Eddie George

Early life

George was born in Philadelphia. He played Pop Warner football for the Abington Raiders. He attended Abington Senior High School until the 10th grade, and then transferred to Fork Union Military Academy. George made the decision to stay at Fork Union Military Academy for a fifth preparatory school year or postgraduate year. Such choices are commonly made by high-school football players hoping to improve their recruitment status with colleges, but for George, it meant another year of the rigorous military lifestyle. He rushed for 1,372 yards in his postgraduate season at FUMA, attracting the attention of several major colleges.

College career

George attended Ohio State University, where he majored in landscape architecture and played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. As a freshman, George scored three rushing touchdowns in a win over Syracuse, but suffered a major setback in a game against Illinois. In that game, George lost a fumble at the Illinois four-yard line that was returned 96 yards for a touchdown. Later in the game, with Ohio State leading by two points in the final quarter, George fumbled again, this time on Illinois' one-yard line. Illinois recovered the fumble and drove for the game-winning touchdown.

Before the Illinois game, George had carried the ball 25 times and scored five touchdowns, but he had only 12 more rushing attempts and no more touchdowns for the rest of the year. The following season, George was listed in the depth chart as the team's third-string running back, behind Raymont Harris. George carried the ball just 42 times, mostly when Ohio State had a large lead late in games, but showed his potential by averaging 5.3 yards per carry. As a junior, George became the team's starting running back and went on to rush for 1,442 yards and 12 touchdowns.

As a senior in 1995, George rushed for a school-record 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns, an average of 148.23 yards per game, while also catching 47 passes for 417 yards and another touchdown (George only caught 16 passes in his first three seasons). That season, he co-led the nation with 23 rushing touchdowns and led the nation in scoring with 150 points. One of his best performances of the year was in a 45–26 victory over Notre Dame, where George rushed for 207 yards, his third 200-yard game of the season. George also rushed for a school-record 314 yards and scored three touchdowns in OSU's victory over Illinois.

In the three years after his two fumbles as a freshman, George had over 600 rushing attempts and fumbled only six times. Ohio State finished the season with an 11–2 record. He was recognized as a unanimous All-American. George won the Heisman Trophy in the closest vote in the history of the award at the time, beating Nebraska's Tommie Frazier by 264 votes. George left Ohio State second in school history in career rushing yards (3,768) and third in rushing touchdowns (44). Overall, he finished with 4,284 all-purpose yards, 45 touchdowns, and a 5.5 yards per carry average.

College statistics

Professional career

Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans

George was a first-round draft selection (14th overall pick) for the Houston Oilers in the 1996 NFL draft, being selected after Jerome Bettis elected to be traded to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers over the Oilers when the St. Louis Rams replaced Bettis with Lawrence Phillips. George won the NFL Rookie of the Year award in 1996, and was the Oilers/Titans' starting tailback through 2003, never missing a start. He made the Pro Bowl four consecutive years (1997–2000), and assisted the Titans to a championship appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV, where they lost to the St. Louis Rams 23–16. George gained 391 combined rushing and receiving yards in the Titans' three playoff games that year, and went on to rush for 95 yards, catching two passes for 35 yards, and scoring two touchdowns in the Super Bowl.

George is only the second NFL running back to rush for 10,000 yards while never missing a start, joining Jim Brown. Only Walter Payton (170) started more consecutive regular-season games than George's 130.

Although George rushed for 1,000 yards in all but one season, numerous sportswriters suggested that a heavy workload caused a decline in his productivity. In five of his eight seasons with the Titans, George carried the ball over 330 times. In 2001, George averaged just 2.98 per carry, the fourth-lowest number in league history among running backs with more than 200 rushing attempts in a season. His decline in production and several toe and ankle injuries were contributing factors in Titans' owner Bud Adams' decision to release George on July 21, 2004, in part due to salary cap considerations, after he would not agree to a pay cut.

Dallas Cowboys

On July 23, 2004, George signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys for $1.5 million, plus incentives that could have earned him more than the $4.25 million he would have made under his previous contract with the Titans. George only started eight games while rookie Julius Jones was out for two months with a fractured scapula. George became the backup running back when Jones returned midway through the season, finishing with 432 yards on 132 carries and four touchdowns.

Retirement

George officially announced his retirement in 2006. His career totals include 2,865 carries for 10,441 yards and 68 touchdowns to go along with 268 receptions for 2,227 yards and 10 touchdowns.

In 2019, George had his number 27 jersey number retired by the Titans, along with his former teammate Steve McNair’s number 9 jersey. In 2021, George became a semifinalist (of the 26-person modern-era list) for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the first time he had made the stage since he was eligible.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Franchise records

As of the 2017 NFL off-season, George still held at least 28 Titans franchise records, including:

• Most Rush Attempts (career): 2,733
• Most Rush Attempts (season): 403 (2000)
• Most Rush Attempts (playoff career): 206
• Most Rush Attempts (playoff season): 108 (1999)
• Most Rush Attempts (playoff game): 29 (2000-01-08 BUF)
• Most Rush Attempts (rookie season): 335 (1996)
• Most Rush Attempts (game, as a rookie): 28 (1996-12-01 @NYJ; tied with Earl Campbell)
• Most Rush Yards (career): 10,009
• Most Rush Yards (playoff career): 776
• Most Rush Yards (playoff season): 449 (1999)
• Most Rushing TDs (playoff season): 3 (1999; tied with Steve McNair)
• Most Rushing TDs (playoff game): 2 (2000-01-30 NSTL)
• Most Rush Yds/Game (playoff career): 86.2
• Most Rush Yds/Game (playoff season): 112.2 (1999)
• Most Total TDs (career): 74
• Most Total TDs (playoff season): 3 (1999; tied with Steve McNair x2)
• Most Yds from Scrimmage (career): 12,153
• Most Yds from Scrimmage (playoff career): 925
• Most Yds from Scrimmage (playoff season): 521 (1999)
• Most Yds from Scrimmage (rookie season): 1,550 (1996)
• Most All Purpose Yds (career): 12,154
• Most All Purpose Yds (playoff season): 521 (1999)
• Most 100+ yard rushing games (playoffs): 2
• Most Games with 1+ TD scored (career): 59
• Most Games with 2+ TD scored (career): 17 (Tied with Earl Campbell)
• Most Games with 3+ TD scored (season): 3 (2000)
• Most 1000+ rushing yard seasons: 7

Coaching career

George was named the head coach at Tennessee State on April 13, 2021. He signed a five-year deal that paid $400,000 annually. In 2024, his fourth year as Tennessee State head coach, George was named Big South–OVC Coach of the Year.

In 2025, George was hired as the head coach of Bowling Green State University in the Mid-American Conference.

On October 11, 2025, Eddie George's Falcons came back from down 21–0 in the second quarter to defeat Toledo, 28–23, giving George a 1–0 record in the Battle of I-75 rivalry series.

Head coaching record

Acting

In 2015, George guest-starred on an episode of the IFC satirical talk show Comedy Bang! Bang!, titled "Eddie George Wears a Navy Suit and Half-Zip Pullover." The following year, he appeared for six weeks on Broadway in the musical Chicago as the hustling lawyer Billy Flynn.

In 2016–2017, George played himself – albeit in a story line where he was a former NFL star who'd lost millions of dollars in a real estate deal – in two episodes of the HBO series Ballers.

Other TV series George appeared on include Coach (1989), In the House (1995), Rock Me Baby (2003), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009), Reed Between the Lines (2011), My Life as a Dad (2014) and Magnum P.I. (2018). His film appearances include Into the Sun (2005), The Game Plan (2007), Knife Fight (2012), "Eddie George Really Loves Soda" (short, 2014), The Road You're Going Down (2017), Walk of Fame (2017), Dark Roads 79 (2017), Run the Race (2018), Another Version of You (2018), Big Fan Begins (2019), and Under the Stadium Lights (2021).

Personal life

On October 1, 2006, George was appointed spokesperson for Tennessee's GetFitTN program by Governor Phil Bredesen. The initiative is aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes and promotion of healthier, more active lifestyles. On Saturday, April 28, 2007, George ran the Country Music Half Marathon (ending just outside then LP Field, now Nissan Stadium) in an unofficial time of 2:04:08. He wore race number 27 during the race, just as he wore number 27 during his college and NFL careers. George later stated that completing the race was tougher than playing in the NFL.

In 2008, George campaigned for Senator Barack Obama's presidential bid.

After retiring from football, George went back to complete his bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from Ohio State. George later graduated from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, earning his MBA degree from its Executive MBA program.

In 2004, George married American singer, rapper, actress, and author Tamara "Taj" Johnson. She is best known for being a part of the group SWV (Sisters with Voices) and later being a contestant on the 18th season of the CBS reality show Survivor. On the 12th episode, "The Ultimate Sacrifice", George surprised his wife by visiting her on Exile Island.

References

Informational notes

Citations

Further reading

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References

1. (May 17, 2011). "Deion Sanders, Lloyd Carr join Eddie George in Hall's Class of '11".
2. Dr. Robert Goldman. (March 10, 2020). "2020 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees".
3. Mike Freeman. "Mike Freeman's 10-Point Stance: Eddie George's Incredible 2nd Act". [[Bleacher Report]].
4. "Eddie George". nfl.com.
5. "1995 College Football Leaders".
6. "Eddie George, Combine Results, RB - Ohio State".
7. "1996 NFL Draft Listing".
8. (September 20, 2017). "Jerome Bettis talks about the trade that changed his life".
9. [http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-1/Career-Flashback-Former-Titans-RB-Eddie-George/f883d645-5861-488f-8db6-d65ad8fefb0d Career Flashback: Former Titans RB Eddie George] {{webarchive. link. (June 4, 2012)
10. "Lowest yards per carry, 1920-2014".
11. "Titans release Eddie George".
12. "NFL Notebook: George signs Cowboys' contract".
13. (September 10, 2019). "Titans to Retire Steve McNair's No. 9 and Eddie George's No. 27 Jerseys at Sunday's Game".
14. "26 Modern-Era Players Named as Semifinalists for HOF Class of 2022 {{!".
15. "Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans Career Rushing Leaders".
16. "Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans Single-Season Rushing Leaders".
17. "Titans postseason rushing leaders".
18. "Franchise postseason single-season leaders".
19. "Tennessee State University Names Former All Pro Tennessee Titan and Heisman Trophy Winner Eddie George Head Football Coach".
20. "Here's how much Eddie George will make as Tennessee State's football coach and his contract incentives".
21. Massey, Evan. (November 30, 2024). "Titans Legend Receives Huge College Football Honor". Sports Illustrated.
22. Backus, Will. (March 9, 2025). "Bowling Green hires Eddie George: Ohio State legend agrees to lead Falcons, take next step in coaching career". [[CBS Sports]].
23. [https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/eddie-george-503325 "Eddie George"] [[internet Broadway Database]]
24. "Game Day (2016)". IMDb.com, Inc..
25. Nick Timirao, [https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/02/27/obama-looks-to-score-big/?mod=googlenews_wsj Obama Looks to Score Big], ''The Wall Street Journal'', February 27, 2008.
26. Ryan Morton. (Winter 2009). "NFL Pros Come To Kellogg". northwestern.edu.