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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | (1967-04-12)April 12, 1967 (age 58) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Ford (Detroit) | ||||||
| College: | Michigan | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 1990 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Bobby E. Abrams Jr. (born April 12, 1967) is an American former professionalfootball player who was alinebacker in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football as adefensive back and linebacker for theMichigan Wolverines from 1986 to 1989. He played in the NFL for six seasons as a linebacker andspecial teams player for theNew York Giants (1990–1992,Cleveland Browns (1992),Dallas Cowboys (1992–1993),Minnesota Vikings (1993–1994) andNew England Patriots (1995). He won threeSuper Bowl titles with the Giants and the Cowboys, all over theBuffalo Bills.
Abrams was born inDetroit, Michigan, in 1967. He attendedHenry Ford High School in Detroit.[1] He was an All-state selection as a senior. He made the honor roll for 8 straight semesters. He also practiced track.
Abrams accepted a football scholarship from theUniversity of Michigan, to play under head coachBo Schembechler'sMichigan Wolverines football teams from 1986 to 1989.[2] He began as asafety and was converted into alinebacker in spring drills in 1987.
As a sophomore, he was named the starter at right outside linebacker in the fourth game of the season. He started nine games (seven at outside linebacker, two at inside linebacker) for the1987 Michigan Wolverines football team.[3]
As a redshirt junior, he started all 12 games at outside linebacker for the1988 Michigan team that compiled a 9-2-1 record, won theBig Ten Conference championship, defeated USC in the1989 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked #4 in the finalAP Poll.[4]
In his final year at Michigan, he again started all 12 games at outside linebacker for the1989 Michigan team that compiled a 10–2 record, won a second consecutive Big Ten championship, lost to USC in the1990 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked #7 in the finalAP Poll.[5] Against theUniversity of Maryland, he made 8 tackles, 3 sacks, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery.
Abrams was signed as anundrafted free agent by theNew York Giants after the1990 NFL draft.[6][7] As a rookie, he was a part of theSuper Bowl XXV winning team. He was aspecial teams player and a backup linebacker behindLawrence Taylor andCarl Banks.[1][8][9] He appeared in 32 games, including two as a starter in place of an injured Banks, before being waived on August 31, 1992.[10]
On September 1, 1992, he was claimed by theDallas Cowboys to provide depth on thespecial teams units. He had 4special teams tackles and was cut on October 6.[11] He was later signed by theCleveland Browns where he played in three games. On November 9, he was claimed off waivers by the Giants after Taylor was lost for the year.[9][12] On November 21, he was released to make room forKen Willis.[13]
In April 1993, he was re-signed by the Cowboys. He joined theMinnesota Vikings for the last four games. The next year, he appeared in all 16 games for the Vikings as a backup, while leading the team with 28 special teams tackles.[1][9]
Abrams signed with theNew England Patriots on March 1, 1995,[9] appearing in nine games (one start) during the season.[1] On September 10, 1996, he was released from theinjured reserve list.[14]
Abrams was a teacher and head coach at Southside High School. He is currently the principal atJefferson Davis High School inMontgomery, Alabama. His father Bobby Sr., is a former 3-timeGolden Gloves boxing champion in Detroit.