William Fuller (American football)
Encyclopedia
William Henry Fuller, Jr. (born March 8, 1962) is a retired American football
player who played defensive end
for 13 seasons in the National Football League
(NFL). Fuller played college football
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
(UNC) and professionally for the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the United States Football League
(USFL), and the Houston Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles
, and San Diego Chargers
of the NFL. Fuller was one of the better pass rushers in the NFL during his time in the league and finished his career with 100.5 sacks
. He was named to the Pro Bowl
four times and selected as an All-American twice while in college. During his career and after his retirement, Fuller has also done considerable work in raising funds for diabetes research.
. He grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia
and attended Indian River High School, where he lettered in track, basketball, and football. Fuller graduated from Indian River in 1980, and went on to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Fuller played defensive line for the Tar Heels, and recorded nine sacks and 22 tackles for loss as a sophomore. As a senior he had 81 tackles, a team-leading five sacks, and 22 tackles for loss. For his efforts that season he was awarded All-America
and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC) honors as well as UNC's defensive Most Valuable Player
award. Fuller was also a finalist for the Lombardi
and Outland Trophies
, special awards designated only for linemen. While at UNC, Fuller helped lead the Tar Heels to three bowl game
s, made the All-ACC team three times, and the All-America team twice (1982
and 1983
). He graduated in 1986 with a degree in psychology
. Fuller was later inducted into UNC's sports hall of fame, and selected as a member of the ACC's 50th Anniversary Football Team in 2002.
by the Los Angeles Rams
. Fuller decided to play in the USFL with the Stars, where he played for two seasons, winning two USFL championships and playing with future NFL players such as Bart Oates
and Sam Mills
. Fuller was granted free agency by the USFL in 1986 and his rights were subsequently traded by the Rams to the Houston Oilers where he started his career in the NFL. After recording a total of 3 sacks in his first two seasons, Fuller emerged in 1988 and tied for the team lead in sacks with 8.5. He was described as the most improved defensive player on the team by head coach
Jerry Glanville
. After recording 14.5 sacks over 1989 and 1990, Fuller finished tied for second in the NFL with 15 sacks in 1991, and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He followed that up by recording eight and ten sacks, respectively in 1992 and 1993. After the 1993 season Fuller signed a three-year $8 Million contract as a free agent
with the Philadelphia Eagles, in part out of a desire to be closer to his off–season home in Virginia. He subsequently played three stellar seasons in 1994, 1995, and 1996. He recorded 9.5 sacks in his first season there (1994) and set a team record for most consecutive games with a sack at seven. Fuller had 13 sacks in each of the following two seasons (1995 and 1996), and was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons with the Eagles. After the 1996 season Fuller signed a two year $5.6 million dollar contract with the San Diego Chargers, while there his production steeply declined. After two seasons, in which he recorded three sacks each, Fuller retired following the 1998 season. By the time his NFL career ended Fuller had recorded 100.5 sacks becoming one of the few players in NFL history to record more than 100 sacks.
at the time due to diabetes, died. Fuller and his father were very close and had filmed a United Way and the NFL commercial together during the offseason. The commercial, which featured an organization for the blind, was not aired until two days after his father's death. Fuller is also a noted philanthropist, who was actively involved in programs relating to Juvenile diabetes, Special Olympics
, Ronald McDonald House and the Boys' Clubs of America during his time in the NFL. He hosts the William Fuller Tournament in Houston for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. The event has raised over $1 million dollars for research to cure diabetes, and Fuller himself has helped raise over $3 million for diabetes research. Fuller currently owns and operates his own real estate
development company, Fulco Development, which is based in Norfolk. His company is currently working on development projects in the Hampton Roads region. He has also donated his time as an assistant football coach for Frank W. Cox High School
in Virginia Beach. In 2011, Fuller became a radio commentator for the Virginia Destroyers UFL
team.
* Led the American Football Conference
.
** Tied for National Football Conference
lead.
*** Currently # 20 all-time.
Key to Abbreviations
GP= Games Played
Int= Interception
Yds= Yards
t= Play resulted in a touchdown
TD= Touchdowns
FR= Fumbles Recovered
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for 13 seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). Fuller played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
(UNC) and professionally for the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
(USFL), and the Houston Oilers, 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...
, and San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL. Fuller was one of the better pass rushers in the NFL during his time in the league and finished his career with 100.5 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 was named to the 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...
four times and selected as an All-American twice while in college. During his career and after his retirement, Fuller has also done considerable work in raising funds for diabetes research.
Early life and college
Fuller was born in Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. He grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
and attended Indian River High School, where he lettered in track, basketball, and football. Fuller graduated from Indian River in 1980, and went on to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Fuller played defensive line for the Tar Heels, and recorded nine sacks and 22 tackles for loss as a sophomore. As a senior he had 81 tackles, a team-leading five sacks, and 22 tackles for loss. For his efforts that season he was awarded All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference
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...
(ACC) honors as well as UNC's defensive Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
award. Fuller was also a finalist for the Lombardi
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...
and Outland Trophies
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
, special awards designated only for linemen. While at UNC, Fuller helped lead the Tar Heels to three bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s, made the All-ACC team three times, and the All-America team twice (1982
1982 College Football All-America Team
The 1982 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
and 1983
1983 College Football All-America Team
The 1983 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
). He graduated in 1986 with a degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. Fuller was later inducted into UNC's sports hall of fame, and selected as a member of the ACC's 50th Anniversary Football Team in 2002.
Professional career
Fuller was selected by the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL in the 1984 USFL player draft. He was also selected with the 21st selection in the first round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players
The National Football League held a draft of United States Football League and Canadian Football League players on June 5, 1984. In an attempt to head off a bidding war in its own ranks for USFL and CFL players. NFL teams chose 84 players from 224 available during the three-round selection meeting...
by the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. Fuller decided to play in the USFL with the Stars, where he played for two seasons, winning two USFL championships and playing with future NFL players such as Bart Oates
Bart Oates
Bart Steven Oates is a former American football player in the National Football League for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. He played center for the Giants from 1985-93 and with the 49ers from 1994-95...
and Sam Mills
Sam Mills
Samuel Davis "Sam" Mills, Jr. was an American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.-Early life:...
. Fuller was granted free agency by the USFL in 1986 and his rights were subsequently traded by the Rams to the Houston Oilers where he started his career in the NFL. After recording a total of 3 sacks in his first two seasons, Fuller emerged in 1988 and tied for the team lead in sacks with 8.5. He was described as the most improved defensive player on the team by 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...
Jerry Glanville
Jerry Glanville
Jerry Glanville is a former American football player and current head coach of the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League, former NASCAR driver and owner, and sportscaster in the United States. He served the head coach of the Houston Oilers from 1986 to 1990 and the Atlanta Falcons from...
. After recording 14.5 sacks over 1989 and 1990, Fuller finished tied for second in the NFL with 15 sacks in 1991, and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He followed that up by recording eight and ten sacks, respectively in 1992 and 1993. After the 1993 season Fuller signed a three-year $8 Million contract 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....
with the Philadelphia Eagles, in part out of a desire to be closer to his off–season home in Virginia. He subsequently played three stellar seasons in 1994, 1995, and 1996. He recorded 9.5 sacks in his first season there (1994) and set a team record for most consecutive games with a sack at seven. Fuller had 13 sacks in each of the following two seasons (1995 and 1996), and was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons with the Eagles. After the 1996 season Fuller signed a two year $5.6 million dollar contract with the San Diego Chargers, while there his production steeply declined. After two seasons, in which he recorded three sacks each, Fuller retired following the 1998 season. By the time his NFL career ended Fuller had recorded 100.5 sacks becoming one of the few players in NFL history to record more than 100 sacks.
Personal life
Fuller has four daughters by his wife Precilla, Karen (March 9, 1984), Krystal (August 4, 1988), Kimberly (May 31, 1992), and Kalisa (November 28, 1997). Shortly before the 1995 season Fuller's father, who was blindBlindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
at the time due to diabetes, died. Fuller and his father were very close and had filmed a United Way and the NFL commercial together during the offseason. The commercial, which featured an organization for the blind, was not aired until two days after his father's death. Fuller is also a noted philanthropist, who was actively involved in programs relating to Juvenile diabetes, Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
, Ronald McDonald House and the Boys' Clubs of America during his time in the NFL. He hosts the William Fuller Tournament in Houston for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. The event has raised over $1 million dollars for research to cure diabetes, and Fuller himself has helped raise over $3 million for diabetes research. Fuller currently owns and operates his own real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
development company, Fulco Development, which is based in Norfolk. His company is currently working on development projects in the Hampton Roads region. He has also donated his time as an assistant football coach for Frank W. Cox High School
Frank W. Cox High School
Frank W. Cox High School is a secondary school located in the Great Neck subdivision of Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was founded in 1961 as the Northeast Junior High School, but upon opening, it was named after a former superintendent of Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Frank Woodard Cox, who...
in Virginia Beach. In 2011, Fuller became a radio commentator for the Virginia Destroyers UFL
United Football League
United Football League may refer to:*United Football League , an association football league in the Philippines.*United Football League , an American football league which operated from 1961 to 1964...
team.
Career statistics
Sources:| SEASON | TEAM | GP | Sacks | Int | Yds | TD | FR | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Houston | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | Houston | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | Houston | 16 | 8.5 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | Houston | 15 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | Houston | 16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | Houston | 16 | 15* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | Houston | 15 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10t | 1 |
| 1993 | Houston | 16 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | Philadelphia | 16 | 9.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | Philadelphia | 14 | 13 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | Philadelphia | 16 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | San Diego | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | San Diego | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 194 | 100.5 |
2 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 1 | |
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
.
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
lead.
Key to Abbreviations
GP= Games Played
Int= Interception
Yds= Yards
t= Play resulted in a touchdown
TD= Touchdowns
FR= Fumbles Recovered