Nate Odomes
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Bernard Odomes (born August 25, 1965 in Columbus, Georgia
) is a former professional American football
defensive back
who played for the Buffalo Bills
(1987–1993), Seattle Seahawks
(1994–1995), and the Atlanta Falcons
(1996). Before his NFL
career, he played for University of Wisconsin–Madison
and was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft
.
Odomes was one of the top defensive backs in the NFL during the early 1990s, assisting the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl
appearances, and making the Pro Bowl
twice (1992 and 1993). One his more memorable plays was in a 1992 playoff game known as The Comeback
, where he intercepted a pass from future hall of fame quarterback Warren Moon
to set up Buffalo's game-winning field goal. In the following season, Odomes led the NFL with 9 interceptions, and made a key interception in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXVIII
to help his team build a 13–6 halftime lead. However, his team still lost the game 30–13.
After the 1993 season, Odomes signed with Seattle and spent two injury-plagued years with the Seahawks. Before concluding his NFL career, he played one final season with the Atlanta Falcons in 1996. In his eight NFL seasons, Odomes intercepted 26 passes, which he returned for 224 yards and a touchdown. He also recorded 3 sacks and recovered 8 fumbles, returning them for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
) is a 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...
defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
who played for the 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...
(1987–1993), Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
(1994–1995), and the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1996). Before his NFL
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...
career, he played for University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft
1987 NFL Draft
The 1987 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 28–29, 1987...
.
Odomes was one of the top defensive backs in the NFL during the early 1990s, assisting the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
appearances, and making 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...
twice (1992 and 1993). One his more memorable plays was in a 1992 playoff game known as The Comeback
The Comeback (American football)
The Comeback was a NFL playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Oilers played January 3, 1993. It featured the Bills recovering from a 32-point deficit to win in overtime, and it remains the largest comeback in NFL history...
, where he intercepted a pass from future hall of fame quarterback Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
to set up Buffalo's game-winning field goal. In the following season, Odomes led the NFL with 9 interceptions, and made a key interception in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII was an American football game played on January 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1993 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football...
to help his team build a 13–6 halftime lead. However, his team still lost the game 30–13.
After the 1993 season, Odomes signed with Seattle and spent two injury-plagued years with the Seahawks. Before concluding his NFL career, he played one final season with the Atlanta Falcons in 1996. In his eight NFL seasons, Odomes intercepted 26 passes, which he returned for 224 yards and a touchdown. He also recorded 3 sacks and recovered 8 fumbles, returning them for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns.