HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Longest-Tenured GMs In The NFL

July 13th, 2021 at 12:01pm CST by Zachary Links

When we ran down the longest-tenured head coaches in the NFL, we found that just about half of the league’s current coaches have been in their positions for more than three years. That’s not quite the case with general managers, but there have been plenty of changes in recent years.

A handful of general managers have gotten to take their coats off and stay for a long while. Among coaches, Bill Belichick had joined his team prior to 2003. Here, you’ll see that five GMs have been with their teams since before ’03 (Belichick, of course, is also on this list). Two of those five – Jerry Jones and Mike Brown – are outliers, since they’re team owners and serve as de facto GMs. But the Patriots, Steelers, and Saints, have all had the same general managers making their roster decisions for well over a decade.

Here’s the complete list of the NFL’s longest-tenured GMs, along with the date they took over the job:

  1. Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys): April 18, 1989[1]
  2. Mike Brown (Cincinnati Bengals): August 5, 1991[2]
  3. Bill Belichick (New England Patriots): January 27, 2000[3]
  4. Kevin Colbert (Pittsburgh Steelers): February 18, 2000[4]
  5. Mickey Loomis (New Orleans Saints): May 14, 2002
  6. Rick Spielman (Minnesota Vikings): May 30, 2006[5]
  7. John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks): January 19, 2010[6]
  8. Howie Roseman (Philadelphia Eagles): January 29, 2010
  9. Les Snead (St. Louis Rams): February 10, 2012
  10. Steve Keim (Arizona Cardinals): January 8, 2013
  11. Tom Telesco (San Diego Chargers): January 9, 2013
  12. Jason Licht (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): January 21, 2014
  13. Ryan Pace (Chicago Bears): January 8, 2015
  14. Chris Grier (Miami Dolphins): January 4, 2016
  15. Jon Robinson (Tennessee Titans): January 14, 2016
  16. John Lynch (San Francisco 49ers): January 29, 2017
  17. Chris Ballard (Indianapolis Colts): January 30, 2017
  18. Brandon Beane (Buffalo Bills): May 9, 2017
  19. Brett Veach (Kansas City Chiefs): July 11, 2017
  20. Dave Gettleman (New York Giants): December 28, 2017
  21. Brian Gutekunst (Green Bay Packers): January 7, 2018
  22. Mike Mayock (Oakland Raiders): December 31, 2018
  23. Eric DeCosta (Baltimore Ravens): January 7, 2019[7]
  24. Joe Douglas (New York Jets): June 7, 2019
  25. Andrew Berry (Cleveland Browns): January 27, 2020
  26. Nick Caserio (Houston Texans): January 7, 2021
  27. George Paton (Denver Broncos): January 12, 2021
  28. Scott Fitterer (Carolina Panthers): January 14, 2021
  29. Brad Holmes (Detroit Lions): January 14, 2021
  30. Terry Fontenot (Atlanta Falcons): January 19, 2021
  31. Trent Baalke (Jacksonville Jaguars): January 21, 2021
  32. Martin Mayhew (Washington Redskins): January 22, 2021

Footnotes:

  1. Jones has been the Cowboys’ de facto general manager since former GM Tex Schramm resigned in April 1989.
  2. Brown has been the Bengals’ de facto GM since taking over as the team’s owner in August 1991.
  3. Belichick has been the Patriots’ de facto GM since shortly after being hired as the team’s head coach in January 2000.
  4. Colbert was initially hired as the team’s director of football operations and received the newly-created general manager title in 2011.
  5. Spielman was initially hired as the team’s VP of player personnel and received the GM title in 2012.
  6. While Schneider holds the title of GM, head coach Pete Carroll has the final say on roster moves for the Seahawks.
  7. In 2018, the Ravens announced that DeCosta would replace Ozzie Newsome as GM for Ozzie Newsome after the conclusion of the season. The Ravens’ ’18 season ended with their Wild Card loss to the Chargers on 1/6/19.

The Longest-Tenured Head Coaches In The NFL

July 13th, 2021 at 9:09am CST by Zachary Links

Things move fast in today’s NFL and the old adage of “coaches are hired to be fired” has seemingly never been more true. For the most part, teams change their coaches like they change their underwear. 

A head coach can take his team to the Super Bowl, or win the Super Bowl, or win multiple Super Bowls, but they’re never immune to scrutiny. Just ask Tom Coughlin, who captured his second ring with the Giants following the 2011 season, only to receive his pink slip after the 2015 campaign.

There are also exceptions like Bill Belichick, who just wrapped up his 21st season at the helm in New England. You’ll also see a few others on this list, but, for the most part, most of today’s NFL head coaches are relatively new to their respective clubs. And, history dictates that many of them will be elsewhere when we check in on this list in 2022.

Over one-third (12) of the NFL’s head coaches have coached no more than one season with their respective teams. Meanwhile, less than half (15) have been with their current clubs for more than three years. It seems like just yesterday that the Cardinals hired Kliff Kingsbury, right? It sort of was – Kingsbury signed on with the Cardinals in January of 2019. Today, he’s practically a veteran.

Here’s the list of the current head coaches in the NFL, ordered by tenure, along with their respective start dates:

  1. Bill Belichick (New England Patriots): January 27, 2000
  2. Sean Payton (New Orleans Saints): January 18, 2006
  3. Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers): January 27, 2007
  4. John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): January 19, 2008
  5. Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks): January 9, 2010
  6. Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs): January 4, 2013
  7. Mike Zimmer (Minnesota Vikings): January 15, 2014
  8. Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills): January 11, 2017
  9. Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams): January 12, 2017
  10. Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers): February 6, 2017
  11. Jon Gruden (Las Vegas Raiders): January 6, 2018
  12. Matt Nagy (Chicago Bears): January 7, 2018
  13. Mike Vrabel (Tennessee Titans): January 20, 2018
  14. Frank Reich (Indianapolis Colts): February 11, 2018
  15. Bruce Arians (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): January 8, 2019
  16. Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona Cardinals): January 8, 2019
  17. Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers): January 8, 2019
  18. Vic Fangio (Denver Broncos): January 10, 2019
  19. Brian Flores (Miami Dolphins): February 4, 2019
  20. Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals): February 4, 2019
  21. Ron Rivera (Washington Football Team): January 1, 2020
  22. Matt Rhule (Carolina Panthers): January 7, 2020
  23. Mike McCarthy (Dallas Cowboys): January 7, 2020
  24. Joe Judge (New York Giants): January 8, 2020
  25. Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns): January 13, 2020
  26. Urban Meyer (Jacksonville Jaguars): January 14, 2021
  27. Robert Saleh (New York Jets): January 15, 2021
  28. Arthur Smith (Atlanta Falcons): January 15, 2021
  29. Brandon Staley (Los Angeles Chargers): January 17, 2021
  30. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions): January 20, 2021
  31. Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles): January 21, 2021
  32. David Culley (Houston Texans): January 28, 2021

Extension Candidate: Nick Chubb

July 12th, 2021 at 7:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The past year and change reset the NFL’s running back market. After the previous wave of big-ticket contracts produced shaky outcomes — in the cases of Le’Veon Bell, Todd Gurley and David Johnson — a few teams still prioritized their high-end backs and went ahead with extensions.

The 2017 draft class was responsible for most of these accords. Ezekiel Elliott and Derrick Henry are attached to high-value running back deals, but 2017 draftees Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon and Aaron Jones all signed for at least $12MM per year since March 2020. The 2018 draft class is now eligible for extensions, and another backfield mainstay is on track to join the 2017 contingent near the running back salary hierarchy.

Nick Chubb has become the centerpiece of a run-oriented Browns offense that rode its two-pronged ground attack to the playoffs. After playing an essential role in snapping the Browns’ postseason drought, Chubb joins Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward and guard Wyatt Teller as extension candidates for a rising Cleveland team. With Mayfield and Ward signed through 2022, Chubb may be the team’s top contract priority ahead of the 2021 season.

Negotiations have begun, and a deal being finalized before the start of the season — thus protecting Chubb from a value-changing injury in his contract year — is in play. The Georgia product has become the most reliable back from the 2018 class. While Saquon Barkley may have this group’s highest ceiling, he is coming off ACL and MCL tears. Like Barkley in 2019, Chubb suffered a high ankle sprain. But he returned after four missed games to clear 1,000 yards (1,067) in just 12 contests. The 25-year-old back rushed for a career-high 12 touchdowns and joined Mayfield in leading the Browns to their first divisional-round game since 1994.

The two-time Pro Bowler has proven to be an elite ball carrier, but unlike the 2017 backs given extensions at or north of the $12MM-per-year mark, Chubb is not a major passing-game factor. He has yet to top 300 receiving yards in a season, with the Browns slotting Kareem Hunt as their preferred outlet option among these two. Hunt’s presence complicates Cleveland’s setup here — but only to a point. The Browns signed the embattled ex-Chief to an extension, but the two-year, $13.25MM pact represents midlevel money. Hunt is signed through 2022, but his $6.25MM cap number is both manageable and non-guaranteed. This seemingly keeps a Chubb extension realistic.

Chubb is the leader of Cleveland’s historically talented backfield, outrushing Hunt 1,067-841 last season despite the latter receiving more carries (198-190) during the starter’s injury-shortened season. Although Hunt is a Cleveland-area native, a scenario in which he moves on for a higher-paying RB1 gig elsewhere by 2023 may be likely — unless he is willing to accept a discount to stay a backup.

Henry’s four-year, $50MM deal ($25.5MM guaranteed) profiles a likely Hunt starting point. The Titans also use a run-centric offense, and Henry does not factor into their passing attack much. Chubb (44 career catches at Georgia) has never played a major receiving role, which could keep him off the McCaffrey-Kamara tier (north of $15MM AAV). Then again, the salary cap is set to balloon to nearly $210MM in 2022, perhaps giving Chubb a ladder up to the CMC-Kamara level. Also working in Chubb’s favor: his 680 career carries through three seasons ranks 56th all time and 22nd among backs whose careers started in the 21st century. He should have enough tread on his tires to be productive for the next few seasons.

While the Browns will certainly need to be careful here, the Rams and Jets’ Gurley and Bell missteps are not exactly comparable. Gurley entered the NFL with a knee issue, while Bell had more than 1,200 carries at the time of his free agency pact. Elliott was at 1,003 touches through three years; Chubb exited Year 3 with 752. Hunt staying through 2022 would also stand to shield Chubb from a Bell- or Elliott-like workload.

Either way, it sounds like the Browns will become the rare team with two well-paid backs on their roster soon. A Chubb extension will help establish a Barkley floor as well, should the Giants standout return to full strength this season, while providing the Browns with their most stable long-term backfield situation in decades. Cleveland missed on Trent Richardson, though the franchise did collect a first-rounder for him, and let Isaiah Crowell walk after his rookie deal expired. Chubb certainly appears set for a different northeast Ohio path.

Von Miller Discusses Long-Term Plans, Recovery From Ankle Injury

July 12th, 2021 at 5:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Von Miller‘s Pro Bowl run and dominant showing in the 2015 playoffs placed him on course to be a Hall of Famer. The Broncos’ all-time sack leader, however, hit a road block last year in the form of a severe ankle injury wiping out his entire 2020 season.

The 10-year veteran has said in the past he did not have retirement on the immediate horizon. Now 32 and coming off a major injury setback, Miller reaffirmed that stance and added some clarity to his post-injury career outlook.

“I’ve got a son. He’ll be here in about three or four weeks. I definitely want him to be able to see me play. That’s going to take about five to seven years,” Miller said, via Mike Klis of 9News. “That’s what I have on my heart. That’s what I have on my mind: another five to seven years.”

Despite rumors the Broncos would force Miller to take a pay cut to return in 2021, new GM George Paton picked up his 2021 option in March. Miller is set to play out his then-record six-year, $114.1MM contract; he will make $17.5MM in base salary this season. The Broncos have not had both Miller and Bradley Chubb line up together since Week 4 of the 2019 season. Denver picked up Chubb’s fifth-year option in March, and Paton views the 2018 first-round pick as a building-block player. It is unclear where Miller fits in long-term, but he has long professed a desire to stay in Denver.

A number of edge rushers have played into their late 30s, with Julius Peppers, Terrell Suggs and Dwight Freeney establishing a modern-era foundation for such longevity. Miller, who is 8-for-8 in Pro Bowls in seasons in which he finished, returned from a December 2013 ACL tear with a 14-sack 2014 season. Without contract certainty beyond 2021, the former Super Bowl MVP enters a key season to re-establish his run as one of the league’s best pass rushers.

A dislocated peroneal tendon just before the 2020 season sidelined Miller, who underwent surgery shortly after. He participated in Denver’s offseason program and is nearly back to full strength.

“I’m feeling good. My ankle is about 94%,” Miller said. “The 6% I got to get I got to get rushing the passer in practice with pads on, leaning on guys, guys leaning on me. I haven’t rushed the passer in over year. Haven’t played in a game in longer than that.”

Poll: Which Rookie Running Back Will Finish With Most Rushing Yards?

July 12th, 2021 at 4:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Quarterbacks, per usual, dominated this year’s pre-draft coverage. The Falcons made Kyle Pitts the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history, and four wide receivers then went off the board in the top 20. Running backs, as they have done in a few drafts over the past decade, waited.

While two went in Round 1, the Jaguars’ Travis Etienne pick preceded a 60-pick stretch during which just one running back — the Broncos’ Javonte Williams choice — went off the board. The 2021 draft matches 2016 and 2003 for the fewest backs chosen in the top 80 (three) in the common draft era (1967-present), continuing a grim era for this once-storied position. But several of this year’s draftees have quick paths to key roles.

Linked to Najee Harris ahead of the draft, the Steelers took the Alabama standout at No. 24. Harris will join a Steelers team that ranked last in rushing in 2020. Although the Alabama product scored 30 touchdowns in his senior season and topped 1,200 rushing yards in two straight years, he will now play behind an offensive line that went through considerable turnover this offseason. The Steelers lost 17 Pro Bowls on their offensive line this year. They will replace Maurkice Pouncey and Alejandro Villanueva with far less experienced players, and David DeCastro‘s replacement (Trai Turner) struggled in 2020. Will Harris’ talent be enough to overcome significant O-line concerns in Pittsburgh?

Etienne joins a Jags team that just saw James Robinson set the rookie UDFA record for scrimmage yards (1,414) despite missing two games in 2020. Jacksonville also signed Carlos Hyde, who played for Urban Meyer at Ohio State. Etienne spent time at receiver during the Jags’ offseason program but should be expected to contribute heavily in the backfield. Like Harris, Etienne stayed in college for four years. He twice surpassed 1,600 rushing yards and totaled 78 college TDs — most of which coming alongside No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence — but will this unusual setup (for a first-round back, that is) translate to rookie-year production?

The Broncos traded up four spots for Williams in Round 2, Pro Football Focus’ top-rated back in this class, and chose the North Carolina product 36th overall. Williams teamed with Jets draftee Michael Carter to form one of the nation’s top backfield tandems. Williams compiled just one 1,000-yard season with the Tar Heels but led Division I-FBS with 75 broken tackles in 2020. The Broncos have Melvin Gordon signed through 2021, but the John Elway-era addition does not appear to be a lock to hold off Williams for the starting role.

The rest of the rookie field includes third-rounder Trey Sermon (49ers), Carter (fourth round, Jets) and a host of backs ticketed for early-career backup roles. While injuries certainly will hit the running back position, potentially forcing some of the later-round picks into the fray, Sermon and Carter have the best bets of seeing steady action among the mid- and late-round selections.

An Oklahoma and Ohio State product, Sermon also played four years. He averaged more than seven yards per carry in each of his past two, though he never topped 1,000 on the ground. Lead 49ers back Raheem Mostert is coming off an injury-marred season. The Jets added Tevin Coleman, who joined Mostert in missing most of last season, but do not have another back with much experience. This could allow Carter (two 1,000-yard years at North Carolina) early upward mobility, despite his 5-foot-8 frame.

Which rookie back will rush for the most yards in 2021? Who are the later-round candidates or UDFAs who can join these players as early contributors? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

Latest On Patriots, N’Keal Harry

July 12th, 2021 at 2:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

N’Keal Harry attended Patriots minicamp but has since made a trade request. The former first-round pick, however, remains under contract for two more years in New England.

The third-year wide receiver and the Patriots continue to hold talks about this matter, according to veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson, who adds Harry is expected to attend training camp (Twitter link). It would have been quite surprising if Harry were a no-show, given the $50K-per-day fines for holdouts.

New England has received interest on Harry this offseason, with Washington being a team that has inquired about the ex-Arizona State prospect’s status. Thus far, the Patriots have been linked to landing a fifth- or sixth-round pick for Harry — were they to unload him. A team acquiring Harry would be buying low. The Pats paid Harry’s $5.3MM signing bonus; an acquiring team would have only Harry’s base salaries — $1.41MM in 2021, $1.87MM in 2022 — on its books.

Harry has been in trade rumors for more than four months, even before the Pats signed Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. While Harry’s draft status is more indicative of a No. 1 wide receiver than what Agholor or Bourne have shown in their NFL careers, he has not come close to justifying it and sits behind UDFA Jakobi Meyers among Patriot wideouts. New tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry also surpassed Harry in the Pats’ aerial pecking order this offseason.

The Pats have a history of trading first-rounders while on their rookie deals during Bill Belichick‘s run. They unloaded Chandler Jones and running back Laurence Maroney after four seasons and dealt disappointing defensive lineman Dominique Easley after two. Harry’s profile certainly veers closer to Easley’s. If the Patriots cannot find a trade partner, they may be prepared to waive Harry. The Patriots have only cut one first-rounder over the course of his rookie contract (Brandon Meriweather in 2011).

Seven Teams Exceed 85% Vaccination Threshold

July 12th, 2021 at 1:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

MONDAY: A seventh team has crossed the 85% barrier, Pelissero adds (on Twitter). As for the players who have received at least one vaccine dose, that number has now surpassed 70%.

FRIDAY: With training camps less than three weeks away, an interesting date is approaching regarding vaccinations. Any player who has not received two vaccine doses, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, by Monday will not be considered fully vaccinated by camp. But the number of players who have taken that step continues to increase.

Six teams have hit the 85% vaccination threshold, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. This includes the Broncos, who have seen nearly 95% of their 90-man roster receive one or two vaccine doses, Mike Klis of 9News tweets.

[RELATED: No Players Opt Out Of 2021 Season]

As a whole, the NFL’s player base has surpassed the 69% vaccination threshold, Pelissero adds. This is up from 65% two weeks ago. Geared around players’ vaccination decisions, this season’s COVID-19 protocols create two sets of rules. Teams who reach high vaccination levels will have advantages.

Players who choose not to be vaccinated — a right the NFLPA collectively bargained, though teams’ Tier 1 and Tier 2 staffers are required to do so — must take virus tests daily once camp starts and will face the prospect of missing multiple games if they test positive. Nearly all Tier 1 and Tier 2 personnel are vaccinated, Pelissero tweets. Coaches fall under this umbrella; a coach must be fully vaccinated to be allowed to work directly with players.

The league’s high-risk close contact policy still applies to unvaccinated players, who, like last season, would need to isolate for five days if they are classified as such. Teams with lower vaccination rates will also need to create social distancing setups for their unvaccinated sects of players; this will pertain to meetings and affect weight-room policies.

The Dolphins, Saints and Steelers joined the Broncos in being around the 85% threshold in late June, and the Jaguars and Panthers had progressed to near that rate at that point. Twenty-nine teams begin training camp July 27.

2021 Cap Space For All 32 NFL Teams

July 12th, 2021 at 12:27pm CST by Zachary Links

There are still plenty of quality free agents left on the board as we look ahead to training camp. Cornerback Steven Nelson, tackle Russell Okung, and longtime Legion of Boom leader Richard Sherman headline the list, along with accomplished edge rushers like Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram, and Olivier Vernon. That list will only grow larger, of course, as more teams shed veterans to redirect their funds elsewhere.

With that in mind, here’s a look at every NFL team’s cap situation, starting with the league-leading Jaguars:

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars — $32.7MM
  2. Denver Broncos — $28.9MM
  3. New York Jets — $28.5MM
  4. Cleveland Browns — $20.6MM
  5. Los Angeles Chargers — $19.9MM
  6. Detroit Lions — $17.9MM
  7. San Francisco 49ers — $17.8MM
  8. Cincinnati Bengals — $17.4MM
  9. Washington Football Team — $16.7MM
  10. Indianapolis Colts— $14.3MM
  11. Carolina Panthers— $14.3MM
  12. Minnesota Vikings — $13.5MM
  13. Pittsburgh Steelers — $13.1MM
  14. New England Patriots — $13.1MM
  15. New Orleans Saints — $11.4MM
  16. Arizona Cardinals — $11.3MM
  17. Buffalo Bills — $10.5MM
  18. Baltimore Ravens — $8.8MM
  19. Atlanta Falcons — $8.6MM
  20. Seattle Seahawks — $8.3MM
  21. Tennessee Titans — $8.3MM
  22. Kansas City Chiefs — $7.9MM
  23. Los Angeles Rams — $7MM
  24. Chicago Bears — $6MM
  25. Dallas Cowboys — $6MM
  26. Miami Dolphins — $5.3MM
  27. Green Bay Packers — $5MM
  28. Houston Texans — $5MM
  29. Las Vegas Raiders — $3.3MM
  30. Philadelphia Eagles — $3.2MM
  31. New York Giants — $2.4MM
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — $489K

Latest On Barkevious Mingo

July 12th, 2021 at 9:49am CST by Zachary Links

Linebacker Barkevious Mingo was arrested for an alleged child sex offense over the weekend. The Falcons released him less than 24 hours later, a decision that his lead attorney Chris Lewis disagrees with. 

[RELATED: Falcons Release Barkevious Mingo]

“We are extremely disappointed in the Atlanta Falcons’ rush to judgment in terminating Barkevious Mingo’s contract before gathering all of the relevant facts and prior to my client having his day in court,” Lewis said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). “The accusation against Mr. Mingo is a lie. Barkevious knows it — so does his accuser.”

Mingo cooperated with law enforcement upon learning of the warrant and immediately traveled to Texas to turn himself in, according to Lewis. Now, the attorney says, “he is ready to prove his innocence.”

Mingo never lived up to his first-round draft status, but he’s managed a lengthy career in the NFL as a special teamer with the Browns, Patriots, Colts, Seahawks, Texans, and Bears. Last year, he saw some time as a rotational ‘backer with the Bears and notched 2.5 sacks, leading to a one-year, $1.25MM deal earlier this year.

“Mr. Mingo understands the seriousness of an accusation like this and the immediate negative impact it can have on a person’s reputation, even when there is zero evidence,” Mingo’s lawyer said. “But, he also knows that he will be fully vindicated when the truth comes to light. When that happens, the true motivation of the accuser will be clear and unambiguous.”

This Date In Transactions History: Washington Signs Larry Centers 

July 12th, 2021 at 9:41am CST by Sam Robinson

Fullback Larry Centers enjoyed a 14-year career punctuated by a Super Bowl ring with the 2003 Patriots. His most notable work may have come with the Cardinals in the 90s, but his second half was still solid.

A former fifth-round Phoenix Cardinals pick out of Stephen F. Austin, Centers ascended to rare heights as the club’s starting fullback. In 1995 and ’96, he combined to catch 200 passes. His ’95 season — 101 receptions and 962 receiving yards — still stacks up incredibly well historically. At the time, Centers became the first running back to record 100 catches in a season and was among the first 15 players at any position to do so. While 101 receptions now ranks tied for 70th in NFL single-season history, only one running back (Matt Forte) appears higher on that list.

On this date in 1999, Centers officially moved on to the second team of his NFL career, joining Washington on a modest one-year pact. Centers wound up being part of Washington’s first Joe Gibbs-less team to reach the divisional round of the playoffs since 1976. He didn’t match those lofty standards, but he was a consistent receiving threat. In 1999, Centers delivered 544 air yards on 69 catches. One of those — a 33-yard touchdown grab from Brad Johnson to secure an overtime win over the 49ers — clinched Washington’s first NFC East title since its 1991 Super Bowl season. Under Norv Turner, they edged the Lions before falling to the Bucs in the next round.

Washington re-signed Centers for one year and $6MM in 2000 — for perspective, only three fullbacks make more than $3MM per year today — and his production that year still ranks atop team record books. Centers caught 81 passes in his second Washington season; still a team standard for running backs 20+ years later.

Centers parlayed that late-career success into a 2001 deal with the Bills, when he earned his third Pro Bowl nod. He capped his long, and sometimes underappreciated, career with the Pats in 2003, scoring his first ever Super Bowl ring.

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