 2017, McCoy had 159 yards from scrimmage in the first game. He reached 12,000 scrimmage yards for his career. In a snowy game against the Indianapolis Colts, McCoy had a career-high 32 carries for 156 yards. He scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime. This performance pushed him over 1,000 rushing yards for the season. In December, he became the 30th NFL player to reach 10,000 career rushing yards. He was named to his sixth Pro Bowl. The Bills made the playoffs with a 9–7 record. McCoy finished the 2017 season with 1,138 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
The 2018 season was challenging for McCoy and the Bills. He finished the season with 514 rushing yards and three touchdowns, which were career lows. He was released by the Bills in August 2019.
Kansas City Chiefs: Super Bowl Champion
McCoy signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on August 31, 2019. He reunited with his former Eagles coach Andy Reid. In Week 1, he rushed for 81 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Week 3, he scored both a rushing and a receiving touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens. McCoy was used in a rotation with other running backs. He finished the regular season with 465 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Chiefs went on to win Super Bowl LIV. This gave McCoy his first Super Bowl ring.
McCoy ended the 2010s decade with the most rushing yards in the NFL, totaling 10,434 yards.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Another Super Bowl
McCoy signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 4, 2020. He had a limited role due to other talented running backs on the team. He played in ten games, totaling 31 rushing yards and 101 receiving yards. He won his second Super Bowl with the Buccaneers. They defeated his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs. McCoy became one of only four players in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls against his previous team.
Retirement
On October 1, 2021, McCoy officially announced his retirement. He signed a special one-day contract with the Eagles to retire as a member of the team. McCoy finished his career with exactly 15,000 yards from scrimmage.
Playing Style
McCoy was known as a "scat back." This means he was very elusive and could change directions quickly. He often ran "east-west" across the field, similar to Hall of Famer Barry Sanders. McCoy said Sanders was his favorite player growing up. His ability to avoid direct hits helped him play for a long time in the league.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2009 | PHI | 16 | 4 | 155 | 637 | 4.1 | 66T | 4 | 40 | 308 | 7.7 | 45 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2010 | PHI | 15 | 13 | 207 | 1,080 | 5.2 | 62 | 7 | 78 | 592 | 7.6 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2011 | PHI | 15 | 15 | 273 | 1,309 | 4.8 | 60 | 17 | 48 | 315 | 6.6 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | PHI | 12 | 12 | 200 | 840 | 4.2 | 34 | 2 | 54 | 373 | 6.9 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 2013 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 314 | 1,607 | 5.1 | 57T | 9 | 52 | 539 | 10.4 | 70 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 312 | 1,319 | 4.2 | 53 | 5 | 28 | 155 | 5.5 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| 2015 | BUF | 12 | 12 | 203 | 895 | 4.4 | 48T | 3 | 32 | 292 | 9.1 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2016 | BUF | 15 | 15 | 234 | 1,267 | 5.4 | 75T | 13 | 50 | 356 | 7.1 | 41 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2017 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 287 | 1,138 | 4.0 | 48T | 6 | 59 | 448 | 7.6 | 39 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2018 | BUF | 14 | 13 | 161 | 514 | 3.2 | 28T | 3 | 34 | 238 | 7.0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | KC | 13 | 9 | 101 | 465 | 4.6 | 39 | 4 | 28 | 181 | 6.5 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2020 | TB | 10 | 0 | 10 | 31 | 3.1 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 101 | 6.7 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 170 | 141 | 2,457 | 11,102 | 4.5 | 75T | 73 | 518 | 3,898 | 7.5 | 70 | 16 | 25 | 14 | |
Postseason Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2009 | PHI | 1 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 4.8 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | PHI | 1 | 1 | 12 | 46 | 3.8 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 36 | 9.0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | PHI | 1 | 1 | 21 | 77 | 3.7 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 3.8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | BUF | 1 | 1 | 19 | 75 | 3.9 | 25 | 0 | 6 | 44 | 7.3 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | KC | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | TB | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 7 | 3 | 57 | 222 | 3.9 | 25 | 1 | 15 | 104 | 6.9 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Eagles Franchise Records
- Most rushing yards, career (6,792)
- Most rushing touchdowns, single season (17) (2011)
- Total touchdowns, single season (20) (2011)
Life Outside Football
In August 2012, McCoy became a partner and investor in the sports drink Bodyarmor SuperDrink. In November 2012, McCoy was featured in an episode of E:60 called "The Real McCoy." This show talked about his high school career and his ankle injury. Since September 2024, McCoy has been a panelist on The Facility, a sports talk show on Fox Sports 1 (FS1).
Personal Life
McCoy's brother, LeRon McCoy, also played football as a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. LeSean McCoy has one son and one daughter. He lived in Marlton, New Jersey. When he was traded to the Bills, he was unsure about leaving Philadelphia. However, he grew to love Buffalo and its fans. He wrote a letter to Bills fans in The Players' Tribune to thank them for their support.
In 2017, McCoy joined other NFL players in protests during the national anthem. This was in response to comments made by President Donald Trump. McCoy stated that while the anthem and flag were important to him, he could not support something when the country's leader was acting unfairly.
See also
In Spanish: LeSean McCoy para niños
