Rick Upchurch facts for kids
Upchurch in 2014
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| Position: | Wide receiver, Return specialist |
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| Born: | May 20, 1952 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 175 lb (79 kg) | ||||||||||||
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| High school: | Springfield (Holland, Ohio) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Minnesota | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1975 / Round: 4 / Pick: 95 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Richard "Rick" Upchurch (born May 20, 1952) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). Rick played his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos. He was with the team from 1975 to 1983.
Rick Upchurch is known as one of the best return specialists ever. He was chosen for two different "All-Decade" teams. This means he was one of the top players of both the 1970s and 1980s.
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College Football Journey
Before joining the NFL, Rick Upchurch went to Springfield High School. This school is located in Holland, Ohio. After high school, he played at Centerville Community College. Then, he moved to the University of Minnesota.
Rick played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers for two seasons. During his time there, he ran for 1,783 yards. He also caught 18 passes for 242 yards. In total, he scored 18 touchdowns for his team. He averaged 6.1 yards every time he ran with the ball. Rick also set a school record for return yards in one season with 305 yards. In 2001, he was honored in Minnesota's athletic hall of fame.
Playing in the NFL
Rick Upchurch played nine seasons in the NFL. He was great as a receiver and as a kick returner. Kick returners catch kicks from the other team and try to run the ball back.
Rookie Season and Early Success
In his first year, 1975, Rick showed his skills right away. He ran for 97 yards and caught 18 passes for 436 yards. He also returned 27 punts for 312 yards. Plus, he returned kickoffs for 1,014 yards.
In his second season, Rick set an NFL record. He returned four punts for touchdowns. This amazing achievement helped him get selected for the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is an all-star game for the best players in the NFL.
Super Bowl Appearance
In the 1977 season, Rick led the NFL in punt return yards. He had 653 punt return yards that year. His excellent play helped the Denver Broncos reach their first ever Super Bowl. The Broncos played against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XII. They lost the game 27–10.
Even though his team lost, Rick played well in the Super Bowl. He gained 125 total yards in the game. This included a 67-yard kickoff return. That return was a Super Bowl record at the time. It also helped set up Denver's only touchdown in the game.
Later Career and Records
Rick stayed with the Broncos until the 1983 season. He was the best in the NFL for punt return average twice. This happened in 1978 and 1982. He was also chosen for the Pro Bowl three more times. These selections were in 1978, 1979, and 1982.
When he retired, Rick was the NFL's all-time leader in punt return yards. He also tied the NFL record for most punt returns for touchdowns. He had eight punt return touchdowns in his career. His average of 12.1 yards per punt return is one of the best ever.
Life After Football
After he stopped playing football, Rick Upchurch became a coach. He coached football at Tabor College in Kansas. Later, in 2005, he became the head football coach at East High School in Colorado.
Today, Rick lives in Mesquite, Nevada. He often visits nearby towns to sign autographs for Denver Broncos fans. He is considered one of the top return specialists in NFL history.
Broncos Team Records
Rick Upchurch holds many records for the Denver Broncos team. These records show how important he was to the team:
- Most punt returns in a career (248)
- Most punt returns in a season (51 in 1977)
- Most punt returns in a single game (8, tied with another player)
- Most punt return yards in a career (3,008)
- Most punt return yards in a season (653 in 1977)
- Most punt return touchdowns in a career (8)
- Most punt return touchdowns in a season (4 in 1976)
- Most punt return touchdowns in a single game (2, tied with another player)
- Most total return yards in a career (5,363)
- Most total return yards in playoffs (351)
- Most total return yards in a playoff season (222 in 1977)
Personal Life
In the 1970s, Rick Upchurch dated and was briefly engaged to Condoleezza Rice. She later became the Secretary of State for the United States. Rick is currently married and has four children.
