Tom Waddle

Tom Waddle

Tom Waddle at Navy Pier
No. 87
Position:	Wide Receiver
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1967-02-20) February 20, 1967 (age 50)
Place of birth:	Cincinnati, Ohio
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:	Cincinnati (OH) Moeller
College:	Boston College
Undrafted:	1989
Career history
Chicago Bears (1989–1994) Cincinnati Bengals (1995)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
All Madden Team (1991) Chicago Bears Leading Receiver (1991, 1992)
Career NFL statistics
Touchdowns: 9 Receiving yards: 2,109 Receptions: 173
Player stats at PFR

Gregory Thomas Waddle (born February 20, 1967) is a former American football player in the NFL. Waddle is currently a co-host of "Waddle and Silvy" on ESPN 1000, and a football analyst for WLS-TV in Chicago. He also appears on Pro Football Weekly and NFL Network. He spent his entire six-year career with the Chicago Bears. He attended Boston College.

Waddle was an outstanding receiver for the Boston College Eagles. He is currently third all-time in career receptions with 139, and amassed 1,956 yards and 6 touchdowns for BC. Waddle finished his collegiate career first on the school’s all-time list for receptions in a season with 70 in 1988, and is tied for first in all-time receptions in a single game with 13 against Notre Dame in 1988. Waddle's precise routes and excellent hands made him a standout receiver at the college level, earning him the honor of first-team All-East selection in 1988 and an appearance in the Japan Bowl. His achievements at BC resulted in his induction into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. He also played alongside Doug Flutie's younger brother, Darren Flutie. Many people think that Waddle caught the famous "Hail Flutie" pass, but that ball was caught by Gerard Phelan. Waddle wore the same number as Phelan, and his relationship with the younger Flutie has added to this confusion.

In 1989, the Chicago Bears signed Waddle as an undrafted free agent. During his first two years with the Bears, he struggled to make an impact as a receiver. Waddle lacked the size and speed to distinguish himself from other Bears wide receivers and remained on the lower rungs of the team's depth chart. He received a chance to start in 1991 after the Bears lost starters due to injuries. In a nationally televised Monday night game against the Jets, he made eight catches for 102 yards in an overtime win. In Chicago's wild card playoff loss to Dallas (17-13), Waddle was the Bears' sole standout performer on the offensive side of the ball, catching nine passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. His performance established him as a mainstay in the Bears lineup and clinched him a spot on the famed All-Madden Team.

In 1992, Waddle began the season as a starting wide receiver and became a fan favorite. In the opener against the Detroit Lions, he caught a last second game-winning touchdown pass from Jim Harbaugh. Later in a week 4 victory over the Falcons, he managed to outrun Deion Sanders into the endzone for a score. Waddle missed the final four games of the season because of injury.