Darren Sproles

NFL running back and return specialist, College Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Darren Lee Sproles is an American professional football executive and former running back who played in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Philadelphia Eagles. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021. Sproles holds the NFL record for most single-season all-purpose yardage (2,696 yards in 2011) and is the only player with 2,200+ all-purpose yards in four consecutive seasons.

Quick Facts

Current team: Houston Texans
Position: Coaching intern
Born: 20 June 1983
Birthplace: Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.
High school: Olathe North (Olathe, Kansas)
College: Kansas State (2001–2004)
Draft year: 2005
Draft round: 4

Facts from the source article.

Did You Know?

Sproles shares the record for most receptions in a playoff game with 15.
He was named as a kick returner on the Chargers 50th Anniversary Team.
Sproles has been conquering a speech impediment he has had since childhood.

Early life

Darren Sproles was born in Waterloo, Iowa, and attended Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kansas. He earned the nickname "Tank" after being born at 10 pounds. In high school, he was twice named The Kansas City Star Player of the Year and was selected as the Kansas Hall of Fame Player of the Year and the USA Today Kansas Player of the Year as a senior. He rushed for 5,230 yards in his high school career, averaging nearly 8.4 yards per carry with 79 touchdowns. Sproles was a high school All-American as chosen by Student Sports Magazine and won the Thomas A. Simone Trophy. He also competed in track, finishing second in the state in the 200 meters as a junior with a time of 21.6 seconds.

College career

Darren Sproles spent his college career at Kansas State from 2001 through 2004, starting every game in his final two years and breaking 23 school records. In 2002, he ran for 1,465 yards and 17 touchdowns. The next year, he led all FBS players with 1,986 rushing yards, finishing fifth in Heisman voting. During the 2003 Big 12 title game, a 35-7 upset of top-ranked Oklahoma, he totaled 235 rushing yards, 88 receiving yards, and a receiving score. He earned a degree in speech pathology. In 2004, he posted 1,318 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Sproles ended his career ranked 11th all-time in college rushing yards and sixth in NCAA all-purpose yards.

Professional career

Sproles was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft with the 130th overall pick. After spending 2006 on injured reserve, he made history on November 11, 2007, by returning a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in the same game, the first player in league history to do so. He finished the 2007 regular season with 164 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, along with 37 kick returns for 1,008 yards and a touchdown and 24 punt returns for 229 yards and a touchdown. In the 2007 playoffs, he had a 56-yard receiving touchdown in the Divisional Round against the Indianapolis Colts.