Wilbert Montgomery

Wilbert Montgomery (born September 16, 1954) is a former American football player in the National Football League for nine years with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. In the past, Montgomery has been the running backs and tight ends coach for St. Louis Rams (1997–2005), the running backs coach for the Detroit Lions (2006–2007), the running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens (2008–2013), and the running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns (2014–2015).

Wilbert Montgomery
Montgomery playing for the Eagles in the 1980 NFC Championship Game
No. 31, 28
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1954-09-16) September 16, 1954
Greenville, Mississippi
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College:Abilene Christian
NFL Draft:1977 / Round: 6 / Pick: 154
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
As player
As coach
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:6,789
Rushing average:4.4
Rushing touchdowns:45
Receptions:273
Receiving yards:2,502
Receiving touchdowns:12
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Playing career

College

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. He was featured in "Faces in the Crowd" in the November 12 issue of Sports Illustrated that same year.[1]

NFL

Montgomery was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft.[2] 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 concluded his NFL career with the Detroit Lions in 1985, holds or held seven Philadelphia rushing records, including career attempts (1,465), rushing yards (6,538, broken by LeSean McCoy in 2014),[2] attempts in a season (338 in 1979), rushing yards in a season (1,512 in 1979, since broken by LeSean McCoy in 2013),[2] career 100-yard rushing games (26), 100-yard rushing games in a season (8 in 1981), and touchdowns in a game (4). In the 1980 NFC championship game, Montgomery rushed for a franchise postseason record 194 yards, leading the team to Super Bowl XV, the first Super Bowl in team history. In 1979, Montgomery led the NFL with 2,012 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returns). Over his NFL career, he accumulated 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).

Coaching career

NFL

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.

He joined the Ravens in 2008 and was running backs coach through the 2013 season.[3]

Montgomery was hired as Running backs coach of the Cleveland Browns on Feb 6th 2014. He was not retained after Head Coach Mike Pettine was fired.[4]

Personal life

Montgomery is a native of Greenville, Mississippi, and one of four brothers (also Fred, Cleotha Montgomery, 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, who was a wide receiver for the Iowa State Cyclones and was the Graduate Assistant and Assistant wide receiver coach for the Miami Hurricanes. Derron was a wide receiver coach for the Michigan Wolverines, tight ends coach for his fathers alma mater Abilene Christian University and is now an offensive analyst for the Arizona Wildcats. Tavian is a current college freshman, playing cornerback for Charleston Southern University.

References
  1. "Faces In The Crowd," Sports Illustrated, November 12, 1973.
  2. "Wilbert Montgomery". articles.philly.com. August 12, 2007. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  3. Running Backs Coach Wilbert Montgomery Not Returning
  4. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/06/browns-hire-wilbert-montgomery-10-other-assistants/
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