Jon Staggers

Last updated
Jon Staggers
No. 2, 22, 86
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1948-12-14) December 14, 1948 (age 74)
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Career information
College: University of Missouri
NFL Draft: 1970  / Round: 5 / Pick: 105
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:93
Receiving yards:1380
Touchdowns:7
Player stats at NFL.com

Jonathan Leroy Staggers, Jr. (born December 14, 1948 in Richmond, Virginia) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was a star football player for Helias High School in Jefferson City, Missouri. He starred as a running back/wide receiver at the University of Missouri before playing six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Green Bay Packers, and the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He is the first cousin of tennis great Arthur Ashe. [1] [2] [3] His father, Jonathan Staggers, was a basketball coach at Lincoln University Hayward State University and Claflin College [4]

Contents

NFL career

Staggers started his career with two years with the Pittsburgh Steelers: 1970 and 1971. The Steelers drafted him out of the University of Missouri in the 5th round (the 105th pick overall) in 1970. This was the same draft in which the Steelers picked two future Pro Football Hall of Famers: Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount. [5] Shortly before the start of the 1972 season, the Steelers waived Staggers and the Green Bay Packers claimed him on September 13, 1972. [6]

Staggers played for the Packers from 1972-1974. 1973 and 1974 proved to be the most productive seasons of his career. Staggers led the Packers both seasons in both receiving yardage and punt return yardage. [7] [8] His 85 yard punt return for a touchdown against the Houston Oilers in 1972 was the longest punt return that season. [9] But with the Packers under the new management of Bart Starr, Staggers lost his wide receiver starting job to Ken Payne, and his punt return job to rookie Willard Harrell, and the Packers waived him shortly before the start of the season. The Detroit Lions claimed him off of waivers on September 22, 1975. [10] [11] Staggers played in 5 games as a wide receiver for the Lions, starting in 4. Unlike with the Steelers and Packers, however, he was not used as a punt returner in Detroit. [12]

Post-career honors

The 1969 University of Missouri Tigers football team, of which Staggers was a member, was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. The Associated Press ranked them as the #6 team in the nation at the close of the season. The team was coached by Dan Devine, who would later coach Staggers with the Packers. [13] Staggers was one of five members of the 1969 Tigers to play in the NFL, including wide receiver Mel Gray. [14]

Post-NFL life

After an injury led to his retirement from pro football, Staggers spent six years working as an actor at the American Conservatory Theater. Since 1998, he has been a Breema instructor and practitioner in the San Francisco Bay Area. He studied under spiritual teacher Dr. Jean Klein and Way of the Peaceful Warrior author Dan Millman. [15] He also serves on the Players Advisory Board of the Northern California Chapter of the National Football League Alumni. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Farrior</span> American football player (born 1975)

James Alfred Farrior is a former American football linebacker who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Virginia. He played with the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and earned two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Rossum</span> American football player (born 1975)

Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum is a former American football cornerback and return specialist. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Brown (cornerback)</span> American football player and coach (1953–2006)

David Steven Brown was an American football player and coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XLV</span> 2011 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl XLV was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Green Bay Packers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2010 season. The Packers defeated the Steelers by the score of 31–25. The game was played on February 6, 2011, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the first time the Super Bowl was played in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

The 1974 NFL draft took place at the Americana Hotel in New York City, New York, on January 29–30, 1974. Each of the 26 NFL teams were granted 17 selections for a total of 442 picks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacoby Jones</span> American football player (born 1984)

Jacoby Rashi'd Jones is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist. He played college football at Lane College, and was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played for the Texans from 2007 to 2011. Jones then played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2012 to 2014, and was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2012. He is known for two of the most memorable plays in the 2012 NFL playoffs as a member of the Ravens: catching a 70-yard game-tying touchdown pass in the final seconds of regulation in the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Denver Broncos, which helped lead the Ravens to an eventual 38–35 double overtime victory; and a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers, the longest play in Super Bowl history. He also played for the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015 and the Monterrey Steel of the National Arena League in 2017.

Willard Harrell is a former college and professional American football running back.

Alvin Kent Nix is a former American football player who played professionally as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Christian University (TCU). Nix is the son of Emery Nix, who played for the New York Giants in 1943 and 1946.

Steve John Duich is a former American football guard in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at San Diego State University.

Richard Clifton "Rich" Moore is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League who played 20 games for the Green Bay Packers. In 1969, the Green Bay Packers used the 12th pick in the 1st round of the 1969 NFL Draft to sign Moore out of Villanova University. He had previously been named as a first-team tackle on the East Coast Athletic Conference all-conference team in 1968, his senior season at Villanova. Moore went on to play for two seasons with the Packers. He tore an Achilles tendon in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970 season, and had surgery shortly thereafter, putting him out for the season. After trying him on offense during training camp in 1971, the Packers traded him to the New England Patriots for linebacker John Bramlett in late July 1971. However, Moore was unable to play for the Patriots in 1971 due to injury. He was then released by the Patriots in June 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordy Nelson</span> American football player (born 1985)

Jordy Ray Nelson is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League for 11 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Kansas State, where he received All-American honors, and was drafted by Green Bay in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. During his tenure in Green Bay, he won Super Bowl XLV with the team over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 season. After spending 10 seasons in Green Bay, he played one year with the Oakland Raiders before announcing his retirement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randall Cobb (American football)</span> American football player (born 1990)

Randall Ladonald Cobb II is an American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kentucky, and was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He also played one season each for the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Brown</span> American football player (born 1988)

Antonio Tavaris Brown Sr., nicknamed "AB", is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent, and rapper. Raised in Liberty City, Miami, Brown attended Miami Norland High School. He played college football at Central Michigan University, where he earned All-American honors in 2008 and 2009 as a punt returner. A draft steal in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brown is regarded as one of the best receivers of the 2010s, accumulating the most first-team All-Pro selections at his position throughout the decade with four consecutive selections (2014–2017), all as a member of the Steelers. He amassed more receptions than any other player in the league from his rookie season in 2010 through 2018. He is the current chair president of Kanye West's sports fashion line Donda Sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Masthay</span> American football player (born 1987)

Timothy James Masthay is a former American football punter. He played college football at Kentucky. Masthay was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He has also played for the Green Bay Packers and later won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers over his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Masthay was nicknamed "Ginger Wolverine" by his Packers teammates for his long red sideburns.

Dave Dunaway (1945–2001) was a wide receiver in the National Football League.

Leland Glass is a former wide receiver in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers.

James Ronald McBride is a former American football player. A running back, he played in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers.

John Spilis is a former wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1969 NFL Draft and played three seasons with the team.

Damarea Crockett is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Missouri, and was originally signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darrius Shepherd</span> American football player (born 1995)

Darrius Allen Shepherd is an American football wide receiver for the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL. He played college football at North Dakota State, and was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

References

  1. ↑ Bill Beck, "Healthy Staggers Gives Mizzou New Dimension." St. Louis Post Dispatch 14 Nov. 1967: 30. Web.
  2. ↑ Donovan, Dan (May 18, 1972). "Ashe Builds Strong Game on Tennis Court". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  3. ↑ countrycal (8 July 2013). "Mizzou's Greatest, #52: Mizzou vs. Alabama, The 1968 Gator Bowl Th". SB Nation. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ Bob Priddy, "Heroes and bums". The Missourinet Blog, April 13, 2014. Available online: https://blog.missourinet.com/2014/04/13/heroes-and-bums/ . Downloaded August 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ Ultimate1970s.com, "1970 Pittsburgh Steelers: 5-9-0." Available online: https://www.ultimate70s.com/nfl_roster/PIT/1970/N Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ Ultimate70s.com, "1972 Pittsburgh Steelers: 11-3-0". Available online: https://www.ultimate70s.com/nfl_roster/PIT/1972/N . Downloaded August 21, 2020.
  7. ↑ Pro Football Reference.com, "1973 Green Bay Packers Statistics & Players". Available online: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/1973.htm . Downloaded August 21, 2020.
  8. ↑ Pro Football Reference.com, "1974 Green Bay Packers Statistics and Players". Available online: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/1973.htm . Downloaded August 21, 2020.
  9. ↑ Joe Zagorski, SEASON OF CHANGE: THE 1972 PACKERS". The Coffin Corner Annual, v. 10, 1988. Available online: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/10-An-358.pdf Downloaded August 21, 2020
  10. ↑ Ultimate70s.com, "1975 Green Bay Packers: 4-10-0". Available online: https://www.ultimate70s.com/nfl_roster/GB/1975/N. Downloaded August 21, 2020.
  11. ↑ Pro Football Reference.com. "1975 Green Bay Packers Statistics & Players". Available online: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/1975.htm . Downloaded August 21, 2020.
  12. ↑ Pro Football Reference.com, "1975 Detroit Lions Statistics and Players". Available online: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1975.htm. Downloaded August 21, 2020.
  13. ↑ Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, "1969 University of Missouri Football Team". Available online: https://mosportshalloffame.com/inductees/1969-university-of-missouri-football-team/ . Downloaded August 22, 2020.
  14. ↑ Sports Reference.com. "1969 Missouri Tigers: Roster". Available online: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/missouri/1969-roster.html . Downloaded August 24, 2020.
  15. ↑ Jonathan L Staggers, LinkedIn profile. Available online: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-l-staggers-67bb7030/ Downloaded August 22, 2020.
  16. ↑ Northern California Chapter, NFL Alumni Association, "Players Advisory Board". Available online: http://nocal.nflalumni.org/about-us/board-of-directors/. Downloaded August 22, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.