Todd Lyght
Encyclopedia
Todd William Lyght is a former professional American football
player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1st round (5th overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft
. A 6'0", 191-lb. cornerback
from the University of Notre Dame
and Flint Powers Catholic High School
, Lyght played in 12 NFL seasons from 1991 to 2002. His best year as a pro came during the 1999 season for the Super Bowl
champion Rams, when he intercepted 6 passes for 112 yards and 1 touchdown and was named All-Pro
and voted to the Pro Bowl.
times in track and field.
Terrell Owens said that Lyght was one of the four best corners he ever faced. The other names on the list included Deion Sanders, Aeneas Williams, and Charles Woodson.
, 1990
) and started for three years at Notre Dame. During his senior year was a captain of the football team, and was awarded the Kris Samons Trophy, an award given annually to the nation's premier defensive back who "waxes" the competition.
He had more playing time in 1987 than any other freshman, making 29 tackles, causing one fumble, breaking up two passes and making one interception. Then he became a three-year starter at cornerback from 1988-90. Lyght led team in tackles in 1989 Fiesta Bowl
win over West Virginia for the national championship. He was one of captains for 1990 season. He finished his career with 161 tackles; caused one fumble; broke up 20.5 passes; had 11 interceptions for 55 return yards and one TD. He also played in 1991 Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl. As a junior in 1989 he intercepted eight passes (two shy of school record) as junior and registered 47 total tackles (27 solo). He ranked eighth in final NCAA standings in 1989 for interceptions and was a finalist for 1989 Jim Thorpe Award.
. On August 16, 1991, Lyght signed a five-year $5.6 million deal with the Rams. As a rookie in 1991, Lyght started the last eight games of the season at left cornerback after battling several early-season injuries. In 1992 he four games after dislocating his shoulder versus Miami 9/20/1992. He was the NFC Defensive Player of Week after posting nine tackles and two interceptions against New England 9/13/1992. The next season, 1993, Lyght tied for team lead with two interceptions but suffered a knee injury in pregame drills against Washington 11/21/1993 and was placed on injured reserve 11/23/1993.
In 1994 he made most of first injury-free season; was fourth on team with 84 tackles (72 solo) and led team with 14 passes defensed. He scored Rams' first touchdown of season with 74-yard fumble return against Arizona on 9/4/1994. He often drew the opposing teams' best wide receiver, such as Jerry Rice, rather than play his normal left cornerback position. In 1995 the Rams moved to St. Louis. That season he started 16 games at left cornerback and finished second on the team
with a then-career-high of four interceptions. Three times he received defensive game ball from coaches (9/10, 9/17/ and 10/12/1995)
On April 14, 1996, Lyght signed a new five-year $10.5 million contract with $4 million guaranteed in 1996 bonus and salary. That season Lyght established career-highs in tackles (105), interceptions (5) and pass breakups (19) and added 10 special teams tackles. In 1997 he started all 16 games at cornerback and participated on special teams; he finished third on team in tackles with 107 and second in passes defensed with 23, along with four interceptions, one sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The next season, 1998, he again started all 16 games at left corner and played on special teams finishing fifth on team in tackles with 87
and first in pass defensed with 20, along with three interceptions, 1½ sacks, and three forced fumbles.
In 1999 Lyght earned his first Pro Bowl selection was as a First-team All-Pro as well. He recorded 65 tackles and had 6 interceptions, 2½ sacks, 15 passes defenses and one forced fumble. He scored his fourth career touchdown on a 57-yard interception return versus Carolina on November 14, 1999. He also recorded 22 tackles, had one interception and deflected 5 passes in the playoffs as the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV
. He also blocked a field goal in the Super Bowl as well.
Dame. In 1995, he donated $50,000 to the United Negro College Fund
as part of NFL's Golden Circle.
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 who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1st round (5th overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft
1991 NFL Draft
The 1991 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 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York...
. A 6'0", 191-lb. cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
from the University of 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...
and Flint Powers Catholic High School
Powers Catholic High School
Luke M. Powers Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Flint, Michigan. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing.-Background:...
, Lyght played in 12 NFL seasons from 1991 to 2002. His best year as a pro came during the 1999 season for the 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...
champion Rams, when he intercepted 6 passes for 112 yards and 1 touchdown and was named All-Pro
1999 All-Pro Team
The 1999 All-Pro Team is composed of the National Football League players that were named to the Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, and The Sporting News All-Pro Teams in 1999. Both first and second teams are listed for the AP team. These are the three teams that are included in...
and voted to the Pro Bowl.
Early years
Lyght attended Luke Powers Catholic High in Flint, Mi. and lettered twice as wide receiver and defensive back and served as team captain senior when he caught 38 passes for 877 yards with nine touchdowns and intercepted 19 passes. He also lettered threetimes in track and field.
Terrell Owens said that Lyght was one of the four best corners he ever faced. The other names on the list included Deion Sanders, Aeneas Williams, and Charles Woodson.
College
Lyght was a two-time All-American (19891989 College Football All-America Team
The 1989 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
, 1990
1990 College Football All-America Team
The 1990 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, Scripps-Howard, The...
) and started for three years at Notre Dame. During his senior year was a captain of the football team, and was awarded the Kris Samons Trophy, an award given annually to the nation's premier defensive back who "waxes" the competition.
He had more playing time in 1987 than any other freshman, making 29 tackles, causing one fumble, breaking up two passes and making one interception. Then he became a three-year starter at cornerback from 1988-90. Lyght led team in tackles in 1989 Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
win over West Virginia for the national championship. He was one of captains for 1990 season. He finished his career with 161 tackles; caused one fumble; broke up 20.5 passes; had 11 interceptions for 55 return yards and one TD. He also played in 1991 Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl. As a junior in 1989 he intercepted eight passes (two shy of school record) as junior and registered 47 total tackles (27 solo). He ranked eighth in final NCAA standings in 1989 for interceptions and was a finalist for 1989 Jim Thorpe Award.
Pre-draft
Lyght was considered the leading defensive back in the draft. He measured 6-foot and 185-pounds and ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash.Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams
Lyght was a first-round pick of Los Angeles Rams in 1991 NFL Draft1991 NFL Draft
The 1991 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 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York...
. On August 16, 1991, Lyght signed a five-year $5.6 million deal with the Rams. As a rookie in 1991, Lyght started the last eight games of the season at left cornerback after battling several early-season injuries. In 1992 he four games after dislocating his shoulder versus Miami 9/20/1992. He was the NFC Defensive Player of Week after posting nine tackles and two interceptions against New England 9/13/1992. The next season, 1993, Lyght tied for team lead with two interceptions but suffered a knee injury in pregame drills against Washington 11/21/1993 and was placed on injured reserve 11/23/1993.
In 1994 he made most of first injury-free season; was fourth on team with 84 tackles (72 solo) and led team with 14 passes defensed. He scored Rams' first touchdown of season with 74-yard fumble return against Arizona on 9/4/1994. He often drew the opposing teams' best wide receiver, such as Jerry Rice, rather than play his normal left cornerback position. In 1995 the Rams moved to St. Louis. That season he started 16 games at left cornerback and finished second on the team
with a then-career-high of four interceptions. Three times he received defensive game ball from coaches (9/10, 9/17/ and 10/12/1995)
On April 14, 1996, Lyght signed a new five-year $10.5 million contract with $4 million guaranteed in 1996 bonus and salary. That season Lyght established career-highs in tackles (105), interceptions (5) and pass breakups (19) and added 10 special teams tackles. In 1997 he started all 16 games at cornerback and participated on special teams; he finished third on team in tackles with 107 and second in passes defensed with 23, along with four interceptions, one sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The next season, 1998, he again started all 16 games at left corner and played on special teams finishing fifth on team in tackles with 87
and first in pass defensed with 20, along with three interceptions, 1½ sacks, and three forced fumbles.
In 1999 Lyght earned his first Pro Bowl selection was as a First-team All-Pro as well. He recorded 65 tackles and had 6 interceptions, 2½ sacks, 15 passes defenses and one forced fumble. He scored his fourth career touchdown on a 57-yard interception return versus Carolina on November 14, 1999. He also recorded 22 tackles, had one interception and deflected 5 passes in the playoffs as the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
. He also blocked a field goal in the Super Bowl as well.
Detroit Lions
On April 12, 2001, Lyght signed a two-year $2.5 million contract with the Lions. He had a fine season with the Lions in 2001 playing in and starting 16 games, making 59 tackles and intercepting four passes, one he returned for a touchdown. In 2002 he playing in 16 games and started 14 and made 99 tackles and picked off two passes. On December 29, 2002, Lyght set an NFL record for being the oldest player to return a blocked field goal for a touchdown (33 years, 323 days). It was the sixth defensive touchdown in Lyght's career (along with four touchdowns off of interceptions and one from a fumble recovery).Personal
Lyght established a series of scholarships at St. Mary's Elementary (Alexandria, Va.), L.M. Powers Catholic High, and NotreDame. In 1995, he donated $50,000 to the United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...
as part of NFL's Golden Circle.