Terrence Wilkins facts for kids

Terrence Olondo Wilkins was a professional football player. He was born on July 29, 1975. Terrence played as a wide receiver and a return specialist. He is best known for his time with the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the St. Louis Rams and the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Terrence was part of the Colts team that won Super Bowl XLI in 2006. They beat the Chicago Bears in that big game.

Terrence Wilkins went to Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. He graduated from there in 1994. Before that, he attended St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.

College Football Career

Terrence Wilkins played college football at the University of Virginia. When he first started, he was a backup running back. Later, he changed to playing as a wide receiver. Even though he was not very tall (5 feet 8 inches) or heavy (180 pounds), he was very good at this new role.

College Stats and Achievements

During his three years as a wide receiver, Terrence caught 97 passes. He gained 1,495 yards from these catches. This was the fifth-highest receiving yards in his school's history. He also scored 5 touchdowns. Besides catching passes, he was great at returning kicks and punts. He gained another 1,155 yards from special teams returns. In his final year, he led his team with 45 catches for 811 yards. This showed he was a key player for his college team.

Professional Football Journey

Terrence Wilkins was not chosen by any team in the NFL draft. But he still got a chance to play! He signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent in 1999. He quickly became the team's main player for returning kickoffs and punts. He also earned a spot as a starting wide receiver.

Rookie Season Success

In his first year, Terrence gained a total of 2,089 yards. This was a new record for an undrafted rookie player. He was one of only six rookies ever to gain more than 2,000 yards in a season. He was a very important player for the Colts.

Moving Teams and Super Bowl Win

After two more years with the Colts, Terrence was traded to the St. Louis Rams. He played there for a short time. He returned to the Colts in 2003. After a few years away from the NFL, he rejoined the Colts in 2006. Even at 31 years old, he had a great season. He gained 1,297 yards from kickoff returns, which was one of the best in the NFL that year.

He also gained 411 total return yards in the Colts' four playoff games. Terrence played a big part in the Colts winning Super Bowl XLI. In that game, he returned 4 kickoffs for 89 yards and 3 punts for 42 yards. This Super Bowl victory was his final NFL game.

Career Statistics