 Weems with the Falcons in 2016 | |||||||||||||
| No. 14 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positions | Wide receiver,return specialist | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | (1985-07-04)July 4, 1985 (age 40) Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Seabreeze(Daytona Beach) | ||||||||||||
| College | Bethune–Cookman (2003–2006) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2007: undrafted | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Eric G. Weems (born July 4, 1985) is an American former professionalfootball player who was awide receiver,special teamer, andreturn specialist in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theBethune–Cookman Wildcats and was signed by theAtlanta Falcons as anundrafted free agent in 2007. He also played for theChicago Bears andTennessee Titans.
Weems attendedSeabreeze High School inDaytona Beach, Florida and was a letterman infootball and basketball.[1] In football, as a senior, he was named the team M.V.P. and was an All-Area selection and an All-State selection. In basketball, he was an All-Area selection.[citation needed]
While attendingBethune-Cookman University in his hometown ofDaytona Beach, Florida,[2][3][4] Weems was a stand-out wide receiver/A-back for theBethune–Cookman Wildcats football team. He played under head coachAlvin Wyatt from 2003 to 2007. Weems left with his name in the records for numerous receiving categories throughout his four-year career at Bethune-Cookman. In his senior year, he added special teams to his portfolio, serving as the kickoff and punt return specialist for the Wildcats.[5]
Weems saw action in the NFL for the first time in the season finale against theSeattle Seahawks.[6] He did not post any statistics.[7]
Weems's first career reception came with a 4-yard catch in the first quarter of the Falcons' week 12 match-up against theCarolina Panthers. Later in the same game, Weems provided a key block for a 7-yardHarry Douglas touchdown run.[8] His first career fumble recovery came on aMinnesota Vikings muffed punt in week 16 of the 2008 season.[9]
Weems won a job with the Atlanta Falcons as a punt returner in 2009 when wide receiverHarry Douglas was placed on the injured reserved list with a season ending knee injury. Weems ended up returning both punts and kicks as the season progressed.Weems scored his first career touchdown against theDallas Cowboys in Week 7 of the 2009 season, he caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterbackMatt Ryan.[10] Weems scored his second career touchdown against theNew York Giants in Week 11 of the 2009 season, he had a 4-yard touchdown reception.[11]
On the night of November 16, 2009, Weems was arrested inDeKalb County, Georgia for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Shortly afterward, Weems released a statement saying “Unfortunately, I was involved in an incident on November 17, 2009. I am embarrassed about the situation and I sincerely apologize to the entire Atlanta Falcons organization and our great fans.”[12] No specific action was taken by the Atlanta Falcons or the NFL.
Weems finished the 2009 season with six catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed eight times for 53 yards. Weems returned 48 kicks for 1214 yards and 27 punts for 270 yards, fumbled three times and losing two, and recorded 10 tackles.[13]
Weems had a career-high of four catches against thePittsburgh Steelers in the first week of the 2010 season.[14] He had his first career start as a wide receiver against theArizona Cardinals in week 2.[15] Weems returned his first career kickoff return for a touchdown against theTampa Bay Buccaneers on week 13 of the season. The 102 yards was a franchise record for theAtlanta Falcons.[16] He also returned his first career punt return for a touchdown against theCarolina Panthers on week 17 of the season.[17] The 55 yards was a career-high. Weems was selected to the2011 Pro Bowl as a special teams member.[18] Weems finished the 2010 season with six catches for 61 yards. He returned 40 kickoffs for a 1,100 yards with one touchdown. Weems returned 18 punts for 230 yards with one touchdown.[19] He was the only player in the NFC to return a kick and a punt for a touchdown.[20]Weems had a notable contribution for theAtlanta Falcons in the 2010-2011 NFCDivisional Round against theGreen Bay Packers. Early in the second quarter, Weems fielded a kickoff two yards deep in his team's own end zone and ran virtually untouched for 102-yard kickoff return touchdown.[21] The 102-yard return was the longest play in NFL postseason history.[22]
TheAtlanta Falcons re-signed Weems to a one-year contract on July 31, 2011.[23] He appeared in all 16 games with theAtlanta Falcons, He made two starts at the wide receiver position. Weems caught a career-high 11 catches for a career-high 90 yards. Weems returned 24 kicks for 563 yards. He also returned 32 punts for 315 Yards. Weems also recorded 12 tackles on special teams. He did not score any touchdowns.[24]
Weems was selected as a first-team alternate for the 2012 Pro Bowl as a special teams player.[25]
Weems returned four kickoffs for an average of 20 yards per kickoff and a long of 27 yards in the NFCWild Card Round game against theNew York Giants. He did not record any receptions in the 24–2 loss.[26]
On March 14, 2012, Weems signed a three-year contract with theChicago Bears as anunrestricted free agent.[27] Weems played in all 16 games with one start at the wide receiver position. Weems caught 2 balls for only 27 yards. He returned 13 kickoffs for 231 yards and 1 punt for no yards. Weems fumbled once and recovered 2 fumbles during the season. He also made 8 tackles.[28] The Bears finished the season with a record of 10-6 and did not make the playoffs.[29]
Weems appeared in all 16 games with the Bears in 2013. He recorded only one reception for eight yards. Weems returned five kickoffs for 57 yards. Weems recorded nine tackles in the season and forced one fumble.[30]
After the Bears signedSantonio Holmes, Weems was released by the team on August 16, 2014.[31]
On August 21, 2014, Weems signed with the Atlanta Falcons.[32] Weems appeared in all 16 regular season games with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014.[33] On October 5, Weems forced a fumble and recovered a fumble on separate occasions against theNew York Giants.[34][35] He caught his first touchdown of the season against theGreen Bay Packers on December 8.[36] He then caught his second touchdown two weeks later on December 21, against theNew Orleans Saints.[37] Weems caught 10 passes for a career-high 102 yards and two touchdowns. On special teams, he recorded thirteen tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and returned two kicks for 34 yards.[38]
Weems signed a two-year extension with the Falcons on March 6, 2015.[39][40] Weems saw action in all 16 games. He had one reception for 11 yards. Weems returned 15 kicks for 403 yards. He also returned 19 punts for 221 yards.[41]
In the 2016 season, Weems was part of a record-breaking Falcons team.[42] On September 18, 2016, he returned a punt for a career-long 73 yards against theOakland Raiders.[43] Weems and the Falcons reachedSuper Bowl LI, where they faced theNew England Patriots. In the Super Bowl, Weems had two kick returns for 25 total yards and one punt return for no yards. the Falcons fell in a 34–28 overtime defeat.[44]
On March 10, 2017, Weems signed with theTennessee Titans.[45] He was released on September 2, 2017, but was re-signed the next day.[46][47] In the 2017 season, Weems mainly played on a special teams role for the Titans.[48]
On March 9, 2018, Weems was released by the Titans.[49]
| Year | Team | GP | Receiving | Punt Return | Kick Return | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Tgt | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FD | Att | Yds | TD | FC | Lng | Att | Yds | TD | FC | Lng | Fum | Lost | |||
| 2008 | ATL | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | ATL | 16 | 6 | 6 | 50 | 8.3 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 270 | 0 | 14 | 28 | 48 | 1,214 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | ATL | 16 | 6 | 6 | 61 | 10.2 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 230 | 1 | 19 | 55 | 40 | 1,100 | 1 | 0 | 102 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | ATL | 16 | 11 | 14 | 90 | 8.2 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 32 | 315 | 0 | 19 | 42 | 24 | 563 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | CHI | 16 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 13.5 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 231 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | CHI | 16 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8.0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | ATL | 16 | 10 | 11 | 102 | 10.2 | 40 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | ATL | 16 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 221 | 0 | 16 | 41 | 15 | 403 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | ATL | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 273 | 0 | 21 | 73 | 17 | 391 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | TEN | 16 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 150 | 39 | 47 | 358 | 9.2 | 40 | 4 | 20 | 123 | 1,324 | 1 | 91 | 73 | 167 | 4,030 | 1 | 0 | 102 | 0 | 0 | |
Media related toEric Weems at Wikimedia Commons