Terrell Owens: Career retrospective
Hall of Famer Terrell Owens was the definition of a star receiver. He scored touchdowns, made big plays in big moments, and was just as entertaining on the field as he was off it. Let’s take a look at T.O’s one-of-a-kind career.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice, who would become his teammate. Owens wasn’t allowed to play sports until he was in high school. His family wouldn’t let him. When he got involved in athletics, he displayed his talents at Benjamin Russell High School. You might be surprised that Owens didn’t start until his junior year. But Owens eventually merited the attention of several college football programs.
The Catch II . The name pays homage to Joe Montana’s game-winning touchdown pass to Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC Championship Game. The game-winning play would also be the birth of a superstar: T.O.
Dallas Cowboys.
At what was then Dallas Stadium, Owens scored a touchdown and proceeded to celebrate by standing on the Cowboys’ logo at midfield and looking up at the sky. Later, Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith replied with a touchdown of his own. Feeling disrespected by Owens in his own house, he slammed the ball on the Dallas Star. Then, Owens scored another touchdown, ran to the same spot, and celebrated again. Things got ugly. Cowboys safety George Teague laid him out. The game turned into must-watch TV and stamped Owens as one of the most controversial players in football. Owens finished the day with five catches, 51 yards, and two touchdowns. He was suspended for one game, thanks to his actions.
shattered the record books . They were the most receptions in one game, breaking Tom Fears’ record since 1950. Brandon Marshall has since broken Owens’ record in 2009.
Jeff Garcia, told the team he was always open, possessed an unmatched will to win, and wanted to be the highest-paid receiver in football. He also developed a reputation as a locker room cancer. The touchdown celebrations and off-field drama were part of the T.O. experience. If you wanted him on your football team, the side antics were something you had to deal with. After firing Steve Mariucci in 2002, the 49ers went 7-9 in 2003 and missed the playoffs. It was the last straw for T.O., who would test the free-agent waters in the offseason.
Owens caught 592 receptions for 8,572 yards and 81 touchdowns over his eight years in San Fran.
Tony Romo’s performance. Owens tearfully defended his quarterback. This showed a different side of Owens. While we are used to seeing Owens criticize his QBs, he went out of his way to defend Romo, calling the game a team loss.
Buffalo Bills. In his lone year in snowy Buffalo, he put up good numbers, but they weren’t what we were used to seeing out of the All-Pro talent. Regardless, T.O. was still T.O. His best moment with the Bills was a 98-yard touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a late-November matchup.
