Age: 22
(Sept. 26)
1st
season in pro football
College: Arkansas
Height: 5’11” Weight: 175
Prelude:
Edmonds, who
also played baseball, was used as a wide receiver and running back in college,
gaining 1481 yards from scrimmage (755 rushing, 726 pass receiving) and averaging
10.3 yards on 93 punt returns. He was chosen by the Seahawks in the fifth round
of the 1986 NFL draft with the hope that, with his speed and sure-handedness,
he would provide an upgrade to the team’s kick return game.
1986 Season Summary
Appeared in 15
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 34
[8]
Yards – 764 [8]
Most yards,
game – 107 (on 6 ret.) at New England 9/21
Average per
return – 22.5 [10]
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 46 yards
Punt Returns
Returns – 34
[10, tied with Willie Drewrey]
Yards – 419 [6]
Most yards,
game – 103 (on 4 ret.) vs. Philadelphia 11/23
Average per
return – 12.3 [1]
TDs – 1 [2,
tied with eleven others]
Longest
return – 75 yards
Rushing
Attempts – 1
Yards – -11
TDs – 0
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News
1st
team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Seahawks went
10-6 to finish third in the AFC West while leading the conference in punt
return average (11.7).
Aftermath:
Edmonds was
near the top with a 12.6-yard average on 20 punt returns during the
strike-interrupted 1987 season and followed up with a punt return average of
9.7 yards in ’88 along with 22.5 yards on 40 kickoff returns. He signed as a
free agent with the Detroit Lions in 1989 and also tried his hand at baseball
during the Spring with the Class AA Reading Phillies. Shifted to wide receiver
and a poor fit in Detroit’s new run-and-shoot offense, he was cut in the
preseason, signed with the Raiders, and appeared in seven games, averaging 10.5
yards on 16 punt returns and 19.4 yards returning 14 kickoffs, but a broken
ankle finished his season and he was released afterward. It brought an end
initially to his NFL career due to off-field problems and concerns about his
injury, but he returned with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995 at age 31 and
averaged 10.1 yards on 29 punt returns and 19.8 yards running back 58 kickoffs.
Overall, Edmonds averaged 11.0 yards on 134 punt returns and 21.1 yards on 173
kickoff returns, with 89 punt returns for an 11.3-yard average and 101 kickoff
returns for a 22.1-yard average coming with the Seahawks.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches,
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
