Highlighted Year: Hugh Douglas, 2000

Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles

Age: 29

6^th season in pro football, 3^rd with Eagles

College: Central State (OH)

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 280

Prelude:

Douglas was twice a Division 1 NAIA All-American during a college career in which he accumulated 42 sacks in 32 games. He was chosen by the Jets in the first round (16^th overall) of the 1995 NFL draft and, used initially as a situational player for his pass rushing skill, moved into the starting lineup in November. While initially on the light side for his position (he weighed 255 as a rookie), Douglas compensated with good speed and agility. He was credited with 10 sacks and received NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors from the Associated Press and Pro Football Writers. Ankle problems limited Douglas to 10 games in 1996, but he still accounted for 8 sacks and improved as a defender against the run. However, with the arrival of Bill Parcells as head coach in ’97 the Jets shifted to a 3-4 defense and Douglas proved to be a poor fit. He was traded to the Eagles in 1998 and, back in a 4-3 alignment, flourished as he registered 12.5 sacks, although knee and bicep injuries limited him to four games and two sacks in ’99.

2000 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 15 [4]

Most sacks, game – 2.5 at Green Bay 9/17

Multi-sack games – 3

Interceptions – 1

Int. return yards – 9

Int. return TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles – 2

Tackles – 44

Assists – 12

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 2

Most sacks, game – 2 vs. Tampa Bay, NFC Wild Card playoff

Interceptions – 0

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Eagles went 11-5 to finish second in the NFC East and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card while leading the conference in fewest points allowed (245). Won NFC Wild Card playoff over Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21-3). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to New York Giants (20-10).

Aftermath:

Douglas followed up with two more Pro Bowl seasons in 2001 and ’02 in which he had 9.5 and 12.5 sacks, respectively. He moved on to Jacksonville as a free agent in 2003, had a disappointing season as accumulated wear began to show, and finished up his career in ’04 back with the Eagles. Overall, Douglas had 80 sacks over the course of ten seasons and 138 games, was chosen to the Pro Bowl a total of three times, and received first- or second-team All-NFL recognition on two occasions.

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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