Randy McMillan

Last updated

Randy McMillan
No. 32
Position: Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1958-12-17) December 17, 1958 (age 65)
Havre De Grace, Maryland, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school: The John Carroll School (1974–75)
North Harford (MD) (1975–77)
College: Harford Community College (1977–78)
Pittsburgh (1979–80)
NFL draft: 1981  / Round: 1 / Pick: 12
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:3,876
Rushing average:3.9
Rushing touchdowns:24
Receptions:164
Receiving yards:1,356
Receiving touchdowns:2
Player stats at PFR

Lewis Lorando "Randy" McMillan (born December 17, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL). McMillan played for the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts from 1981 to 1986. He was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft with the 12th overall pick. McMillan played collegiately for Harford Community College, earning All-American junior college honors, before transferring to the University of Pittsburgh.

Contents

Early life

Randy McMillan was born on December 17, 1958 in Havre De Grace, Maryland and was raised in Jarrettsville, Maryland. McMillan first attended The John Carroll School in Bel Air, Maryland where he played football during his freshman and sophomore years. Before his junior year, he transferred to North Harford High School, [1] where he played football, basketball, and ran track and field. As a senior, McMillan led North Harford in rushing and earned a selection to the 1976 All-American Team. [2]

College career

Harford Community College (1977-1978)

McMillan began his college football career at Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland. As a freshman, McMillan led the Harford Owls to their first undefeated season in team history. He suffered a broken ankle in the final game of the season. [3] McMillan led the team in rushing with 1,002 yards and earned Maryland Junior College All-Region and All-State honors. [4]

As a sophomore at Harford, McMillan again led the Owls to an undefeated season. His impressive stats of 187 carries for 1,546 yards (8.2 yard average) and 20 touchdowns earned him All-Region, All-State, and National Junior College All-American honors. [5] Following his sophomore year at Harford, McMillan received a scholarship to continue his college football career at the University of Pittsburgh. [6]

University of Pittsburgh (1978-1979)

In his Pitt debut, McMillan recorded 12 carries for 141 yards to defeat Kansas 24-0. [7] McMillan and freshman quarterback Dan Marino led the Panthers to an 11-1 record and finished the season ranked number seven in the AP poll. The Panthers defeated Arizona 16-10 in the 1979 Fiesta Bowl. McMillan finished his junior year with 721 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns. [8]

Pitt had high expectations coming into McMillan's senior season, with the Panthers ranked #3 in the AP preseason poll. [9] Pitt and McMillan had a poor opening game to the season. McMillan fumbled twice and Marino threw five interceptions in close-call win against Boston College. [10] The Panthers recovered from their slow start to go 11-1 for the second consecutive season. The team's final regular season game was a matchup against #5 ranked Penn State, which they won 14-9. [9] Pitt earned a spot in the 1980 Gator Bowl against #18 ranked South Carolina, winning 37-9. In the Gator Bowl victory, McMillan had one touchdown run and one touchdown reception from quarterback Rick Trocano. McMillan again led Pitt in rushing with 633 yards and nine touchdowns. [9] He earned an Honorable Mention in the 1980 All-America voting. [11]

In the lead up to the 1981 NFL draft, McMillan was projected as the first fullback to be selected. [12]

Professional career

McMillan was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft with the 12th overall selection. McMillan grew up near Baltimore, and was considered a hometown selection by fans. [13]

Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts (1981-1986)

1981 season

McMillan joined a Colts backfield occupied by 1980 first round draft pick Curtis Dickey. Baltimore hoped to combine Dickey's speed with McMillan's toughness. In his rookie season, McMillan and the Colts went 2-14 with their only two wins coming in the first and last weeks of the season against the New England Patriots. Despite the team's poor performance McMillan started all 16 games and amassed 149 rushes for 597 yards and three touchdowns, adding 50 receptions for 466 yards and one touchdown. Dickey and McMillan combined for the majority of the lowly Colts' offensive production. [14]

1982 season

In the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season, Dickey suffered lingering injuries that provided McMillan more opportunities. McMillan again started all nine games of the truncated season, with 101 carries for 305 yards and one touchdown. McMillan's lone touchdown came in the Colts week 15 tie against the Green Bay Packers. McMillan plunged for a one-yard touchdown run to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, giving the Colts their only non-loss of the season. [15] The Colts went 0-8-1 and became only the third team since the AFL-NFL merger to finish the season winless. [16]

1983 season

In 1983, McMillan started all 16 games and recorded 198 carries for 802 yards and five touchdowns, with 24 receptions for 195 yards and one touchdown. His best game of the season came in week nine against the Philadelphia Eagles. McMillan had 19 carries for 109 yards and one touchdown. McMillan and Dickey combined for 1,924 rushing yards, most in the AFC and second-most in the NFL. [17] The Colts finished the season at 7-9.

In March 1984, Colts owner Robert Irsay relocated the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis. McMillan remained with the Colts in their new city.

1984 season

In the Colts first season in Indianapolis, McMillan started in all 16 contests - adding to his streak of 57 consecutive starts. McMillan led the team in rushing with 163 rushing attempts for 705 yards and five touchdowns. In the Colts' week 5 victory over the Buffalo Bills, McMillan had 16 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns. The Dickey-McMillan tandem continued to produce on the field, but the Colts faltered and ended the season at 4-12. [18]

1985 season

The 1985 season was another disappointing output for the Colts. Under first-year coach Rod Dowhower, the team finished 5-11 and missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. [19] McMillan posted his best statistical season, leading the team in rushing for the third time, with 190 carries for 858 yards and seven touchdowns. He split rushing duties with running back George Wonsley, as Curtis Dickey was sidelined with injuries before being released mid-season.

1986 season

McMillan's final season in Indianapolis saw the team start at 0-13 before winning their final three games under interim coach Ron Meyer. McMillan had a poor start to the season, and did not score until week eight against the Miami Dolphins. His best game of the season came in the Colts' week 10 loss to the New England Patriots. McMillan had 20 carries for 76 yards and one touchdown. McMillan led the team in rushing for the second straight year, with 189 attempts for 609 yards and three touchdowns. [20]

Leg injury

On April 26, 1987, McMillan was struck by a car while trying to cross the road near his home in Timonium, Maryland. He fractured his leg and received lacerations on his face. His injuries required surgery, with a rod being placed in his leg. [21]

McMillan missed the entire 1987 NFL season due to his injuries. Throughout the season, McMillan and his agent feuded with Colts owner Robert Irsay over payments and access to the Colts training complex for rehabilitation. [22] While McMillan was away, the Colts traded with the Los Angeles Rams for star running back Eric Dickerson. The combination of Dickerson's arrival and McMillan's injury led to him being cut by the team in August 1988. [23]

McMillan left the Colts as their then-fifth all-time leading rusher, with 3,876 rushing yards. [23]

Miami Dolphins (1988)

After being released by the Colts, McMillan was signed by the Miami Dolphins on August 11, 1988. He spent two weeks with the Dolphins before he was released on August 25, 1988. [24]

Professional statistics

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
1981 BAL 16161495974.0423504669.3311
1982 BAL 991013053.013115906.0170
1983 BAL 16161988024.1395241958.1271
1984 IND 16161637054.33151920110.6440
1985 IND 15141908584.5387221155.2170
1986 IND 16161896093.2283342898.5450
Career 88879903,8763.942241641,3568.3452

Personal life

Following the end to his professional football career, McMillan managed a health club in White Marsh, Maryland.

In 2002, McMillan fell asleep at the wheel of his car, crashing into a guardrail. He suffered a spinal injury. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 Klingaman, Mike (December 11, 2009). "Looking for a healing touch". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Athletes Recognized". The Aegis. February 10, 1977. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Harford Owls Nail Down First Unbeaten Season, Wesley Crew Wilts, 14-7". The Aegis. November 24, 1977. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Harford Owls Dominate All-Star Grid Voting". The Aegis. December 15, 1977. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Harford Dominates Region XX Grid Statistics". The Aegis. November 30, 1978. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  6. ↑ "McMillan, Owls' Fullback, Inks Pact with Pitt". The Aegis. December 14, 1978. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  7. ↑ Smizik, Bob (September 16, 1979). "Panthers 'Still' Jayhawks, 24-0". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  8. ↑ "1979 Pitt Panthers Stats". Sports Reference CFB. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "1980 Pitt Panthers Stats". Sports Reference CFB. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  10. ↑ Smizik, Bob (September 14, 1980). "Pitt 'Pretenders' Escape With 14-6 Victory". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  11. ↑ "1982 Baltimore Colts media guide". Colts.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  12. ↑ Fisher, Bill (March 22, 1981). "Shorts on Sports". Lancaster Sunday News. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  13. ↑ Miller, Jim (April 28, 1981). "Colts tap McMillan, Thompson in NFL draft". The Evening Sun. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Randy McMillan". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Colts - December 19th, 1982". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  16. ↑ "1982 Baltimore Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  17. ↑ "1984 Indianapolis Colts media guide". Colts.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  18. ↑ "1984 Indianapolis Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  19. ↑ "1985 Indianapolis Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  20. ↑ "1986 Indianapolis Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference.
  21. ↑ "McMillan faces leg surgery". The Indianapolis News. April 27, 1987. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Comments by Irsay draw a typical reaction: McMillan wants out". The Evening Sun. Associated Press. June 1, 1987. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  23. 1 2 Russell, Jim (August 5, 1988). "Colts cut veteran Randy McMillan". The Indianapolis News. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Art Rooney Sr. dies at age 87". Evansville Press. Associated Press. August 25, 1988. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
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