| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | June 16, 1967 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) |
| College: | Boston College |
| Position: | Linebacker |
| NFL draft: | 1990: 4th round, 109th pick |
| Career history | |
| |
Rico Labbe (born June 16, 1967) is an American former football safety. He played college football for Boston College, where he was a team captain and recorded over 300 tackles. Labbe was selected in the fourth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. Though he did not play in a regular-season game, he participated in several exhibition games before transitioning to a career in television production. He currently works as a coordinating producer for ESPN.
| Year | Honor |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Hall of Fame Bowl Champion – Boston College [2] |
| 1989 | Team Captain, Boston College [3] |
| 1989 | Participant, Blue–Gray All-Star Classic [4] |
| 1989 | Participant, East–West Shrine Game [5] |
| 2004 | Inducted into Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame [3] |
| 2015 | Inducted into Archbishop Carroll High School Hall of Fame [6] |
Labbe was born in Washington, D.C., and attended Archbishop Carroll High School. He earned All-Met honors for his performance in football and was later inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. [6]
Labbe played four seasons at Boston College from 1986 to 1989. A strong safety, he recorded more than 310 career tackles, four interceptions, and served as team captain in his senior season. He helped lead the team to a victory in the 1986 Hall of Fame Bowl. [7] Following his collegiate career, Labbe was selected to play in both the Blue–Gray All-Star Classic and the East–West Shrine Game. In 2004, he was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame. [3]
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1986–1989 |
| Total tackles | 310+ |
| Interceptions | 4 |
| Bowl games | 1986 Hall of Fame Bowl |
| All-star games | 1989 Blue–Gray Classic, East–West Shrine Game |
In 2004, Rico Labbe was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Eagles football program from 1986 to 1989. [8] A hard-hitting safety and emotional leader, Labbe finished his collegiate career with over 310 tackles, numerous interceptions, and a reputation as one of the most dependable defensive players of his era.
Labbe served as team captain his senior year, helping to elevate Boston College’s defense to national relevance. Known for his tenacity and leadership both on and off the field, he became a role model for younger players and an ambassador for the program. [8]
Labbe’s contributions were recognized not only through his Hall of Fame induction but also through his lasting influence on Boston College athletics and the broader football community.
Labbe was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 4th round (109th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft. [9] He participated in training camp and played in preseason exhibition games but was released prior to the start of the regular season. Labbe did not appear in any official NFL regular season games.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Team | Washington Redskins |
| Year | 1990 |
| Games played | 3 (preseason) |
| Tackles | 6 |
| Pass deflections | 1 |
Following his football career, Labbe transitioned into television production. He joined ESPN and eventually became a coordinating producer, contributing to major broadcasts such as Monday Night Football, the NFL Draft, the NBA Draft, [10] the NCAA Tournament, [11] and college football programming. He earned multiple industry awards for his work. [12]
| Year | Title | Role | Network/Company | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Wide World of Sports 35th Anniversary Special | Segment Producer | ESPN | [ citation needed ] |
| 2004 | The Guess Who: Running Back Thru Canada | Segment Producer | CBC/ESPN Canada | [ citation needed ] |
| 2006 | NFL Draft Coverage | Director (Art Direction) | ESPN | "Sports Emmy Awards 2006 Nominees" . Retrieved May 16, 2025. |
| 2006 | Monday Night Football | Music Director / Cinematic Tease Co-Director | ESPN | "Rico Labbe Profile" . Retrieved May 16, 2025. |
| 2018 | Tournament Challenge Open | Coordinating Producer | ESPN | "Inside ESPN's Tournament Challenge Open" . Retrieved May 16, 2025. |
| 2023 | Monday Night Football (Rebranding: "In the Air Tonight") | Co-Director | ESPN | "In the Air Tonight: The Rebranding of ESPN Monday Night Football" . Retrieved May 16, 2025. |
Labbe has also worked as a commercial director with Victory Pictures and has contributed to ESPN’s NBA Draft and college football branding campaigns. [15] [16]
Labbe is the cousin of Randall Harris, who played offensive line for Towson University. [17]
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