| Personal information | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1968-12-29)December 29, 1968 (age 57) Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Deep Creek (Chesapeake, Virginia) | ||||||||
| College | Penn State | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1992: 8th round, 203rd overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
Playing | |||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Darren Perry (born December 29, 1968) is an American former professionalfootball player who was asafety in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for thePenn State Nittany Lions from 1988 to 1991. After graduating, he was selected in the eighth round of the1992 NFL draft by thePittsburgh Steelers. He played in the NFL for eight seasons, seven with the Steelers, but also with theSan Diego Chargers,Baltimore Ravens, andNew Orleans Saints. Perry retired from playing in 2000.
Since retiring, Perry has served as a defensive backs and safeties coach at the professional level with theCincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers,Oakland Raiders, andGreen Bay Packers and theVegas Vipers of theXFL.
Perry attendedDeep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he played football, basketball and tennis. He played on both sides of the ball for the football team, and threw for 23 touchdowns and 2,790 yards as quarterback, adding another 14 touchdowns and 1,167 yards rushing.[1] Perry played under CoachJim Garrett. He was named an All-Star in theSoutheastern District and made second team All State.
In 2007, Perry was recognized by the Deep Creek High School Alumni Association as one of the top Distinguished Notable Alumni.
Perry played as a free safety underJoe Paterno atPenn State. He was named a first-teamAll-American as a senior in 1991 by theFootball Writers Association of America. Perry is tied for the second-most career interceptions at the school, with 15. His 299 interception return yards and three interceptions for touchdowns are school records. Perry had six interceptions in his senior year and returned two for touchdowns.[2]
Perry appeared on the cover of the November 26, 1990, issue ofSports Illustrated following Penn State's defeat of top-rankedNotre Dame.[3] Perry intercepted a pass late in the game that set up the game-winning field goal.[4]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft10+3⁄8 in (1.79 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 30 in (0.76 m) | 8+5⁄8 in (0.22 m) | 4.81 s | 1.69 s | 2.78 s | 4.36 s | 32.0 in (0.81 m) | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) | 13 reps |
An eighth-round draft pick (203rd overall) of the1992 NFL draft, Perry was picked by Pittsburgh Steelers head coachBill Cowher.[5] Perry played seven seasons (1992–98) with the team. Largely unheralded, the free safety started from his first game as a rookie. That year, he picked off six passes, and became the first rookie since 1955 to lead the team in interceptions. Perry was named the winner of the 1992Charles Edward Greene, aka the "Joe Greene" Great Performance Award, given to the most outstanding Steelers rookie.[1] Perry is the only free safety to receive this award since it was established in 1984.
Perry started in each of the first 110 games of his career, including the postseason, all with the Steelers.
Perry was a member of the 1995AFC Champion Steelers that nearly upset the heavily favoredDallas Cowboys inSuper Bowl XXX.[6] Pittsburgh won five division titles, an AFC title, and appeared in three AFC championship games during Perry's time on the team.
Perry played 64 games paired withPro BowlerRod Woodson in the secondary from 1992 to 1996. They combined for 48 interceptions over this period. Perry's 32 career interceptions from 1992 to 1998 are tied for seventh in Pittsburgh history.[7]
Perry signed with the San Diego Chargers in 1999,[8] but sat out the season with a neck injury.[1] He played his final season in 2000 with the New Orleans Saints, starting all 16 regular season games and recording three interceptions.
Perry retired having played in 139 of 141 possible games. He missed only two games in 1997 due to a groin injury. He started 13 postseason games, including Super Bowl XXX. He had a career total of 35 interceptions, one interception returned for a touchdown, four forced fumbles, eight fumbles recovered, and two and a half sacks.[9]
In 1997, the Pittsburgh Chapter of Pro Football Writers of America selected Perry as the recipient of "The Chief" Award, given annually to the Steeler who best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media.[10]
Perry spent the2002 season as the Cincinnati Bengals' safeties coach under his formerdefensive coordinator,Dick LeBeau. He coached defensive backs for the Steelers from 2003 to 2006, and helped develop two outstanding Steelers safeties, All-ProTroy Polamalu andChris Hope. The Steelers wonSuper Bowl XL in 2005 while Perry was on staff. He resigned from the Steelers coaching staff after the retirement of head coach Bill Cowher.[11]
The Oakland Raiders hired Perry as their defensive backs coach in 2007.[12] He spent two seasons with the team and coached Pro Bowl playerNnamdi Asomugha.
The Green Bay Packers hired Perry as their safeties coach on February 3, 2009, and he remained on their staff through the 2017 season.[13] He was secondary coach on the 2010 Packers squad that wonSuper Bowl XLV over the Steelers.[14]
Perry was officially hired by theVegas Vipers on September 13, 2022.[15] On January 1, 2024, it was announced the Vipers would not be a part of the UFL Merger.[16]
In 1992, Perry started a program called "Intercept for Care", where he made a $500 donation for every interception he made to Chesapeake Care—a free health clinic for those without insurance or access. Perry later convinced others to match his contributions, making each interception worth as much as $2,500.[17]
Perry and his wife Errika have four children and live inChesapeake, Virginia, in the offseason.[18]
In 2007, Perry andKeith Goganious, a fellow Penn State and NFL player, helped revive the Hampton Roads Football Camp after a 12-year hiatus. The camp, held atVirginia Wesleyan College, is aimed at high school athletes.New York Giants wide receiverPlaxico Burress was a past attendee.[18]
On August 27, 2022, Perry was given the 2021 Presidential Volunteer Lifetime of Achievement Award for his outstanding service to the community. He was also honored by the city of Chesapeake as The Chesapeake ICON 2022 Hometown Hero with a letter of recognition from the Office of the Mayor. Perry was nominated on August 30, 2022, to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.