Eric Metcalf


Eric Quinn Metcalf is a former American football player who was primarily known as a return specialist, but played running back and wide receiver in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection for the Browns and the Chargers. He was also the 1988 US Track and Field Champion in the long jump and a two-time NCAA Champion in the same event at the University of Texas.

High school career

Metcalf attended Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington County, Virginia. In high school Metcalf competed in both football and track and field.

College career

Metcalf attended and played college football at the University of Texas at Austin where he was an All-Southwest Conference selection three times. He was the 1987 Southwest Conference player of the year and a second team All-American. He is the only player in Texas history to lead the team in all-purpose yards all four years. He holds every school receiving record for a running back.
Metcalf also had a distinguished career in track and field. In high school, he was a standout long jumper and sprinter, and still has the seventh longest distance ever posted indoors by an American high schooler with a jump of 7.75 meters. He also recorded personal-bests of 10.54 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.34 in the 200 meters.
He set the University of Texas at Austin's long jump record at 8.44 meters. He won the NCAA National Long Jump Championship in 1986 and 1988 and the SWC Long Jump titles in 1986 and 1987. He was also the Us Jr. National Long Jump Champion in 1986 and 1987. He earned the distinction of being a five-time All-American and in 1988 competed in the USA Olympic Trials, finishing 8th overall.

Professional career

A multi-talented player, Metcalf excelled at offense and as a returner on special teams. In his second NFL season, he led the league in kickoff return yards and return touchdowns. He also led the NFL in punt return touchdowns in four different seasons. Overall, Metcalf finished his career with 2,392 rushing yards, 541 receptions for 5,572 yards, 3,453 punt return yards, and 5,813 yards returning kickoffs. This gave him a total of 17,230 all-purpose yards, ranking him among the NFL's top 10 in that category at the time of his retirement. He also scored 55 touchdowns. His 12 returns for touchdowns are the third most in NFL history behind Devin Hester and Brian Mitchell. Metcalf's 10 punt return touchdowns were an NFL record, until October 2, 2011 when Devin Hester broke it against the Carolina Panthers. He is the only player ever to have 7,000+ yards on offense and 7,000+ yards on kickoff/punt returns.
Metcalf was traded along with two first round and one second round draft pick by the San Diego Chargers to the Arizona Cardinals for moving one spot in the 1998 NFL Draft to pick quarterback Ryan Leaf.

NFL statistics

Receiving statistics
YearTeamGamesReceptionsYardsYards per ReceptionLongest ReceptionTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1989CLE16543977.4684000
1990CLE16574527.9351000
1991CLE82929410.14501300
1992CLE164761413.16952521
1993CLE16635398.64922111
1994CLE16474369.35732122
1995ATL161041,18911.46285300
1996ATL165459911.16763300
1997SD164057614.46222411
1998ARI163132410.52901800
1999CAR161113312.1330600
2001WSH104194.890000
Career1795415,57210.3693121465

Returning statistics
YearTeamGamesPunt Return AttemptsPunt Return YardsPunts Returned for TouchdownPunts Fair CaughtLongest Punt ReturnKickoff Return AttemptsKickoff Return YardsKickoffs Returned for TouchdownKickoffs Fair CaughtLongest Kickoff Return
1989CLE1600000317180049
1990CLE1600000521,05220101
1991CLE8121000130233510024
1992CLE16444291107591570030
1993CLE163646421191153180047
1994CLE1635348269292100032
1995ATL163938311466122780047
1996ATL16272960939491,0340055
1997SD16454893885163550063
1998ARI16432950724571,2180059
1999CAR1634238018304560031
2001WSH103341215891250025
2002GB13-10002410021
Career1793513,4531089922805,81320101

Rushing statistics
YearTeamGamesCarriesYardsYards per CarryLongest CarryTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1989CLE161876333.4436000
1990CLE16802483.1171000
1991CLE8301073.6150300
1992CLE16733014.13111211
1993CLE161296114.75512522
1994CLE16933293.53721210
1995ATL16281334.8231800
1996ATL16382.740000
1997SD163-5-1.720000
1999CAR1622010.0170100
2002GB1273.550100
Career1796302,3923.855126243

Personal life

Metcalf coached football at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Washington; in the 2005-2006 season he helped lead the team to the state semi-finals. He also started an elite high school track and field club called Seatown Express. Metcalf has also assisted with coaching the University of Washington track and field team.
Eric is the son of former NFL player Terry Metcalf.