Kyle Eckel

Last updated

Kyle Eckel
US Navy 031004-N-9693M-847 Navy fullback Kyle Eckel celebrates a rushing attempt against Air Force.jpg
Eckel celebrates a rushing attempt against Air Force in 2003
No. 32, 36, 38
Position: Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1981-12-30) December 30, 1981 (age 43)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:237 lb (108 kg)
Career information
College: Navy
Undrafted: 2005
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:175
Rushing average:3.0
Rushing touchdowns:2
Receptions:3
Receiving yards:20
Stats at Pro Football Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Kyle Richard Eckel [1] (born December 30, 1981) is an American former professional football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005 and won Super Bowl XLIV with the New Orleans Saints, beating the Indianapolis Colts. He played college football at Navy.

Contents

Eckel was also a member of the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles.

Early life and education

Eckel runs for a touchdown in Navy's homecoming game against Delaware in 2004 Navy football - Kyle Eckel.jpg
Eckel runs for a touchdown in Navy's homecoming game against Delaware in 2004

Eckel attended Holy Spirit School in South Philadelphia throughout elementary school, where he played baseball and basketball. He played football for St. Monica's School, as Holy Spirit didn't have a program. Changing parishes during eighth grade, Eckel was able to attend and graduate Holy Spirit while playing football for The Saint Denis Bulldogs of Havertown, Pennsylvania.

Eckel then attended Episcopal Academy in Merion Station, Pennsylvania (which later moved to Newtown Square, Pennsylvania) and was a letterman in football (three years), baseball (three years), and ice hockey (one year). In football, he was a two-time first-team All-Area and All-League selection. As a senior, while team captain, he earned first-team All-City and All-Area honors as a middle linebacker. Eckel amassed nearly 3,000 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns in his high school career.

While playing baseball for the Churchmen of Episcopal Academy, Eckel recorded a .460 batting average during his junior season, earning All-League, All-City and All-Area selections. He helped the Churchmen win their first league title in 50 years. As a senior, Eckel earned similar accolades, helped the Churchmen win another league title, was selected as a member of the Carpenter Cup All-Star team, and was selected to the All-League and All-Area teams. Eckel was most recently added to Ted Silary's "30 Year Inter-AC Football All-Star" team.

Eckel attended the Naval Academy and was ranked as a preseason All-American and the top NFL fullback prospect in the country by draftboardinsider.com prior to his senior season at Navy. He was also nominated as a preseason candidate for the 2004 Doak Walker Award. He rushed for 1,147 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior, notably rushing 26 times for a career-high 179 yards and one touchdown against Army en route to being named the Philadelphia Sportswriters Most Valuable Player of the Army-Navy game for the second consecutive year.

Eckel had 13 career 100-yard rushing games, the fourth most in school history, and became the third player in school history to twice gain 1,000 yards rushing in a season. As a junior, Eckel carried the ball 236 times for 1,249 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was named to the All-Independent team by College Football News. As a sophomore, Eckel rushed for 510 yards and four touchdowns before having his season cut short by injury. He finished his career with 2,906 rushing yards, which ranks fourth all-time at Navy, and registered 25 career rushing touchdowns, fourth in school history.

Eckel was administratively separated from the Navy a year after graduation from the Naval Academy under circumstances that have never been clear. Eckel, who had a practice deal with the Patriots while on active duty, was signed by the Miami Dolphins in 2006 but did not play that year. He was billed more than $96,000 for his Naval Academy tuition. [2]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+1⁄2 in
(1.79 m)		244 lb
(111 kg)		4.83 s4.28 s7.52 s27.0 in
(0.69 m)		8 ft 7 in
(2.62 m)		27 reps
All values from Pro Day [3]

New England Patriots (first stint)

Eckel was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2005. He was waived by the team on September 3.

Miami Dolphins

Eckel was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins and subsequently placed on the Reserve/Military list on September 7, 2005, just days after being claimed by the Dolphins.

The Dolphins received a roster exemption for Eckel after his return to the team, allowing him to practice without counting against roster limits. He was not activated during the season, and was an exclusive rights free agent in the 2007 offseason. He was re-signed to a one-year contract on March 19, 2007, but released on September 1 during final cuts.

New England Patriots (second stint)

Eckel was signed to the Patriots' practice squad on September 3, 2007, [4] at a salary of $125,000, significantly higher than that season's base salary for practice squad players ($79,900). [5]

He was promoted to the active roster on October 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Eckel made his regular season debut in that Monday Night Football contest, playing on special teams for much of the game, recording one tackle and getting his first carry (for three yards) in the fourth quarter. He scored his first NFL touchdown in the final minute of the Patriots' Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys, and a second in their Week 10 rout of the Buffalo Bills. In the Week 9 game between the undefeated Patriots and undefeated Indianapolis Colts, Eckel led all players with three special teams tackles in a Patriots 24–20 win and received special teams player of the game honors.

The Patriots released Eckel on August 26, 2008, in the first round of preseason cuts. He was re-signed to the Patriots roster on September 15, 2008, the day after their Week 2 game. The Patriots again released Eckel on September 22.

Philadelphia Eagles

Eckel was signed by his hometown Philadelphia Eagles on October 21, 2008. [6] He played much of the season as a special teams starter and short yardage running back. Eckel was named the most valuable special teams performer in a divisional round playoff victory against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands.

New Orleans Saints

On October 29, 2009, the New Orleans Saints announced that they had signed Eckel to their roster. Eckel was primarily a fullback and special teams player on the 2009 Saints that won Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts, 31–17.

Denver Broncos

Eckel was signed by the Denver Broncos on June 4, 2010. He was waived/injured on June 17, [7] and subsequently placed on injured reserve on June 21.

After Football

In 2014, four years after leaving the NFL, Kyle Eckel was named the color analyst for the West Chester University football team, a school a few miles south of his native Philadelphia. He also became an assistant football coach for Malvern Prep. At the same time, Eckel was on the zoning board in Marlton, N.J. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Byars</span> American football player (born 1963)

Keith Alan Byars is an American sports broadcaster and former professional football player. He played as a fullback and tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets. He was selected in the first round by the Eagles in the 1986 NFL draft. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

James Solomon "Big Jim" Nance was an American professional football player who was a fullback with the Boston Patriots during their days in the American Football League (AFL). He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2009. He played college football for the Syracuse Orangemen.

Dan Klecko is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle and fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football for the Temple Owls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Cunningham</span> American football player (1950–2021)

Samuel Lewis Cunningham Jr, nicknamed "Bam", was an American professional football player who was a fullback for 10 seasons with the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, where he earned first-team All-American honors and was the MVP of the 1973 Rose Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. K. Sam</span> American gridiron football player (born 1983)

Philip Kenwood Sam II is an American former professional football wide receiver. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played college football at Florida State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heath Evans</span> American football player and sports analyst (born 1978)

Bryan Heath Evans is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Auburn Tigers, he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2001 NFL draft. He also played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints, the last of which he won a Super Bowl with while on injured reserve. Evans retired after the 2010 season and was formerly an analyst with NFL Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Arrington</span> American football player (born 1986)

Kyle Chandler Arrington Sr. is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Hofstra Pride. Arrington was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He was also a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Gibson</span> American football player (born 1987)

Brandon Lewis Gibson is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football at Washington State and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Mailei</span> American football player (born 1986)

Marcus Anthony Mailei is a former American football fullback. After playing college football for Weber State, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He was a member of the New Orleans Saints from 2009–2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Thigpen</span> American football player (born 1986)

Marcus Arnette Thigpen is an American former professional football player who was a running back and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers, earning first-team All-American honors in 2006. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Thigpen was also a member of the Denver Broncos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Bolden</span> American football player (born 1990)

Brandon Bolden is an American professional football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2012 by the New England Patriots, where he played nine non-consecutive seasons. Primarily utilized as a special teams player, Bolden was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams with New England. In between his two Patriots stints, he played for the Miami Dolphins in 2018. Bolden left the Patriots a second time to join the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Hogan (American football)</span> American football and lacrosse player (born 1988)

Christopher James Hogan is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He played college football for the Monmouth Hawks following three years of college lacrosse with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Hogan was a member of five NFL teams, most notably the New England Patriots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Develin</span> American football player (born 1988)

James Rittenhouse Develin, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a fullback. He played college football for the Brown Bears as a defensive end. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of the Arena Football League (AFL). He most prominently played for the New England Patriots for seven seasons with whom he won three Super Bowls and appeared in a Pro Bowl. Develin was on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad for two seasons and played for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League (UFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Foster</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Darryll James "D. J." Foster is a former gridiron football running back who is the manager of player development at Arizona State University, where he played college football. He signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He was a member of the Super Bowl LI winning Patriots, though was inactive for the game itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mack Hollins</span> American football player (born 1993)

Mack Hollins is an American professional football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft.

Braxton Berrios is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami (FL). He was a star athlete at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he played quarterback and wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cethan Carter</span> American football player (born 1995)

Cethan Carter is an American professional football tight end. He played college football at Nebraska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phillip Lindsay</span> American football player (born 1994)

Phillip Lindsay is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was born in Denver, Colorado, grew up in Aurora, Colorado, and attended South High School in Denver where he became the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,587 yards. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and set the school record in all-purpose yards (5,760) and yards from scrimmage (4,683). He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos in 2018. Lindsay became the first undrafted offensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl. He is the only NFL player since 1950 to record 700 or more career touches without a fumble.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynn Bowden</span> American football player (born 1997)

Lynn Bowden Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats where he was the team's starting quarterback for seven games as a junior and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. He has played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malcolm Perry (American football)</span> American football player (born 1997)

Malcolm Xiomar Perry is an American officer in the United States Navy and a former professional football wide receiver. He attended the United States Naval Academy, where he played college football for the Navy Midshipmen from 2016 to 2019.

References

  1. ↑ "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Kyle Richard Eckel". Judiciary of Pennsylvania . January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  2. ↑ "USNA player's failed test causes 'uproar'". United States of America Service Academy Forums. January 28, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Kyle Eckel College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  4. ↑ Reiss, Mike (September 3, 2007). "2 to practice squad". Boston.com. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  5. ↑ Reiss, Mike (September 19, 2007). "NFL hunting on Fox leak". Boston.com. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Philadelphia Eagles".
  7. ↑ Wilson, Aaron (June 17, 2010). "Broncos sign J.D. Walton to $2.58 million deal". nationalfootballpost.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Kyle Eckel starts over again as football analyst and assistant coach". nfl-pe-stage.azurewebsites.net. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.