Larry Centers
Encyclopedia
Larry Eugene Centers is a former American football
fullback
in the National Football League
for 14 seasons, mostly for his first team, the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals
(1990–1998). Centers then played for the Washington Redskins
(1999–2000), Buffalo Bills
(2001–2002), and finally was a member of the New England Patriots
for the (2003) season, when the team won their second Super Bowl.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl
in 1995, 1996, and 2001.
years and advanced to the middle school
and high school
levels showing the talent which earned him a scholarship
invitation to nearby Stephen F. Austin State University
, among others, as he approached graduation from high school in Tatum, Texas
.
by the Phoenix Cardinals in the 1990 NFL Draft
. He saw limited playing time in his first two seasons but had an excellent season in his third year, rushing for 139 yards and catching 50 passes for 417 yards.
The role of the fullback as a ball carrier was starting to diminish as the NFL game evolved during the 1990s. Yet, Centers's offensive numbers only increased as the years went by, especially his receptions. He caught 66 passes in his third NFL season, then 77 the year after that. In 1995, Centers had one of the greatest seasons of any fullback, recording a whopping 101 receptions for 962 yards. As of 2010, the 101 receptions are the most in a single season for a running back. He also rushed for 254 yards, scored four touchdowns, and was selected to the Pro Bowl
for the first time. Unfortunately, his team was not successful despite his contributions; they finished the 1995 season with a 4-12 record. Centers had another spectacular season in 1996, recording 99 receptions for 766 yards and seven touchdowns, while also gaining a career high 425 yards, and he scored two touchdowns on the ground.
In 1996, Centers was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row, but once again his team had a disappointing season, finishing with a 7-9 record. Centers continued to be a major contributor to the Cardinals, recording 123 receptions and 386 rushing yards over the next two seasons. In his final year with Arizona (1998), the team had recorded a 9-7 record and made the playoffs as a wild card. The Cardinals made it all the way to the divisional playoffs before being eliminated in a 41-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings
.
, 14-13. The next year, 2000, was another fine Centers season for Washington's offense. He caught 81 passes for 600 yards, rushed for 103 yards, and used his blocking to help running back Stephen Davis
achieve star numbers, 1,318 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. However, the Redskins recorded only an 8-8 record that year and did not make the playoffs.
appearance, catching another 80 passes, this time for a total of 620 yards, with 160 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII
.
Centers retired before the start of the 2004 season.
Centers's 827 receptions are currently the second most by any non-wide receiver in NFL history, with tight end Tony Gonzalez having surpassed his mark in 2008. Because NFL fullbacks are now almost exclusively used as blockers, Centers may be remembered as the greatest pass receiving fullback ever, and one of the last to be used as a ball carrier.
.
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...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
in the National Football League
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...
for 14 seasons, mostly for his first team, the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1990–1998). Centers then played for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
(1999–2000), Buffalo Bills
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...
(2001–2002), and finally was a member of the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
for the (2003) season, when the team won their second Super Bowl.
He was selected to the 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...
in 1995, 1996, and 2001.
Early life
Centers played little league football during his elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
years and advanced to the middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
levels showing the talent which earned him a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
invitation to nearby Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin. Its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding...
, among others, as he approached graduation from high school in Tatum, Texas
Tatum, Texas
Tatum is a city in Panola and Rusk Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tatum is located at ....
.
College Career
Centers originally began his career at Stephen F. Austin as a wide receiver. He broke a finger on his left hand and switched position to running back. he was a two-time all-Southland Conference pick and set a school record for rushing yards in his senior season.Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals
After graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University, Centers was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Phoenix Cardinals in the 1990 NFL Draft
1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 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 22–23, 1990...
. He saw limited playing time in his first two seasons but had an excellent season in his third year, rushing for 139 yards and catching 50 passes for 417 yards.
The role of the fullback as a ball carrier was starting to diminish as the NFL game evolved during the 1990s. Yet, Centers's offensive numbers only increased as the years went by, especially his receptions. He caught 66 passes in his third NFL season, then 77 the year after that. In 1995, Centers had one of the greatest seasons of any fullback, recording a whopping 101 receptions for 962 yards. As of 2010, the 101 receptions are the most in a single season for a running back. He also rushed for 254 yards, scored four touchdowns, and was selected to the 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...
for the first time. Unfortunately, his team was not successful despite his contributions; they finished the 1995 season with a 4-12 record. Centers had another spectacular season in 1996, recording 99 receptions for 766 yards and seven touchdowns, while also gaining a career high 425 yards, and he scored two touchdowns on the ground.
In 1996, Centers was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row, but once again his team had a disappointing season, finishing with a 7-9 record. Centers continued to be a major contributor to the Cardinals, recording 123 receptions and 386 rushing yards over the next two seasons. In his final year with Arizona (1998), the team had recorded a 9-7 record and made the playoffs as a wild card. The Cardinals made it all the way to the divisional playoffs before being eliminated in a 41-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
Washington Redskins
In 1999, Centers signed with the Redskins and had another superb season, recording 69 receptions. During a crucial game against the 49ers, Centers caught a 33-yard touchdown pass in overtime, which made the Redskins the NFC Eastern division champs for the first time since 1991. The Redskins finished the season with a 10-6 record but were eliminated in the divisional playoffs by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, 14-13. The next year, 2000, was another fine Centers season for Washington's offense. He caught 81 passes for 600 yards, rushed for 103 yards, and used his blocking to help running back Stephen Davis
Stephen Davis (American football)
Stephen Lamont Davis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. Davis will be the Carolina Panthers' minority coaching intern for the 2010-11 season.-College career:...
achieve star numbers, 1,318 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. However, the Redskins recorded only an 8-8 record that year and did not make the playoffs.
Buffalo Bills
In 2001, Centers signed with the Bills and made it to his third Pro BowlPro 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...
appearance, catching another 80 passes, this time for a total of 620 yards, with 160 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
New England Patriots
After spending another year with Buffalo, Centers joined the Patriots in 2003. By this time, 35-year old Centers' role as a receiver (along with ball carrier) had greatly diminished. He recorded 19 receptions for 106 yards and rushed for 82 yards. Still, his blocking contributions as part of the Patriots offense allowed him to earn a Super Bowl ring; New England finished the season with a 14-2 record and went on to defeat the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
.
Centers retired before the start of the 2004 season.
NFL stats
In his 14 NFL seasons, Centers rushed for 2,188 yards, caught 827 passes for 6,797 yards, returned five punts for 30 yards, returned 33 kickoffs for 617 yards and scored 42 touchdowns (14 rushing/28 receiving).Centers's 827 receptions are currently the second most by any non-wide receiver in NFL history, with tight end Tony Gonzalez having surpassed his mark in 2008. Because NFL fullbacks are now almost exclusively used as blockers, Centers may be remembered as the greatest pass receiving fullback ever, and one of the last to be used as a ball carrier.
Personal Life
Larry and his wife, Vanesse have three children, Larry, Jr., Sydni, and Kennedi. His son, Larry jr., is a wide receiver for the SMU MustangsSMU Mustangs
The SMU Mustangs is the name of the athletic teams representing Southern Methodist University. The Mustangs participate in the NCAA's Division I as a member of Conference USA. In 2005, SMU accepted an invitation to the Western Division of Conference USA, and left the Western Athletic Conference...
.