Tim Spencer
Encyclopedia
Timothy Spencer is a former professional American football
running back
who played in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1990.
of the United States Football League
in 1983 after a college football
career at Ohio State where he ran for 1371 yards in his senior season. He closed out his career with 3,553 yards rushing and still ranks third on OSU's all-time rushing list, trailing only Heisman Trophy winners Archie Griffin
(5,589) and Eddie George
(3,768). Spencer shared time with Kevin Long
as the starting running back with Chicago and rushed for 1157 yards on 300 carries with 6 touchdowns in his rookie season.
In 1984, Spencer played for the Arizona Wranglers
and rushed for 1212 yards on 227 carries for a 5.3 yards per carry average. He also ran for 17 touchdowns. The following season, he played for the Memphis Showboats
and rushed for 789 yards on 198 carries with 3 touchdowns. Spencer finished as the 3rd leading rusher in USFL history.
In 1985, Spencer signed to play for the San Diego Chargers
, the same NFL team that drafted him in the 11th round of the 1983 NFL Draft
. He rushed for 478 yards on 124 carries with 10 touchdowns that season. His biggest NFL season was in 1989, when he rushed for 521 yards on 134 carries. He was a limited reserve for the rest of his career with the Chargers and retired after the 1990 season.
, a position he held until 2003. Since January 27, 2004, he has been the running backs coach for the Chicago Bears
.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who played in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1990.
College and Pro career
Spencer was drafted by the Chicago BlitzChicago Blitz
The Chicago Blitz were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.- Team history :...
of the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
in 1983 after a college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
career at Ohio State where he ran for 1371 yards in his senior season. He closed out his career with 3,553 yards rushing and still ranks third on OSU's all-time rushing list, trailing only Heisman Trophy winners Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
(5,589) and Eddie George
Eddie George
Edward Nathan "Eddie" George, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played for the Tennessee Titans both in Tennessee and in Houston when the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers, and spent his final season with the Dallas Cowboys...
(3,768). Spencer shared time with Kevin Long
Kevin Long (football)
For the NFL offensive lineman of the same name see Kevin Long .Kevin Fernando Long is a retired American football running back who played in the National Football League and the United States Football League.-College:Kevin Long attended University of South Carolina and was a standout fullback for...
as the starting running back with Chicago and rushed for 1157 yards on 300 carries with 6 touchdowns in his rookie season.
In 1984, Spencer played for the Arizona Wranglers
Arizona Wranglers
The Arizona Wranglers were a professional American Football team in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, a suburb of Phoenix.-Founding:...
and rushed for 1212 yards on 227 carries for a 5.3 yards per carry average. He also ran for 17 touchdowns. The following season, he played for the Memphis Showboats
Memphis Showboats
The Memphis Showboats were a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders...
and rushed for 789 yards on 198 carries with 3 touchdowns. Spencer finished as the 3rd leading rusher in USFL history.
In 1985, Spencer signed to play for 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...
, the same NFL team that drafted him in the 11th round of the 1983 NFL Draft
1983 NFL Draft
The 1983 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, 1983...
. He rushed for 478 yards on 124 carries with 10 touchdowns that season. His biggest NFL season was in 1989, when he rushed for 521 yards on 134 carries. He was a limited reserve for the rest of his career with the Chargers and retired after the 1990 season.
Coaching
In 1994, Spencer returned to Ohio State to be their running back coachRunning backs coach
A running backs coach is a coach in charge of the running backs in gridiron football. The running backs coach typically operates under the team's offensive coordinator....
, a position he held until 2003. Since January 27, 2004, he has been the running backs coach for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.