Steve Wilson (defensive back)

Last updated
Steve Wilson
No. 81, 45
Position: Defensive back,
Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1957-08-24) August 24, 1957 (age 65)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Northern
(Durham, North Carolina)
College: Howard
Undrafted: 1979
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played–started:140–33
Interceptions:22
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Steven Anthony Wilson (born August 24, 1957) is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He played college football at Howard University. Wilson was most recently the assistant defensive backs/special teams coach for the DC Defenders of the XFL. He was the former head football coach at his alma mater Howard University, from 1989 to 2001, and Texas Southern University, from 2004 to 2007.

Contents

Early years

Wilson attended Northern High School where he played defensive back and wide receiver. He was invited to the North-South Senior All-Star Game as a senior.

He accepted a scholarship to play for Howard University, where he focused on playing wide receiver. As a senior, he set single-season school records for catches (94), receiving yards (1,339), touchdown receptions (12) and kickoff returns (40). He graduated as the school's all-time leading receiver and kick returner.

In 2013, he was inducted into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference hall of fame. [1] In 2012, he received MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legend honors. He also was inducted into the Black College Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Wilson was not selected in the 1979 NFL Draft and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys. Although he was initially waived on August 14, he was re-signed on August 29 for depth purposes, after Butch Johnson was injured. [2] [3] He led the team in punt returns as a rookie.

He was converted into a cornerback in his second season, [4] with 11 starts, 48 tackles, 4 interceptions and 41 passes defensed (led the team).

In 1981, he started 4 games before being replaced with rookie Everson Walls, who received Pro Bowl honors at the end of the season. [5] In 1982, he was moved back to wide receiver before being released on September 3. [6]

Denver Broncos

Wilson signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos on September 14, 1982, [7] after Steve Foley broke his arm in the first game of the season.

In 1983, he started 3 games after injuries to Foley and Dennis Smith, forced the team to make changes in the defensive backfield. In 1985, he started four of the first five games because of injuries and finished with 3 interceptions, 12 passes defensed and a fumble recovery.

In 1987, he started at right cornerback the last 5 regular season games and all the playoff games, including Super Bowl XXII. He was waived on August, 29, 1988, [8] only to be re-signed on September 28, [9] after the team experienced a rash of injuries. [10]

During his time with the Broncos he was a dependable player (missing 4 games) and although he was used primarily as a backup, he was always among the team leaders in interceptions, finishing his career ranked ninth (16) in franchise history.

Coaching career

Wilson led the Howard Bison football team to the Mideastern Athletic Conference and Black College National championship twice (1993, 1996). [11] His 1993 team had an 11-0 record and qualified for the school's first Division I-AA (now FCS) playoff appearance. His coaching record was 78 wins, 67 losses and received MEAC Coach of the Year honors twice (1989, 1993).

He spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator for Bowie State University. In 2004, he was hired as the head coach of Texas Southern. His coaching record was 4 wins, 40 losses.

In 2019, he was named the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach for the DC Defenders of the XFL. [12]

Personal life

Wilson's father, Tommy Wilson, played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and was a Pro Bowl player.

Head coaching record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs TSN#
Howard Bison (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)(1989–2001)
1989 Howard8–34–22nd
1990 Howard6–53–34th
1991 Howard2–91–5T–6th
1992 Howard7–43–3T–4th
1993 Howard 11–16–01stL NCAA Division I-AA First Round 8
1994 Howard4–71–57th
1995 Howard6–52–4T–4th
1996 Howard 10–26–12ndW Heritage 20
1997 Howard7–44–34th
1998 Howard7–45–3T–4th
1999 Howard5–64–4T–4th
2000 Howard3–83–56th
2001 Howard2–91–7T–8th
Howard:78–6743–45
Texas Southern Tigers (Southwestern Athletic Conference)(2004–2007)
2004 Texas Southern 0–110–75th (West)
2005 Texas Southern 1–101–85th (West)
2006 Texas Southern 3–83–6T–3rd (West)
2007 Texas Southern 0–110–95th (West)
Texas Southern:4–404–30
Total:82–107
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XII</span> 1978 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XII was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1977 season. The Cowboys defeated the Broncos 27–10 to win their second Super Bowl. The game was played on January 15, 1978, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. This was the first Super Bowl in a domed stadium, and the first time that the game was played in prime time in the Eastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Orton</span> American football player (born 1982)

Kyle Raymond Orton is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for Purdue, where he started four straight bowl games. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. After an injury to Bears starter Rex Grossman, Orton was pressed into service as the starting quarterback during his rookie year, starting the first 14 games of the 2005 season, but was replaced by Grossman for the playoffs that year. Orton did not play at all in 2006, and sparingly in 2007. He regained his starting job from Grossman in 2008, but the team finished a disappointing 9–7 and out of the playoffs. In the offseason of that year, he was traded to the Denver Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wade Phillips</span> American football coach (born 1947)

Harold Wade Phillips is an American football coach who is currently the head coach of the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL. He has served as head coach of the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys. He has also served as interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and the Houston Texans. His career winning percentage as a head coach is .546. Additionally, Phillips has long been considered to be among the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. In his long career, he has served as defensive coordinator in eight separate stints with seven different franchises. Multiple players under Phillips' system have won Defensive Player of the Year: Reggie White, Bryce Paup, Bruce Smith, J. J. Watt and Aaron Donald. Others under Phillips have won Defensive Rookie of the Year: Mike Croel and Shawne Merriman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeMarcus Ware</span> American football player (born 1982)

DeMarcus Omar Ware is an American former professional football player who was an outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Troy University and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. After spending nine seasons with the Cowboys, Ware departed in 2013 as the franchise's all-time leader in quarterback sacks with 117. Ware then played three seasons for the Denver Broncos, with whom he won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers. After the 2016 season with the Broncos, he announced his retirement from the NFL. In 2017, he signed a one-day contract with Dallas to retire as a Cowboy. In 2018, the Broncos hired Ware as a pass-rush consultant. In 2023, Ware was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Alvin Craig Harper is a former football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Tennessee. Harper played in Dallas for four years as the Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII, both against the Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Jeffcoat</span> American football player and coach (born 1961)

James Wilson Jeffcoat, Jr. is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills. He was most recently an assistant football coach for the Dallas Renegades of the XFL. He played college football at Arizona State University. He won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys over the Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Waters</span> American football player (born 1948)

Charlie Tutan Waters is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 12-year career as a safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers.

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

Justin Ryan Durant is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hampton University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aqib Talib</span> American football player (born 1986)

Aqib Talib is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Kansas, where he received consensus All-American honors, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Talib also played for the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Rams, winning Super Bowl 50 with Denver. In 2020, he made his debut as an analyst for NFL on Fox.

Jameson Konz is a former American football tight end, linebacker, and defensive end who played at various times for three National Football League (NFL) teams, the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, and Denver Broncos. His career was set back by numerous injuries which impacted and ultimately curtailed his time in the league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Darby</span> American football player (born 1994)

Ronald Darby is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. A world-class sprinter during his high school years, Darby won medals at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrance Williams</span> American football player (born 1989)

Terrance Tyrone Williams is an American football wide receiver for the Galgos de Tijuana of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA). He played college football at Baylor, where he earned unanimous All-American recognition, before being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Heath (American football)</span> American football player (born 1991)

Jeff Heath is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Saginaw Valley State University. Heath signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He has also played for the Las Vegas Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darian Thompson</span> American football player

Darian Thompson is a former American football Safety who is currently an assistant linebackers coach and quality control coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Boise State University, and was drafted by the New York Giants in third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xavien Howard</span> American football player (born 1993)

Xavien Howard is an American football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Baylor and was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Simmons (American football)</span> American football player (born 1993)

Justin Simmons is an American football free safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boston College and was selected by the Broncos in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

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

Chidobe Richard Awuzie is an American football cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Denver Broncos season</span> NFL team season

The 2017 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 48th season in the National Football League and the 58th overall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charvarius Ward</span> American football player (born 1996)

Charvarius Ward is an American football cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Middle Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saivion Smith</span> American football player (born 1997)

Saivion Smith is an American football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Alabama.

References

  1. ↑ "Steve Wilson MEAC bio" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Cowboys release three agents" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Cowboys recall Bison rookie" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Dallas Cowboys" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Pickoff king will start for Dallas" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Pokes Keep Six Rookies" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Moves" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  8. ↑ "NFL Transactions" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Denver secondary has overcome rash of injuries" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Howard names Wilson" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  12. ↑ Samuels, Doug (May 29, 2019). "Source: Pep Hamilton filling XFL Washington, DC staff with familiar college names". Football Scoop. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
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.