Darren Perry
Encyclopedia
Darren Perry is a National Football League
assistant coach and former professional American football
player. He is currently the safeties coach for the Green Bay Packers
. A product of Penn State, Perry played free safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers
, San Diego Chargers
and New Orleans Saints
.
at Chesapeake, Virginia
's Deep Creek High School, Perry passed for 23 touchdowns and 2,790 yards.
n in 1991 and graduated as Penn State's second leading all-time interceptor with 15. Perry's 299 interception return yards and three interceptions for touchdowns are school records. Perry had six interceptions his senior year and returned two for touchdowns.
Perry appeared on the cover of the November 26, 1990 issue of Sports Illustrated
following Penn State’s defeat of then #1, Notre Dame
. He has a sandwich named in his honor at State College, Pennsylvania
's Fraser Street Deli. The ingredients are Roast Beef, Provolone, and Onions all heated and served on toasted bread.
, (the first for Steelers head coach Bill Cowher
), Perry played seven seasons (1992–98) with the Steelers and started the first 110 games of his career, including the postseason. Largely unheralded, the 5'11", 200 lb (90.7 kg). rookie
picked off six passes, becoming the first rookie since 1955 to lead the team in interceptions. The pairing of Perry with Pro Bowl
er Rod Woodson
in the secondary helped create one of the NFL's most effective and durable secondaries. His 32 career interceptions from 1992-98 are tied for seventh in Pittsburgh history.
Perry signed with the San Diego Chargers
in 1999 and rounded out his playing career in 2000 with the New Orleans Saints
, having played in 139 of 141 possible games, missing only two games in 1997 due to a groin injury. He started 13 postseason games, including Super Bowl XXX
. He had a career total of 35 interceptions.
In 1997, Perry was selected as the recipient of the Pro Football Writers' "Chief Award," presented annually to the member of the Steelers’ organization who best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media. He was also named the winner of the 1992 "Joe Greene Great Performance Award," given to the outstanding Steelers rookie.
as the Cincinnati Bengals
' safeties coach under his former defensive coordinator
, Dick Lebeau
. He was the Steelers' defensive backs coach from 2004–2006, after having served as assistant defensive backs coach in 2003. Perry was instrumental with the rapid development of the Steelers’ two outstanding safeties, All-Pro Troy Polamalu
and Chris Hope
. He resigned from the Steelers coaching staff on January 25, 2007, following the retirement of head coach Bill Cowher
. Perry was hired by the Oakland Raiders
as their defensive backs coach on February 5, 2007, and spent two seasons with the team.
Perry was hired by the Green Bay Packers
as their safeties coach on February 3, 2009.
. Perry later convinced others to match his contribution, making each of his interceptions worth as much as $2,500 apiece. By 1996 the program had helped over 9,000 patients.
Perry and his wife Errika have four children: Danielle, Dominique, Dedriana and Devan. They live in Chesapeake, Virginia
in the offseason.
In 2007, Perry, along with fellow Penn Stater and ex-Buffalo Bill
Keith Goganious
, collaborated in to resurrect the Hampton Roads Football Camp after a 12-year hiatus. The camp, held at Virginia Wesleyan College
is aimed at high school athletes. New York Giants
wide receiver Plaxico Burress
was a past attendee.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
assistant coach and former professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He is currently the safeties coach for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. A product of Penn State, Perry played free safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
.
High school
As a quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
's Deep Creek High School, Perry passed for 23 touchdowns and 2,790 yards.
College
Perry was named a first-team Football Writers All-AmericaAll-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n in 1991 and graduated as Penn State's second leading all-time interceptor with 15. Perry's 299 interception return yards and three interceptions for touchdowns are school records. Perry had six interceptions his senior year and returned two for touchdowns.
Perry appeared on the cover of the November 26, 1990 issue of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
following Penn State’s defeat of then #1, Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. He has a sandwich named in his honor at State College, Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
's Fraser Street Deli. The ingredients are Roast Beef, Provolone, and Onions all heated and served on toasted bread.
Professional
An eighth round draft pick (203rd overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft1992 NFL Draft
The 1992 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1992. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft...
, (the first for Steelers head coach Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
), Perry played seven seasons (1992–98) with the Steelers and started the first 110 games of his career, including the postseason. Largely unheralded, the 5'11", 200 lb (90.7 kg). rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
picked off six passes, becoming the first rookie since 1955 to lead the team in interceptions. The pairing of Perry with Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er Rod Woodson
Rod Woodson
Roderick Kevin "Rod" Woodson is the current cornerbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He is also a former defensive back best known for his 10-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as being a key member of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championship...
in the secondary helped create one of the NFL's most effective and durable secondaries. His 32 career interceptions from 1992-98 are tied for seventh in Pittsburgh history.
Perry signed with the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1999 and rounded out his playing career in 2000 with the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, having played in 139 of 141 possible games, missing only two games in 1997 due to a groin injury. He started 13 postseason games, including Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX was an American football game played on January 28, 1996 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona to decide the National Football League champion following the 1995 regular season...
. He had a career total of 35 interceptions.
In 1997, Perry was selected as the recipient of the Pro Football Writers' "Chief Award," presented annually to the member of the Steelers’ organization who best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media. He was also named the winner of the 1992 "Joe Greene Great Performance Award," given to the outstanding Steelers rookie.
Coaching
Perry spent the 2002 season2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
as the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
' safeties coach under his former defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
, Dick Lebeau
Dick LeBeau
Charles Richard “Dick” LeBeau is a National Football League Hall of Fame defensive back. He is currently the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator and is considered to be one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time. He spent 14 years in the NFL as a player with the Detroit Lions and...
. He was the Steelers' defensive backs coach from 2004–2006, after having served as assistant defensive backs coach in 2003. Perry was instrumental with the rapid development of the Steelers’ two outstanding safeties, All-Pro Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu
Troy Aumua Polamalu is an American football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He played college football at the University of Southern California.-High school:Troy Polamalu graduated...
and Chris Hope
Chris Hope
Chris Hope is an American football player who plays for the Tennessee Titans.-High school:...
. He resigned from the Steelers coaching staff on January 25, 2007, following the retirement of head coach Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
. Perry was hired by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as their defensive backs coach on February 5, 2007, and spent two seasons with the team.
Perry was hired by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
as their safeties coach on February 3, 2009.
Personal
In 1992, he began Intercept for Care, wherein Perry made a $500 donation to Chesapeake Care for every interception he made. Chesapeake Care is a program in which doctors, nurses, dentists and volunteers donate services to those without medical insurance in Chesapeake, VirginiaChesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
. Perry later convinced others to match his contribution, making each of his interceptions worth as much as $2,500 apiece. By 1996 the program had helped over 9,000 patients.
Perry and his wife Errika have four children: Danielle, Dominique, Dedriana and Devan. They live in Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
in the offseason.
In 2007, Perry, along with fellow Penn Stater and ex-Buffalo Bill
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Keith Goganious
Keith Goganious
Keith Lorenzo Goganious is a college football coach. As of October 2009 is serving as Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/linebacker coach at Hampton University. Goganious played linebacker in the NFL for five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Baltimore Ravens...
, collaborated in to resurrect the Hampton Roads Football Camp after a 12-year hiatus. The camp, held at Virginia Wesleyan College
Virginia Wesleyan College
Virginia Wesleyan College is a small Methodist liberal arts college on the border of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia offering a Bachelor of Arts in many disciplines and has added Bachelor of Science programs as well...
is aimed at high school athletes. New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
wide receiver Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Antonio Burress is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers eighth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
was a past attendee.