Texas Sports Hall of Fame inducts multitalented football and track athlete Eric Metcalf

Texas Sports Hall of Fame to induct multitalented football and track athlete Eric Metcalf

University of Texas legend joins seven other honorees at
February 21 dinner in Waco

WACO, TX –  January XX, 2017 – The Texas Sports Hall of Fame (TSHOF) counts dual-sport athlete Eric Metcalf among its 2017 class. Eric, along with seven other exceptional athletes, will be formally recognized and inducted into the TSHOF on Tuesday, February, 21 in Waco, Texas.

A native of Seattle, Washington, Eric attended Denis J. O’Connell High School in Arlington County, Virginia before attending the University of Texas, where he was a standout in both track and football from 1985-88. He currently holds the UT record for the outdoor long jump and won two Southwest Conference (SWC) long jump titles. A two-sport athlete, Eric was also a running back and punt returner for the Longhorns football team before being drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns.

“I was elated when I found out I had been chosen as a Texas Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. I know that there have been a lot of athletes and coaches who come through Texas – some born there, some had careers there – who have done a lot of great things,” said Eric. “Although I’m just a kid from Seattle, it felt wonderful to be chosen for this honor and to know the whole state of Texas thinks that I have done enough to be considered one of the best athletes to ever come through there.”

Eric holds the UT record for outdoor long jump with a mark of 27-8 ¼ feet, was a two-time NCAA champion in the event, and became a five-time track All-American, in addition to his SWC long jump titles in 1986 and 1987.

As a running back and punt returner for the UT football team, Eric was a three-time All SWC, setting a record of 12 single game receptions, 42 single season receptions, and 142 career receptions by a running back. He also has the second highest punt return yards of 1,076 in UT history and is fourth in all-purpose yards with 5,705.

A first-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns, Eric played in the NFL for 13 seasons, finishing his NFL career with 2,392 rushing yards (12 touchdowns) and 541 receptions for 5,572 yards (31 touchdowns). He was most notable as a returner leading the NFL in punt kick return yards, and has the third most return touchdowns in NFL history with 12 total. His 10 punt return touchdowns were an NFL record until October 2, 2011. Eric’s 17,230 all-purpose yards ranked him among the NFL’s top 10 all time at the time of his retirement. He was a three-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection (’93, ’94, ’97).

Eric retired from football in 2011 and turned his focus back to track. First, he started the Seatown Express Track Club for aspiring young track and field athletes pursuing competition at the college level. He also coached track and football at Rainier Beach High School in Washington state, and started volunteer coaching at the University of Washington track and field teams as the Jumps Coach. At the start of the 2016-2017 season, Eric was officially announced as the Huskies Sprint Coach. 

Presented by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, Eric will join other inductees at the February event including former Houston Cougars NCAA women’s volleyball player Rita Buck-Crockett, former Texas A&M & Los Angeles Rams defensive back Dave Elmendorf, Texas A&M University track & field coach Pat Henry, former Houston Cougars NCAA women’s volleyball player Flo Hyman (deceased), 2008 Olympic all-around gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin, Denver Broncos football defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and former Dallas Cowboys All Pro safety Darren Woodson. This class joins a long list of Texas sport legends forever being honored as a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

The February 21 event will begin with a reception at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame at 4 p.m., with a 6 p.m. banquet at the Waco Convention Center. Combination Reception/Banquet tickets are $200 each or $1,400 for a reserved table of eight. Banquet-only tickets can be purchased for $75 each, or $600 for a reserved table of eight. To purchase tickets, please call the museum at 800-567-9561 or visit http://www.tshof.org/buy-tickets/

For additional information on Eric or any of the other inductees, please contact Adrian Patenaude, [email protected], or Jay Black, [email protected].

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About the Texas Sports Hall of Fame

​The Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Waco, Texas, chronicles the heroes and legends of the Lone Star State sports at all levels, including high school standouts, Olympians and professionals. Established in 1993, the organization’s mission is to preserve the legacies of all inductees and the history of sports in Texas to educate and inspire guests of all ages. Home to over 300 Texas Legends, the museum houses the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame and Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. The Texas Sports Hall of Fame is located at 1108 S. University Parks Dr. Waco, Texas 76706. For more information, please visit http://www.tshof.org/.