Jerry Eckwood
Encyclopedia
Jerry Eckwood is a former NFL running back
. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
from 1979–1981, and was a key member of the Buccaneers team that made the first playoff appearance in franchise history in 1979. Eckwood played collegiately for the Arkansas Razorbacks
from 1975–78.
, rushing for 2616 yards in 1973. He was signed to a scholarship with the Arkansas Razorbacks by then-head coach Frank Broyles
.
. Eckwood was named 1st Team All Southwest Conference in 1975, rushing for 792 yards on 104 carries. His 7.62 yards per carry that season remained a school record until shattered by Felix Jones
in 2007. Eckwood had six 100-yard rushing games in his Razorback career, five of those games occurring in 1975.
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ahead of notable players such as NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana
and Pro Bowl
ers Kenny King
, William Andrews, and Tony Franklin. Eckwood shared the backfield with quarterback Doug Williams and running back Ricky Bell
. In 1979, Eckwood was the Buccaneers' second- leading rusher with 690 yards on 194 carries. He was, at the time, one of only 11 running backs to have gained 100 yards in his first professional game. Tampa Bay made the first playoff appearance in franchise history in 1979, advancing to NFC Championship Game
, losing to the Los Angeles Rams 9-0. Eckwood's 42-yard option pass
to Larry Mucker
was the Bucs' longest play of the game.
to the Dallas Cowboys
. Eckwood rushed 515 times for 1845 yards (3.6 avg.) and six touchdowns in his 3-year NFL career and was the starter in 30 of the 47 games he played in, all with the Buccaneers. He also caught 93 passes for 956 yards (10.3 avg.) and one touchdown.
who signed to play football with the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions after catching 108 passes in the 2008 season for Springdale High School
.
Eckwood suffered several concussions while playing in the NFL and in college. Since leaving the NFL, Eckwood has struggled with mental illness, and was committed to the Arkansas State Hospital http://www.arkansas.gov/dhs/dmhs/ar_state_hospital.htm for several years. He currently suffers from dementia
, and is housed in an assisted living
facility. Former Buccaneers president Gay Culverhouse
has assisted with his medical care and has cited him as an example of the mistreatment NFL players receive from their employers. Culverhouse recalled warning signs of Eckwood's future mental problems, citing times where he went to the wrong huddle or bench during games. Eckwood, who can no longer drive or live on his own, was recently approved to participate in Plan 88, an NFL program for former players suffering from various dementia-related symptoms, such as hallucinations forgetfulness, paranoia, and the inability to process new information. Eckwood was also approved by the NFL to receive annual benefits of $136,000 for the remainder of his life.Retrieved 6 Aug. 2011
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
from 1979–1981, and was a key member of the Buccaneers team that made the first playoff appearance in franchise history in 1979. Eckwood played collegiately for the Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
from 1975–78.
High school career
Eckwood was a highly recruited running back out of Brinkley, ArkansasBrinkley, Arkansas
Brinkley is the most populous city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,940 at the 2000 census.It is located almost exactly half-way between Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee; the city has used the slogan "We'll Meet You Half-Way" in some of its advertising...
, rushing for 2616 yards in 1973. He was signed to a scholarship with the Arkansas Razorbacks by then-head coach Frank Broyles
Frank Broyles
John Franklin Broyles is a former American football player and coach, athletics administrator, and broadcaster. He served as the head football coach the University of Missouri in 1957 and at the University of Arkansas from 1958 to 1976...
.
Collegiate career
Eckwood played for the Razorbacks from 1975–78, and was a three-year letterman ('75, '76, '78), playing both for Broyles and Lou HoltzLou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
. Eckwood was named 1st Team All Southwest Conference in 1975, rushing for 792 yards on 104 carries. His 7.62 yards per carry that season remained a school record until shattered by Felix Jones
Felix Jones
Felix Jones is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. After playing college football and majoring in kinesiology at the University of Arkansas, he was drafted by the Cowboys 22nd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft...
in 2007. Eckwood had six 100-yard rushing games in his Razorback career, five of those games occurring in 1975.
1979 Season
After completing his eligibility with the Razorbacks, Eckwood was taken in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft1979 NFL Draft
The 1979 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 May 3–4, 1979...
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ahead of notable players such as NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
and Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
ers Kenny King
Kenny King (running back)
Kenneth Leon King is a former American football running back who played seven seasons in the National Football League, mainly with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. He was a starter for the Raiders in Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XVIII....
, William Andrews, and Tony Franklin. Eckwood shared the backfield with quarterback Doug Williams and running back Ricky Bell
Ricky Bell (running back)
Ricky Lynn Bell younger brother of recording artist Archie Bell, was an American professional football player who played running back in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers from 1977 to 1982...
. In 1979, Eckwood was the Buccaneers' second- leading rusher with 690 yards on 194 carries. He was, at the time, one of only 11 running backs to have gained 100 yards in his first professional game. Tampa Bay made the first playoff appearance in franchise history in 1979, advancing to NFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1979-80
The NFL playoffs following the 1979 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIV.Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season , the Dallas Cowboys did not play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.-AFC: Houston Oilers 13,...
, losing to the Los Angeles Rams 9-0. Eckwood's 42-yard option pass
Halfback option play
The halfback option play is an unorthodox play in American football. It resembles a normal running play, but the running back has the option to throw a pass to a wide receiver or tight end before crossing the line of scrimmage....
to Larry Mucker
Larry Mucker
Larry Donnell Mucker is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the ninth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State.-References:...
was the Bucs' longest play of the game.
1980 Season
In 1980, Eckwood was again second in rushing with 504 yards, and was also second on the team with 47 receptions. He fell into some disfavor during this season, after fumbling at key points of four of the team's losses.1981 Season
In 1981, Eckwood led the Buccaneers in rushing with 651 yards on 172 carries (3.8 avg.). In Eckwood's final NFL season, Tampa Bay finished with a 9-7 record, losing in the first round of the 1981 NFL playoffsNFL playoffs, 1981-82
The NFL playoffs following the 1981 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XVI. Both conference champions had losing records the previous season, the only time this has happened. All four of the AFC playoff games were between teams who had never faced each other in the postseason before...
to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Eckwood rushed 515 times for 1845 yards (3.6 avg.) and six touchdowns in his 3-year NFL career and was the starter in 30 of the 47 games he played in, all with the Buccaneers. He also caught 93 passes for 956 yards (10.3 avg.) and one touchdown.
Post-career
Eckwood was selected the 77th greatest player in Buccaneer history in 2007. Eckwood's nephew, LaDarius Eckwood is a wide receiverWide 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...
who signed to play football with the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions after catching 108 passes in the 2008 season for Springdale High School
Springdale High School
Springdale High School is a public high school in Springdale, Arkansas, United States for students in grades ten through twelve. Springdale High School is one of two high schools administered by the Springdale School District, the other being Har-Ber High School. SHS is also an IB World School...
.
Eckwood suffered several concussions while playing in the NFL and in college. Since leaving the NFL, Eckwood has struggled with mental illness, and was committed to the Arkansas State Hospital http://www.arkansas.gov/dhs/dmhs/ar_state_hospital.htm for several years. He currently suffers from dementia
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
, and is housed in an assisted living
Assisted living
Assisted living residences or assisted living facilities provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living ; coordination of services by outside health care providers; and monitoring of resident activities to help to ensure their health, safety, and well-being.Assistance may...
facility. Former Buccaneers president Gay Culverhouse
Gay Culverhouse
Dr. Gay Culverhouse is the former President of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Notre Dame College. She served as President of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She founded the Gay Culverhouse Players Outreach Program,Inc. which assists retired NFL players access the benefits to which they may be entitled....
has assisted with his medical care and has cited him as an example of the mistreatment NFL players receive from their employers. Culverhouse recalled warning signs of Eckwood's future mental problems, citing times where he went to the wrong huddle or bench during games. Eckwood, who can no longer drive or live on his own, was recently approved to participate in Plan 88, an NFL program for former players suffering from various dementia-related symptoms, such as hallucinations forgetfulness, paranoia, and the inability to process new information. Eckwood was also approved by the NFL to receive annual benefits of $136,000 for the remainder of his life.Retrieved 6 Aug. 2011