Jerry Louis Eckwood was born on December 26,1954 and is a former NFL running back.
18 Facts About Jerry Eckwood
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Jerry Eckwood played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1979 to 1981, and was a key member of the Buccaneers team that made the first playoff appearance in franchise history in 1979.
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Jerry Eckwood was a highly recruited running back out of Brinkley, Arkansas, rushing for 2616 yards in 1973.
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Jerry Eckwood was signed to an athletic scholarship with the Arkansas Razorbacks by then-head coach Frank Broyles.
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Jerry Eckwood was named 1st Team All Southwest Conference in 1975, rushing for 792 yards on 104 carries.
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Jerry Eckwood had six 100-yard rushing games in his Razorback career, five of those games occurring in 1975.
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Jerry Eckwood was taken in the third round of the 1979 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ahead of notable players such as Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana and Pro Bowlers Kenny King, William Andrews, and Tony Franklin.
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Jerry Eckwood shared the backfield with quarterback Doug Williams and running back Ricky Bell.
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In 1979, Jerry Eckwood was the Buccaneers' second- leading rusher with 690 yards on 194 carries.
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Jerry Eckwood was, at the time, one of only 11 running backs to have gained 100 yards in his first professional game.
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In 1980, Jerry Eckwood was again second in rushing with 504 yards, and was second on the team with 47 receptions.
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Jerry Eckwood fell into some disfavor during this season, after fumbling at key points of four of the team's losses.
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Jerry Eckwood was selected the 79th greatest player in Buccaneer history in 2007.
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Jerry Eckwood's nephew, LaDarius Jerry Eckwood is a wide receiver who played football with the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions after catching 108 passes in the 2008 season for Springdale High School.
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Jerry Eckwood suffered several concussions while playing in college and in the NFL.
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Since leaving the NFL, Jerry Eckwood has struggled with mental illness, and was committed to the Arkansas State Hospital [1] for several years.
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Jerry Eckwood currently suffers from dementia, and is housed in an assisted living facility.
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Jerry Eckwood was approved by the NFL to receive annual benefits of $136,000 for the remainder of his life.