Jerry Eckwood
| Date of birth | December 26, 1954 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Brinkley, Arkansas |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Running back |
| College | Arkansas |
| NFL draft | 1979 / Round: 3 / Pick 60 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1979–1981 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Career stats | |
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Jerry Eckwood (born December 26, 1954) is a former NFL running back. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1979–1981, and was a key member of the Buccaneers team that made the first playoff appearance in franchise history in 1979. Eckwood played collegiately for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1975–78.
Eckwood was a highly recruited running back out of Brinkley, Arkansas, rushing for 2616 yards in 1973. He was signed to an athletic scholarship with the Arkansas Razorbacks by then-head coach Frank Broyles.
Eckwood played for the Razorbacks from 1975–78, and was a three-year letterman ('75, '76, '78), playing both for Broyles and Lou Holtz. Eckwood was named 1st Team All Southwest Conference in 1975, rushing for 792 yards on 104 carries. His 7.62 yards per carry that season remained a school record until shattered by Felix Jones in 2007. Eckwood had six 100-yard rushing games in his Razorback career, five of those games occurring in 1975.
Eckwood was taken in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ahead of notable players such as NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana and Pro Bowlers Kenny King, William Andrews, and Tony Franklin. Eckwood shared the backfield with quarterback Doug Williams and running back Ricky Bell. In 1979, Eckwood was the Buccaneers' second- leading rusher with 690 yards on 194 carries. He was, at the time, one of only 11 running backs to have gained 100 yards in his first professional game. Tampa Bay made the first playoff appearance in franchise history in 1979, advancing to the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams 9-0. Eckwood's 42-yard option pass to Larry Mucker was the Bucs' longest play of the game.
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