Wilbert Montgomery
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Wilbert Montomery (born September 16, 1954 in Greenville, Mississippi) is a former American football player in the National Football League. He currently is the running backs coach for the Detroit Lions.
College career
An outstanding athlete at Abilene Christian University, Montgomery was a four-year starter at running back and set the all-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics record for touchdowns with 76. Montgomery broke the record for touchdowns by a freshman with 37 and helped lead the Wildcats to the NAIA Division I National Championship in 1973.NFL Player Career
Montgomery was a sixth-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1977. Wearing number 31, Montgomery played eight seasons with Philadelphia, shattering almost all of the Eagles’ rushing records and leading the club in rushing six times. Montgomery, who ended his NFL career with the Detroit Lions in 1985, holds seven Philadelphia rushing records, including career attempts (1,465), rushing yards (6,538), attempts in a season (338 in 1979), most rushing yards in a season (1,512 in 1979), career 100-yard rushing games (26), most 100-yard rushing games in a season (8 in 1981), and most touchdowns in a game (4). In 1979, Montgomery led the NFL with 2,012 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returns). He concluded his NFL career with 6,789 yards rushing, 2,502 receiving, 814 kickoff return yards, 57 touchdowns(45 rushing, 12 receiving, 1 kickoff return), and two Pro Bowl invitations (1978-79).NFL Coaching Career
Wilbert Montomery is in his sixth season coaching running backs, and his third straight in the position, after coaching tight ends from 2000-02. Montgomery joined the St. Louis Rams’ coaching staff as running backs coach in 1997. In 2004, Montgomery’s coaching ran the gamut, from Pro Bowl running back Marshall Faulk, to young and talented rookie Steven Jackson. Under Montgomery’s leadership, Faulk moved into 12th place on the NFL’s rushing yardage list, and Jackson finished third in the NFL among rookie running backs.At the 2002 NFC Championship game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles, Montgomery was the Eagles’ honorary captain at Veterans Stadium, and introduced to a thunderous ovation prior to the game.
Personal Info
Wilbert Montgomery is a native of Greenville, Mississippi, and one of four brothers (also Fred, Cleotha, and Tyrone) who played in the NFL. Montgomery earned the Abilene Christian University Alumni Citation Award in 1979, was inducted onto the inaugural Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll in 1987, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.Montgomery and his wife Patti have three children, twins, Briana and Brendan, and a son, Tavian. Montgomery also has a daughter, Sherrita, and a son, Derron.
External links
- [Wilbert Montgomery] at College Football Hall of Fame
- [StLouisRams.com] Coach Bio
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