| No. 23, 28, 30 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1976-07-20)July 20, 1976 (age 48) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 191 lb (87 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | South Mountain (AZ) | ||||||||
| College: | Tennessee | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1998: 1st round, 20th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
As a player: | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
As a coach: | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Terrance Delon Fair (born July 20, 1976) is an American former professionalfootball player who was acornerback in theNational Football League (NFL). A first round pick in the1998 NFL draft, he played from 1998 to 2005.[1] He playedcollege football for theTennessee Volunteers.
After his NFL career, Fair spent three seasons on the coaching staff atPhoenix College, and co-hostedThe Drive, a sports talk show inKnoxville. He joined the Tennessee coaching staff as agraduate assistant underButch Jones in 2013. He worked as cornerbacks coach underMike Bobo atColorado State from 2015 to 2017.[2]
Fair played high school football atSouth Mountain High School in his nativePhoenix, Arizona. He played primarily atrunning back and defensive back, but occasionally lined up at quarterback and wide receiver. During his senior season in 1993, he rushed for 1,475 yards and 28 touchdowns on 172 carries, and tallied over 3,000 yards during his career as a three-year starter. He was named to the high school All-American teams ofSuper Prep andBlue Chip. Along with football, Fair also played for the basketball team, and competed in thehigh jump in track and field.[3]
Fair played college football at the University of Tennessee, part of the school's heralded 1994 signing class.[4][5] During his freshman season in 1994, he tallied 41 tackles, an interception, and three passes broken up, and was named to the All-SEC Freshman team. The following season, he recorded 50 tackles, two interceptions, and four passes broken up. During his junior year in 1996, he recorded 33 tackles, four interceptions, and three passes broken up, and returned 29 punts for 400 yards and two touchdowns.[6] During his senior season in 1997, Fair recorded 39 tackles, five interceptions, and nine passes broken up, and returned 19 punts for 272 yards, helping the Vols win the SEC Championship.[7] He was named All-SEC in 1996 and 1997.[8]
Fair was selected in the first round (20th overall pick) by theDetroit Lions in the1998 NFL draft.[9] During his rookie year with the Lions, he tallied 39 tackles, including one sack, and led the NFL in kick return average with 28 yards per return.[10] He returned two kickoffs for a touchdown, including a season-long 105-yarder againstTampa Bay onMonday Night Football.[11][12] For his game against Tampa Bay, he won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[13] He was named to the NFL All-Rookie team by theSporting News andPro Football Writers Association.[2][14]
During his second season in 1999, Fair recorded three interceptions, including a 41-yard pick six againstMinnesota,[15] and averaged 22.1 yards on 34 kick returns.[16] He won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game against the Vikings.[17] In 2000, he intercepted two passes, returned six kickoffs for 149 yards, and returned two punts for 15 yards.[18] In 2001, Fair registered 43 tackles and intercepted two passes, including a 26-yard pick six againstCleveland,[19] though he struggled with a foot injury during the latter part of the season.[20][21]
After being released by the Lions in 2002, Fair signed with theCarolina Panthers, but played only three games before a broken ankle ended his season[22] He was subsequently released by the Panthers, and spent the 2003 season recovering in Phoenix.[23] In 2004, he signed with thePittsburgh Steelers, but was cut prior to the season.[24] Fair signed with theSt. Louis Rams in 2005, but played in only five games due to injuries.[25]
After retiring from the NFL, Fair joined the coaching staff atPhoenix College.[26] Four of his players went on to joinDivision I programs. He also co-hostedThe Drive, a sports talk radio show that aired onWNOX in Knoxville. In 2010, he obtained a degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee.[27] In 2013, Fair joined Butch Jones's staff at Tennessee as a defensive quality control assistant.[28] Fair served as the cornerbacks coach on the staff ofMike Bobo atColorado State from 2015 to 2017.[2]
In December 2017, Fair returned to his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, joining the staff of newly hired head coachJeremy Pruitt.[29] On February 8, 2019, Tennessee parted ways with Fair.[30]
Fair and his wife, Sherlone, have three children together, Herandre, Delan, and Ariyah.[27] His uncleFred Carr played in the NFL for theGreen Bay Packers.[31]