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| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1959-09-29)September 29, 1959 (age 66) Kingston,Colony of Jamaica | ||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 218 lb (99 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Stamford(Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.) | ||||||||||
| College | Syracuse | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1982: 6th round, 167th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Craig Marlon Bingham (born September 26, 1959) is a formerAmerican footballlinebacker who played five seasons in theNational Football League (NFL) with thePittsburgh Steelers andSan Diego Chargers. He is distinguished as being the first Jamaican to play in the NFL.
Bingham was born inKingston, Jamaica and attendedStamford High School inStamford, Connecticut.[1]
He matriculated atSyracuse University.[1] His college teammates included futureHall of FamerArt Monk as well as several other future NFL players:Gary Anderson,Joe Morris,Jim Collins,Craig Wolfley,Andrew Gissinger and Bill Hurley.[2]
Bingham was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the1982 NFL draft.[1] Over the first two seasons of his career he was used primarily as aspecial teams player by the Steelers.[3] Early in the1983 season he suffered a knee injury which was significantly exacerbated in a playoff loss to theOakland Raiders.[3][4] The injury was initially thought to be career-ending, but after three surgeries and significant rehab, Bingham was back in time for the1984 season.[3][4]
Bingham got his first chance to start in week 14 of the 1984 season against theHouston Oilers[3] due to an injury toBryan Hinkle. That would turn out to be the only non-strike start of his career.[5]
Bingham was released by the Steelers in September 1985. He was among the team's final cuts in training camp.[6] He was picked up by theSan Diego Chargers with whom he was active for eight games in1985.[5]
Bingham finished his professional career as a replacement player for the Steelers during the1987 NFL players' strike. He started in all three replacement games, but was once again released once the strike was settled.[5][7]