Fred McAfee

Last updated

Fred McAfee
No. 25, 35, 26, 30
Position: Running back / Special teamer
Personal information
Born: (1968-06-20) June 20, 1968 (age 56)
Philadelphia, Mississippi, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school: Philadelphia (MS)
College: Mississippi College
NFL draft: 1991  / round: 6 / pick: 154
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:304
Rushing yards:1,273
Rushing touchdowns:8
Receptions:35
Receiving yards:211
Return yards:2,412
Player stats at PFR

Fred Lee McAfee (born June 20, 1968) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) He played for the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Contents

Early life

McAfee attended Philadelphia High School (Mississippi) and was a student and a letterman in football & track. In football, he won All-District honors. In track, he was a two-time state champion in the pole vault. McAfee graduated high school in 1986. Fred is also a first cousin to legendary running back Marcus Dupree, and was the Philadelphia High School Football team's ball boy during Dupree's renowned years. A person featured in the ESPN "30 for 30" series about Marcus Dupree says that a young McAfee would give away or sell Dupree's torn game jerseys.

McAfee graduated with a degree in mass communication from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi and played for the Choctaws football team in Division II. He set school records for rushing yards, attempts and rushing touchdowns. He led the Choctaws to the 1989 Gulf South Conference football champion, which was later vacated as punishment for recruiting violations, and earned All-American (D-II) honors. [1]

Professional career

McAfee was selected by the Saints in the 1991 NFL draft. [2] He is the first player in Saints franchise history to be on the roster for three (1991, 2000, 2006) of the team's division titles. The 1991 season was his most prolific, offensively, as he rushed for a career-high 109 times for 494 yards and two touchdowns.

During the 1994 season, McAfee played for the Arizona Cardinals for seven games, then was released. On November 9, 1994, McAfee signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who he would play for until the 1999 season, where he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. While he was with the Steelers, he played in Super Bowl XXX, which the Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27–17.

However, less than a month after signing with the Chiefs, he was released. On December 28, 1999, McAfee signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During the 1999 season, McAfee played in only one game, and in October 2000, McAfee signed with the team that drafted him back in 1991, the New Orleans Saints. Throughout his second stint with the Saints, McAfee re-signed and declared free agency numerous times with the Saints. He was elected to go to the Pro Bowl in 2002 for his special team efforts. He was also known around the team for his tremendous work ethic, being a leader on and off the football field, and bringing a camaraderie to the locker room. During his second stint with the Saints, for 6 seasons, McAfee had only seven attempts for 117 yards. On August 28, 2006, McAfee was cut by the New Orleans Saints, thus making him a free agent eligible to sign with any NFL team. McAfee was re-signed by the Saints on November 21, 2006. On December 27, McAfee was waived by the Saints. Two days later, he was re-signed by the Saints and scored a touchdown on December 31, 2006, against the Carolina Panthers. This was McAfee's first NFL touchdown since October 26, 1998, which was on a blocked punt and his first rushing/offensive touchdown since September 10, 1995,

A few weeks later, on January 10, 2007, McAfee was placed on the Injured Reserve list by the Saints, reportedly to make roster room for newly signed place kicker Billy Cundiff. On May 25, 2007, the Saints announced they would hire him as director of player programs. [3] [4]

Career statistics

Rushing statistics [5]

YearTeamGamesCarriesYardsYards per CarryLongest CarryTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1991 NO 91094944.53422300
1992 NO 14391142.9191800
1993 NO 15511603.1271711
1994 ARI 72-5-2.521110
1994 PIT 616563.5131500
1995 PIT 16391564.02211100
1996 PIT 147172.450000
1997 PIT 1413413.290111
1998 PIT 14181116.2140500
2000 NO 1223718.5400100
2001 NO 16122.020000
2002 NO 1111111.0110100
2003 NO 1411313.0130100
2004 NO 1125427.0530100
2006 NO 43124.061100
Career1933041,2734.25386632

Receiving statistics [5]

YearTeamGamesReceptionsYardsYards per ReceptionLongest ReceptionTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1991 NO 9188.080000
1992 NO 1411616.0160100
1993 NO 15133.030000
1994 ARI 7144.040000
1995 PIT 1615885.9180200
1996 PIT 145214.290100
1997 PIT 1424422.0300200
1998 PIT 149273.0110100
Career193352116.0300700

Kickoff return statistics [5]

YearTeamGamesAttemptsYardsTouchdownsFair CatchesLongest Return
1991 NO 91140014
1992 NO 14193930038
1993 NO 15285800055
1994 ARI 771130029
1995 PIT 165560025
1998 PIT 141100025
2000 NO 12102510052
2001 NO 1661440034
2002 NO 112690051
2003 NO 1491400023
2004 NO 1181370026
2005 NO 16224850034
2006 NO 41200020
Career1591192,4120055

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References

  1. ↑ "Fred McAfee to be Featured Speaker at Mississippi College Athletics Dinner". gscsports.org. August 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ "1991 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Saints hire Fred McAfee to help players with off-the-field needs".
  4. ↑ "Vet RB McAfee accepts job in Saints front office". May 26, 2007.
  5. 1 2 3 "Fred McAfee Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
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