Darryl Hammond
Encyclopedia
Darryl Hammond is a retired arena football
Wide receiver
/ Defensive back
in the Arena Football League.
Hammond is ranked in the top 20 in numerous career record books. His sixteen-year career is currently the longest career in Arena Football League history. His 8,559 receiving yards are sixteenth-most in arena football history and his 802 receptions
rank 10th, and 144 touchdown
receptions rank 20th in league history. His 728 career tackles
rank second, and his 31 career interceptions are tied for 20th in league history as well. One of only two players to have played for the Kats in all six seasons of the team’s existence, the other being James Baron
.
player at Essex High School
. He then attended Ferrum College
for his freshman and sophomore years. He then transferred to the University of Virginia
, where he was the team's leading receiver in 1985
. He recorded 11 receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown in 1986
. He was switched from wide receiver
to strong safety for his senior season in 1987
, and he recorded 61 tackles and earned honorable All-ACC
mention honors.
and worked at a Ben & Jerry's
plant while completing his Sociology
degree. He also spent time working as a deputy sheriff in Manassas, Virginia
. He then spent two years as a graduate assistant at Penn State
under head coach
Joe Paterno
where he completed his degree in Turf management
.
In 1989
, he was invited to the New Orleans Saints
' training camp as a free agent
, but released before the season began. The following year, he signed with the New York Jets
. However, the night before his flight to camp, he decided he was too "burned out" to focus on football and did not attend.
, and recorded five interceptions, which ranked him second in the league. He was also the Firebirds second-leading tackler
, with 48 tackles, and he broke up 11 passes. He also ranked second among Firebird receivers with 27 receptions
for 254 yards and seven touchdown
s. He also was 1-of-1 passing the ball, a 27 yard completion. He also returned two kickoff
s for a total of 39 yards.
In 1992
, Hammond ranked fourth in the league with 60 total tackles. He recorded two interceptions and four passes broken up. He also recorded 13 receptions for 138 yards, and one touchdowns. Once again he was 1-of-1 passing a 26-yard touchdown.
In 1993
, Hammond was Albany's second-leading tackler, recording 65 tackles and 1.5 sacks
. He had two interceptions and eight passes broken up. He recorded 35 receptions for 454 yards and six touchdowns. He also recorded 12 total return yards on both a missed field goal
and a kickoff.
In 1994
Hammond ranked fifth among Albany receivers with 10 receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. He finished as the team's fifth-leading tackler, recording 35 total tackles. He was also second on the team with three interceptions.
, Hammond joined the St. Louis Stampede
and was a First-team All-Arena selection. He led St. Louis with 80 receptions for 979 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He also had 11 carries for a career-high 36 yards and three touchdowns. He also recorded 49 tackles, four interceptions one sack, four passes broken up and a fumble
recovery.
In 1996
, Hammond was a First-team All-Arena selection for the second time, after leading the Stampede 74 receptions for 860 yards, and 16 touchdowns. He also recorded 60 tackles and two interceptions, seven passes broken up and two fumble recoveries. He also returned one kickoff for 17 yards and a missed field goal for five yards. He also carried the ball four times for 21 yards.
, Hammond joined the Nashville Kats
and was the team's second-leading receiver, recording 50 receptions for 607 yards and four touchdowns. He also recorded 49 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, a pass broken up, and a fumble recovery. He also caught two two-point conversions, returned 15 kickoffs for 205 yards and two missed field goals for 23 yards. He tied a career-best with seven tackles in opening win against the San Jose SaberCats
. He won his first Ironman of the Game award with Nashville, catching seven passes for 77 yards, making five tackles, a pass break up and one interception in a home win over the New York Dragons
.
In 1998
, Hammond recorded 31 receptions for 292 yards and seven touchdowns, despite missing six weeks with an injury. He recorded 22 tackles
, two broken up passes and two fumble recoveries. He was named Ironman of the Game twice for the season, as well as the Dick Butkus
Football Network Defensive Player of the Week twice. He was placed on injured reserve
on June 4, and in his first game back, against the Tampa Bay Storm
, he recorded four receptions
for 32 yards, for one touchdown
. He also recorded one fumble recovery, on a kickoff, for a touchdown, and two tackles.
In 1999
, Hammond was an All-Arena Team selection for the third time, and chosen as Nashville’s co-Ironman of the Year, an award he shared with James Baron
. He recorded a career-high 88 receptions for 788 yards and 19 touchdowns. He carries the ball 14 times for 31 yards and four touchdowns. He finished second on the team in tackles, yet he recorded a career-high with 61. In the last seven games of the season he recorded 65 receptions for 570 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also recorded one interception, two fumble recoveries, and three passes broken up.
In 2000
Hammond was an All-Ironman Team. He finished tied for the team lead with 71 total tackles. He ranked second in the league with five fumble recoveries. He finished as the team's second-leading receiver with 55 receptions for 581 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 10 carries for a career-high 52 yards, and one touchdown. He had five kickoff
s returns for 56 yards and, two missed field goals
returns for 43 yards, and two interceptions for 50 yards. The Kats made their way through the playoff and to ArenaBowl XIV
in Orlando
, where he recorded three receptions, for 88 yards, two touchdowns, and two tackles.
In 2001
, Hammond statistically had one of the best seasons of his career. He led the Kats with 60 receptions for 708 yards and 10 touchdowns. He recorded 36 tackles
, and two interceptions, despite missing two late season games due to injury. He was named to the All-Time All-Ironman team for the second time in his career. The Kats once again made their way to the ArenaBowl. In ArenaBowl XV
in Grand Rapids
he recorded one receptions for 11 yards, 2.5 tackles, and one pass broken up.
, the Nashville Kats folded and moved to Augusta, Georgia
, and were renamed the Georgia Force
, similar to the Cleveland Browns
/Baltimore Ravens
move of 1996, whereas Nashville
retained the Kats' name, colors, logo, and history.
With the start of the season, Hammond tied the league career record for longest AFL career, at the time it was shared between himself, Sylvester Bembery
(1988
-2000) and George LaFrance
(1988–2000). He finished third on the team with 50 tackles, and had two interceptions. He also led the team with 65 receptions for 620 yards and nine touchdowns.
In 2003
, Hammond led the team in receptions with 88 for 969 yards, and a career-high 20 touchdowns. He finished fourth on the team in rushing with three carries for 22 yards and one touchdown. On defense, he recorded 33.5 total tackles, three for a loss, three forced fumble
s, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions for 13 yards.
, Hammond recorded 47 receptions
for 427 yards and 12 touchdown
s in his only season with the Austin Wranglers
. He recorded 25 tackles and three fumble recoveries. He also carried the ball nine times for 14 yards and a touchdown. He also earned Army
Ironman of the Game honors twice. He was Injured early in the season and spent four weeks on injured reserve.
, Hammond joined the restart Nashville Kats
for his final two seasons as a player. In his 15th season, he was named to the league’s All-Ironman team. He finished as the Kats’ second-leading receiver, recording 66 receptions for 632 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had seven carries for 10 yards and one touchdown. He also finished with 42.5 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
In 2006
, Hammond recorded 21 tackles, one sack
, two passes broken up, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions, one for a touchdown. He also recorded 13 receptions for 149 yards, and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball seven times for 10 yards and three touchdowns and had three kickoff
returns for nine yards.
er. Also, in 2004, he appeared as Michael Irvin's stunt double on the set of the Adam Sandler
movie The Longest Yard
, and plays Philadelphia Eagles
wide receiver
Harold Carmichael in the Mark Wahlberg
film, Invincible
. He was the volleyball coach in Hannah Montana "The Movie" 2009 also.
He also served as an assistant football coach at The Ensworth School
in Nashville in the fall of 2005.
Hammond is currently serving as a STARS counselor as well as an assistant football coach for the Independence High School Football team in Thompson's Station, TN.
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
Wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
/ Defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
in the Arena Football League.
Hammond is ranked in the top 20 in numerous career record books. His sixteen-year career is currently the longest career in Arena Football League history. His 8,559 receiving yards are sixteenth-most in arena football history and his 802 receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
rank 10th, and 144 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
receptions rank 20th in league history. His 728 career tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
rank second, and his 31 career interceptions are tied for 20th in league history as well. One of only two players to have played for the Kats in all six seasons of the team’s existence, the other being James Baron
James Baron
James Baron is an arena football defensive lineman who is currently a free agent in the Arena Football League. He was the Arena Football League Players Association's president as well....
.
High school and college
Hammond was an All-State player footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
player at Essex High School
Essex High School (Virginia)
Essex High School is a high school located in the town of Tappahannock, in Essex County, Virginia.-Notable alumni:* Chris Brown – Grammy nominated R&B/pop singer* Stacy Tutt – Former NFL Football Player* Darryl Hammond – Arena Football League Player...
. He then attended Ferrum College
Ferrum College
Ferrum College is a private college in Ferrum, Virginia, USA, in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia. Ferrum College has the second-oldest environmental science program in the nation and was ranked 41st by US News and World Report in Comprehensive Colleges–Bachelor's for 2006....
for his freshman and sophomore years. He then transferred to the University of Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, where he was the team's leading receiver in 1985
1985 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season saw the Oklahoma Sooners, led by head coach Barry Switzer, win the national championship.Oklahoma finished the season 11-1, with their only loss to Miami at home, in a game future NFL star Troy Aikman was lost for the season...
. He recorded 11 receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown in 1986
1986 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Penn State winning the national championship. Coached by Joe Paterno, they defeated Miami 14–10 in the Fiesta Bowl. This Fiesta Bowl was the first in the game's history to decide the national championship, launching it into the top tier of...
. He was switched from wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
to strong safety for his senior season in 1987
1987 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Miami winning its second national championship during the 80s in an Orange Bowl match-up featuring a rare #1 vs...
, and he recorded 61 tackles and earned honorable All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
mention honors.
National Football League (1989 - 1990)
Hammond went unselected in the 1988 NFL Draft1988 NFL Draft
The 1988 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24–25, 1988. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
and worked at a Ben & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's is an American ice cream company, a division of the British-Dutch Unilever conglomerate, that manufactures ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream novelty products, manufactured by Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings, Inc., headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, United...
plant while completing his Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
degree. He also spent time working as a deputy sheriff in Manassas, Virginia
Manassas, Virginia
The City of Manassas is an independent city surrounded by Prince William County and the independent city of Manassas Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Its population was 37,821 as of 2010. Manassas also surrounds the county seat for Prince William County but that county...
. He then spent two years as a graduate assistant at Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
under head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
where he completed his degree in Turf management
Turf management
Turf management or pitchcare describes the work needed to keep a sporting pitch ready for use. This article looks at the various types of sporting pitches and the type of challenges which they present....
.
In 1989
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
, he was invited to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
' training camp as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, but released before the season began. The following year, he signed with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. However, the night before his flight to camp, he decided he was too "burned out" to focus on football and did not attend.
Albany Firebirds (1991 - 1994)
Hammond joined the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League in 19911991 Arena Football League season
The 1991 Arena Football League season was the 5th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Detroit Drive in ArenaBowl V.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, and recorded five interceptions, which ranked him second in the league. He was also the Firebirds second-leading tackler
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, with 48 tackles, and he broke up 11 passes. He also ranked second among Firebird receivers with 27 receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
for 254 yards and seven touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He also was 1-of-1 passing the ball, a 27 yard completion. He also returned two kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
s for a total of 39 yards.
In 1992
1992 Arena Football League season
The 1992 Arena Football League season was the 6th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Detroit Drive, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl VI....
, Hammond ranked fourth in the league with 60 total tackles. He recorded two interceptions and four passes broken up. He also recorded 13 receptions for 138 yards, and one touchdowns. Once again he was 1-of-1 passing a 26-yard touchdown.
In 1993
1993 Arena Football League season
The 1993 Arena Football League season was the 7th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Detroit Drive in ArenaBowl VII...
, Hammond was Albany's second-leading tackler, recording 65 tackles and 1.5 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. He had two interceptions and eight passes broken up. He recorded 35 receptions for 454 yards and six touchdowns. He also recorded 12 total return yards on both a missed field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
and a kickoff.
In 1994
1994 Arena Football League season
The 1994 Arena Football League season was the 8th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Arizona Rattlers, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl VIII.-Team Movement:...
Hammond ranked fifth among Albany receivers with 10 receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. He finished as the team's fifth-leading tackler, recording 35 total tackles. He was also second on the team with three interceptions.
St. Louis Stampede (1995 - 1996)
In 19951995 Arena Football League season
The 1995 Arena Football League season was the 9th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl IX. The AFL re-aligned its divisions for the 3rd straight year. It re-aligned to two divisions per conference...
, Hammond joined the St. Louis Stampede
St. Louis Stampede
The St. Louis Stampede was a team in the Arena Football League. The Stampede competed in the 1995 and 1996 seasons, playing their home games in the Kiel Center , also the home of the St...
and was a First-team All-Arena selection. He led St. Louis with 80 receptions for 979 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He also had 11 carries for a career-high 36 yards and three touchdowns. He also recorded 49 tackles, four interceptions one sack, four passes broken up and a fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
recovery.
In 1996
1996 Arena Football League season
The 1996 Arena Football League season was the 10th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Iowa Barnstormers in ArenaBowl X. The AFL finally stabilized its scheduled number of games. It expanded to a 14-game season, which would remain...
, Hammond was a First-team All-Arena selection for the second time, after leading the Stampede 74 receptions for 860 yards, and 16 touchdowns. He also recorded 60 tackles and two interceptions, seven passes broken up and two fumble recoveries. He also returned one kickoff for 17 yards and a missed field goal for five yards. He also carried the ball four times for 21 yards.
Nashville Kats (1997 - 2001)
In 19971997 Arena Football League season
The 1997 Arena Football League season was the 11th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Arizona Rattlers, who defeated the Iowa Barnstormers in ArenaBowl XI.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, Hammond joined the Nashville Kats
Nashville Kats
The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to Atlanta in 2002...
and was the team's second-leading receiver, recording 50 receptions for 607 yards and four touchdowns. He also recorded 49 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, a pass broken up, and a fumble recovery. He also caught two two-point conversions, returned 15 kickoffs for 205 yards and two missed field goals for 23 yards. He tied a career-best with seven tackles in opening win against the San Jose SaberCats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
. He won his first Ironman of the Game award with Nashville, catching seven passes for 77 yards, making five tackles, a pass break up and one interception in a home win over the New York Dragons
New York Dragons
The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...
.
In 1998
1998 Arena Football League season
The 1998 Arena Football League season was the 12th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Orlando Predators, who defeated the Tampa Bay Storm in ArenaBowl XII.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, Hammond recorded 31 receptions for 292 yards and seven touchdowns, despite missing six weeks with an injury. He recorded 22 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, two broken up passes and two fumble recoveries. He was named Ironman of the Game twice for the season, as well as the Dick Butkus
Dick Butkus
Richard Marvin "Dick" Butkus is a former American football player for the Chicago Bears. He was drafted in 1965 and he is also widely regarded as one of the best and most durable linebackers of all time. Butkus starred as a football player for the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears. He...
Football Network Defensive Player of the Week twice. He was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on June 4, and in his first game back, against the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
, he recorded four receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
for 32 yards, for one touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
. He also recorded one fumble recovery, on a kickoff, for a touchdown, and two tackles.
In 1999
1999 Arena Football League season
The 1999 Arena Football League season was the 13th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Albany Firebirds, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XIII.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, Hammond was an All-Arena Team selection for the third time, and chosen as Nashville’s co-Ironman of the Year, an award he shared with James Baron
James Baron
James Baron is an arena football defensive lineman who is currently a free agent in the Arena Football League. He was the Arena Football League Players Association's president as well....
. He recorded a career-high 88 receptions for 788 yards and 19 touchdowns. He carries the ball 14 times for 31 yards and four touchdowns. He finished second on the team in tackles, yet he recorded a career-high with 61. In the last seven games of the season he recorded 65 receptions for 570 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also recorded one interception, two fumble recoveries, and three passes broken up.
In 2000
2000 Arena Football League season
The 2000 Arena Football League season was the 14th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Orlando Predators, who defeated the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XIV.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
Hammond was an All-Ironman Team. He finished tied for the team lead with 71 total tackles. He ranked second in the league with five fumble recoveries. He finished as the team's second-leading receiver with 55 receptions for 581 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 10 carries for a career-high 52 yards, and one touchdown. He had five kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
s returns for 56 yards and, two missed field goals
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
returns for 43 yards, and two interceptions for 50 yards. The Kats made their way through the playoff and to ArenaBowl XIV
ArenaBowl XIV
ArenaBowl XIV is widely hailed as one of the most exciting games in ArenaBowl history, ranking alongside classics such as ArenaBowl XVIII and ArenaBowl XIX. Featuring two teams from the Arena Football League's Southern Division, the game went as a Southern Division game might be expected to: a...
in Orlando
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
, where he recorded three receptions, for 88 yards, two touchdowns, and two tackles.
In 2001
2001 Arena Football League season
The 2001 Arena Football League season was the 15th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Grand Rapids Rampage, who defeated the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XV.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, Hammond statistically had one of the best seasons of his career. He led the Kats with 60 receptions for 708 yards and 10 touchdowns. He recorded 36 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, and two interceptions, despite missing two late season games due to injury. He was named to the All-Time All-Ironman team for the second time in his career. The Kats once again made their way to the ArenaBowl. In ArenaBowl XV
ArenaBowl XV
- Game summary :The Grand Rapids Rampage scored an ArenaBowl-record 64 points as they sent a sellout crowd home from Van Andel Arena happy with a 64-42 victory over the Nashville Kats to claim their first ArenaBowl title in team history....
in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:...
he recorded one receptions for 11 yards, 2.5 tackles, and one pass broken up.
Georgia Force (2002 - 2003)
In 20022002 Arena Football League season
The 2002 Arena Football League season was the 16th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVI...
, the Nashville Kats folded and moved to Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, and were renamed the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
, similar to the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
/Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
move of 1996, whereas Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
retained the Kats' name, colors, logo, and history.
With the start of the season, Hammond tied the league career record for longest AFL career, at the time it was shared between himself, Sylvester Bembery
Sylvester Bembery
Sylvester Bembery is a former American football lineman in the Arena Football League. Bemery, #78, was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1994–1999, and once again joined the Storm for the 2001 campaign....
(1988
1988 Arena Football League season
The 1988 Arena Football League season was the 2nd season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Detroit Drive, who defeated the Chicago Bruisers in ArenaBowl II.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
-2000) and George LaFrance
George LaFrance
George Herbert LaFrance III is a former Arena Football League Offensive Specialist. In a playing career lasting twelve years, he played for the Detroit Drive , the Tampa Bay Storm , and the New Jersey Red Dogs...
(1988–2000). He finished third on the team with 50 tackles, and had two interceptions. He also led the team with 65 receptions for 620 yards and nine touchdowns.
In 2003
2003 Arena Football League season
The 2003 Arena Football League season was the 17th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVII. The AFL expanded its season to a 16-game schedule...
, Hammond led the team in receptions with 88 for 969 yards, and a career-high 20 touchdowns. He finished fourth on the team in rushing with three carries for 22 yards and one touchdown. On defense, he recorded 33.5 total tackles, three for a loss, three forced fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
s, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions for 13 yards.
Austin Wranglers (2004)
In 20042004 Arena Football League season
The 2004 Arena Football League season was the 18th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVIII...
, Hammond recorded 47 receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
for 427 yards and 12 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s in his only season with the Austin Wranglers
Austin Wranglers
The Austin Wranglers were an arena football team based in Austin, Texas. They played four seasons in the Arena Football League from 2004 to 2007 and spent one season in AF2, the AFL's developmental league, in 2008. They made playoff appearances in the AFL in 2006 and in AF2 in 2008...
. He recorded 25 tackles and three fumble recoveries. He also carried the ball nine times for 14 yards and a touchdown. He also earned Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Ironman of the Game honors twice. He was Injured early in the season and spent four weeks on injured reserve.
Nashville Kats (2005 - 2006)
In 20052005 Arena Football League season
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the...
, Hammond joined the restart Nashville Kats
Nashville Kats
The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to Atlanta in 2002...
for his final two seasons as a player. In his 15th season, he was named to the league’s All-Ironman team. He finished as the Kats’ second-leading receiver, recording 66 receptions for 632 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had seven carries for 10 yards and one touchdown. He also finished with 42.5 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
In 2006
2006 Arena Football League season
The 2006 Arena Football League season was the 20th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Chicago Rush, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XX....
, Hammond recorded 21 tackles, one sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, two passes broken up, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions, one for a touchdown. He also recorded 13 receptions for 149 yards, and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball seven times for 10 yards and three touchdowns and had three kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
returns for nine yards.
Outside of football
Hammond is an avid golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er. Also, in 2004, he appeared as Michael Irvin's stunt double on the set of the Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
movie The Longest Yard
The Longest Yard (2005 film)
The Longest Yard is a 2005 American sports comedy film remake of the 1974 film of the same name. Adam Sandler plays the protagonist, Paul Crewe, a disgraced former professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL, who is coerced to form a team from the prison inmates to play...
, and plays Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Harold Carmichael in the Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an American actor, film and television producer, and former rapper. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years, and became famous for his 1991 debut as a musician with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. He was named No. 1 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of...
film, Invincible
Invincible (2006 film)
Invincible is a 2006 family film directed by Ericson Core set in 1976. It is based on the true story of Vince Papale, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976–78. Mark Wahlberg portrays Papale and Greg Kinnear plays Papale's coach, Dick Vermeil...
. He was the volleyball coach in Hannah Montana "The Movie" 2009 also.
He also served as an assistant football coach at The Ensworth School
The Ensworth School
The Ensworth School is a private school located on two separate campuses in Nashville, Tennessee.The original school, with grades "pre-first" through eighth, opened in 1958 with 152 students. The school opened in a large Tudor-style home; its distinctive architecture became a symbol of the school...
in Nashville in the fall of 2005.
Hammond is currently serving as a STARS counselor as well as an assistant football coach for the Independence High School Football team in Thompson's Station, TN.