eddie george
Eddie George is a renowned American football coach, former player, and multifaceted personality. Here are some key points about his life and career:
Early Life and Education
Eddie George was born on September 24, 1973, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Abington Senior High School until the tenth grade before transferring to Fork Union Military Academy, where he spent an additional postgraduate year to improve his college recruitment prospects23.
College Career
George attended Ohio State University, where he majored in landscape architecture and played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. During his time at Ohio State, he had a stellar career, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1995 in the closest vote in the history of the award at that time. He finished his college career with 3,768 rushing yards, 44 rushing touchdowns, and a total of 4,284 all-purpose yards23.
NFL Career
George was drafted in the first round (14th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, which later became the Tennessee Titans. He played for the Titans from 1996 to 2003 and was the team's starting tailback throughout his tenure there, never missing a start. He won the NFL Rookie of the Year award in 1996 and made the Pro Bowl four consecutive years from 1997 to 2000. In 2004, he signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys, where he played until his retirement in 2006. His NFL career totals include 10,441 rushing yards, 268 receptions, 2,227 receiving yards, and 78 touchdowns245.
Post-Football Career
After retiring from football, George pursued various endeavors. He earned an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in 2009. He has also acted, appearing on Broadway in the musical Chicago as Billy Flynn in 2016 and guest starring in an episode of the satirical talk show Comedy Bang Bang in 20152.
Coaching Career
On April 13, 2021, George was named the head football coach at Tennessee State University, signing a five-year contract worth $400,000 annually. In his fourth year as head coach in 2024, he was named the Big South–OVC Coach of the Year23.
Honors and Recognition
George was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. His No. 27 jersey was retired by the Tennessee Titans in 2019, and he was a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 20212.
Personal Life
Eddie George is married to Tamara “Taj†George, and they have two sons, Eriq and Jaire. He is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and serves as a board member of Music City Baseball3.