George Theo Teague (born February 18, 1971) is an American former professionalfootball player who was asafety in theNational Football League (NFL) who played for theGreen Bay Packers,Dallas Cowboys andMiami Dolphins. He playedcollege football at theUniversity of Alabama.

An Air Force brat, Teague grew up atMcConnell Air Force Base, Kansas attendingDerby High School inDerby, Kansas andSembach Air Base, before moving toAlabama and attendingJefferson Davis High School. As a seniorcornerback, he was named first-team class 6A All-state and Academic All-state. He also practicedtrack.

Teague accepted a football scholarship from theUniversity of Alabama. He was a reservecornerback as a true freshman. Teague was named a starter atcornerback as a sophomore, tallying one interception.

As a junior, Teague was moved tofree safety, where he led the conference with six interceptions and recorded career-highs for tackles (54) and passes defensed (11).

As a senior, Teague tied for the conference lead with six interceptions. His 14 career interceptions were two short of the school record at the time. Teague came to be known nationally as a playmaker in the1993 Sugar Bowl. This game marked his first interception returned for atouchdown in his college career. Five plays later, he raced downfield and caught up with sprinting wide receiverLamar Thomas and stripped the ball from him in full stride, while maintaining possession and returning the ball upfield. Although the play was called back on anoffside penalty against Alabama, it was still successful in preventing a Hurricanetouchdown, as Miami would have simply declined the penalty had the strip not taken place.^[1] It also negated Miami's effort to regain their offensive momentum: Miami was forced to punt soon afterward, and never mounted another substantial offensive threat in the Crimson Tide's 34–13 victory.^[2]

Teague was selected by theGreen Bay Packers in the first round (29th overall) of the1993 NFL draft.^[4][5] He started the last 12 games atfree safety, making 36 tackles, six passes defensed, one forced fumble, one interception, two fumble recoveries and fivespecial teams tackles. In the playoffs against theDetroit Lions, he recorded the longest interception return for atouchdown in post-season history (101 yards), and along with his four tackles, earned him theNFL's Defensive Player of the Week award.^[6]

In1994, Teague practiced on a limited basis early in training camp due to a thyroid condition, which caused a pronounced weight loss initially and later affected his conditioning. He began practicing on a full-time basis on August 4. Teague started 16 games, collecting 53 tackles, three interceptions (tied for second on the team), 13 passes defensed (third on the team) and one forced fumble.

In1995, Teague started 15 games, making 72 tackles (tied for sixth on the team), two interceptions, 13 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He missed one game with a broken toe.^[7]

On August 17,1996, theAtlanta Falcons waived Teague after only a month.

On August 23,1996, Teague was signed as afree agent by theDallas Cowboys.^[8] He played as anickel defensive back, before starting eight games afterBrock Marion suffered a fractured scapula.^[9] He finished the year with 70 tackles, seven passes defensed, sixspecial teams tackles and a career-high four interceptions.

His career signature game came against theMinnesota Vikings in theNFC wild-card playoff game, where he was dominant in helping the Cowboys produce a 40–15 rout. He forced turnovers on three consecutive Vikings possessions. He first deniedAmp Lee of a 43-yardtouchdown reception, by stripping the ball which went out of theend zone for atouchback. On the next Vikings possession, he caused aLeroy Hoardfumble. He then proceeded to return an interception 29 yards for a touchdown.^[10] He received NFL Defensive Player of the Week honors.

The Cowboys were unable to re-sign him at the end of the season, because of thesalary cap problems they had at the time.

On March 19,1997, Teague was signed away by theMiami Dolphins as afree agent after jump-starting his career with the Cowboys.^[11] He began the season as a backup toCorey Harris. Teague was named the starter atfree safety in the seventh game and remained there until the twelfth contest, afterCalvin Jackson was moved fromcornerback tosafety to make room for rookieSam Madison.^[12] He started six games, tallying 43 tackles, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and threespecial teams tackles. On March 10,1998, the Dolphins waived him to make room forsafetyBrock Marion.^[13]

On May 6,1998, Teague was signed by theDallas Cowboys as afree agent, to replaceBrock Marion, who in turn had signed with the Dolphins to replace Teague. He played as anickel defensive back, before passingOmar Stoutmire on the depth chart and being named the starter atfree safety in the tenth game, against theArizona Cardinals. He registered 52 tackles (tenth on the team), two sacks, six passes defensed and ninespecial teams tackles.

In1999, Teague started 14 games atfree safety, making 102 tackles (fourth on the team), two tackles for loss, nine passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, eightspecial teams tackles and three interceptions, including two returned fortouchdowns. He missed two games with a strained neck injury.

In2000, Teague started nine games, missing the final seven contests with a fractured right foot. He recorded 71 tackles and was on a pace to register a career-high 127 stops before he suffered his injury. Teague also had fivespecial teams tackles. Teague is best remembered for a notable incident during a game against theSan Francisco 49ers on September 24. In that game, 49erswide receiverTerrell Owens caught his secondtouchdown pass of the game and ran to the Cowboys' star logo at midfield to celebrate, as he had on his previous touchdown. Teague violently shoved Owens from behind during the celebration and was ejected from the game. In 2008, the moment was named one of the ten most memorable in the history ofTexas Stadium byESPN.^[14]

In2001, Teague started 16 games. On September 23, just two weeks after theSeptember 11 attacks, as the Cowboys were taking the field to play theSan Diego Chargers atTexas Stadium, Teague carried the American flag, displayed above his head. He was released from the Cowboys on February 28,2002.^[15]

^[16]

On December 9, 2016, Teague accepted a position as the head football coach atJohn Paul II High School inPlano, Texas. He previously served as the athletic director and football coach forJune Shelton School, Harvest Christian Academy and Carrollton Christian Academy.^[17]

• 1971 births
• Living people
• Players of American football from Montgomery, Alabama
• American football safeties
• Alabama Crimson Tide football players
• Green Bay Packers players
• Miami Dolphins players
• Dallas Cowboys players
• High school football coaches in Texas

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