_(cropped).jpg) Richardson visitingMarine Corps Air Station Futenma in 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 49 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Fullback | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1971-12-17)December 17, 1971 (age 53) Frankfurt, West Germany | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Daleville (AL) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Auburn | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1994: undrafted | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Antonio Richardson (born December 17, 1971) is an American former professionalfootball player who was afullback for theDallas Cowboys,Kansas City Chiefs,Minnesota Vikings, andNew York Jets of theNational Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Cowboys as anundrafted free agent in 1994. He playedcollege football for theAuburn Tigers.
He is considered one of the best fullbacks in NFL history having blocked for 1,000 yards rushers in nine consecutive NFL seasons in addition to leading theKansas City Chiefs in rushing yards in 2000. During those seasons he blocked for multiple Pro Bowl running backs includingPriest Holmes,Larry Johnson,Adrian Peterson,Thomas Jones andLaDainian Tomlinson.
Richardson did not start playing football until attending Daleville High School inDaleville, Alabama. As a senior, he posted 1,003 rushing yards. He also competed inbasketball andbaseball.
He accepted a football scholarship fromAuburn University, where he was a three-year starter. As a true freshman, he became the second player to start his first game at Auburn for head coachPat Dye.[1]
As a junior, he began blocking for two-time All-SEC running backJames Bostic. As a senior, he started all 11 games at fullback, contributing to the team having an undefeated season with an 11–0 record and finishing ranked #4 in theAP Poll. He registered 58 carries for 249 yards (third on the team), 4 rushing touchdowns, 28 receptions for 273 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns.
He finished his college career with 162 carries for 715 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 44 receptions for 395 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns.
In 2015, he was inducted into theAlabama Sports Hall of Fame.[2]
Richardson was signed as anundrafted free agent by theDallas Cowboys after the1994 NFL draft. He was waived on April 29.[3] He was later brought back to the team and given the chance to finish training camp. On August 28, he was released for a second time. On August 30, he was signed to thepractice squad, where he remained the rest of the season as part of a team that includedPro BowlersEmmitt Smith andDaryl Johnston.[4] At the end of the year, he was declared afree agent.
On February 28,1995, Richardson signed as afree agent with theKansas City Chiefs.[5] He started one game in that season, and was noted for blocking for Hall of FamerMarcus Allen on his way to his 100th career touchdown.
In 1999, he became the starting fullback for the team, blocking forDonnell Bennett andBam Morris. He later blocked for record setting running backPriest Holmes and the most productive seasons ofLarry Johnson's career.
In 2000, he was given a chance to be the team's featured back in the fifteenth game against theDenver Broncos, posting 23 carries for 156 rushing yards and one touchdown. In 2001, the Chiefs signedfree agentPriest Holmes and Richardson helped him lead the NFL in rushing yards (1,555). In 2002, with Richardson's blocking contribution, Holmes had the best season by a running back in Chiefs history, registering 1,615 rushing yards, 672 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns.
Richardson was named to USA Today's All-Joe Team in 2000 and 2001. He was selected to represent theAFC in the2004 and2005Pro Bowls.
In 2016, he was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame during the 2016 season.[6]
On March 21,2006, Richardson signed with the Minnesota Vikings.[7] He suffered a broken forearm in the ninth game against theGreen Bay Packers.[8] On November 22, he was placed on theinjured reserve list. He was replaced with second year playerJeff Dugan.[9] Richardson contributed to running backChester Taylor's only career 1,000 rushing yard season.
In2007, he appeared in 14 games with 3 starts and blocked for rookieAdrian Peterson. He was selected to represent theNFC in the2008 Pro Bowl. At the end of the season, the Vikings did not re-sign Richardson, opting to pay for the cheaperThomas Tapeh.
On March 6,2008, Richardson signed a one-year contract with theNew York Jets, reuniting with his former Chiefs running back coachJimmy Raye II.[10] He was re-signed by the team on February 27,2009.[11] Following the expiration of his previous contract, Richardson, once again, signed with the team on March 16,2010.[12] He was released on September 5,[13] but a day later he was re-signed after the Jets reached a deal withcornerbackDarrelle Revis.[14][15] He wasn't re-signed after the season.
He was the recipient of the"Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award at the end of the2010 season.[16] During his time with the Jets, Richardson helpedThomas Jones to two 1,000+ yard seasons.
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1995 | KAN | 14 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 2.3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | KAN | 13 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 17 | 1 |
| 1997 | KAN | 14 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2.0 | 3 | 3 |
| 1998 | KAN | 14 | 1 | 20 | 45 | 2.3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 15 | 0 |
| 1999 | KAN | 16 | 16 | 84 | 387 | 4.6 | 26 | 1 | 24 | 141 | 5.9 | 29 | 0 |
| 2000 | KAN | 16 | 16 | 147 | 697 | 4.7 | 33 | 3 | 58 | 468 | 8.1 | 24 | 3 |
| 2001 | KAN | 14 | 8 | 66 | 191 | 2.9 | 19 | 7 | 30 | 265 | 8.8 | 47 | 0 |
| 2002 | KAN | 14 | 12 | 22 | 81 | 3.7 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 125 | 6.9 | 23 | 1 |
| 2003 | KAN | 16 | 10 | 24 | 60 | 2.5 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 76 | 6.3 | 14 | 0 |
| 2004 | KAN | 16 | 16 | 12 | 56 | 4.7 | 13 | 0 | 19 | 118 | 6.2 | 22 | 0 |
| 2005 | KAN | 16 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 3.3 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 68 | 7.6 | 22 | 1 |
| 2006 | MIN | 9 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 2.4 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 111 | 8.5 | 25 | 0 |
| 2007 | MIN | 14 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 1.9 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 89 | 8.1 | 12 | 0 |
| 2008 | NYJ | 16 | 7 | 10 | 65 | 6.5 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2009 | NYJ | 16 | 10 | 7 | 48 | 6.9 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3.3 | 5 | 0 |
| 2010 | NYJ | 16 | 10 | 5 | 13 | 2.6 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 31 | 6.2. | 14 | 0 |
| 234 | 133 | 429 | 1,727 | 4.0 | 33 | 15 | 210 | 1,543 | 7.3 | 47 | 9 | ||
His father,sergeant major Ben Richardson, was stationed inGermany when Tony was born, and he lived there for the first eight years of his life. When they returned to theU.S., the family lived inDaleville, Alabama.
He received hisBachelor of Education degree in 2000, and later got hisMBA fromWebster University in 2004. Off the field, Richardson is very involved with local charities. He hosts the Kansas City chapter of the annualSpecial Olympics Punt, Pass & Kick competition, and has served as chairman of many charitable organizations and fundraisers. In 2002, he was nominated by his team for the NFL Man of the Year award.[17]Richardson was elected to theNFLPA executive committee in 2008 for a two-year term.[18]