Auburn Football: Top 25 Best Former Auburn Tigers in NFL History
11. Tony Richardson, FB
One of the best to ever play fullback in the NFL, Tony Richardson didn’t even play organized American football until high school (he was born in Germany). However, Richardson became a star running back at Daleville High School and earned a scholarship at Auburn, where he played for Pat Dye from 1990-92 and for Terry Bowden during the undefeated 1993 season.
Undrafted, Richardson was cut during his first training camp by the Dallas Cowboys in 1994. He toiled away on the Cowboys practice squad that season before he was released and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1995.
Richardson saw playing time as a reserve fullback for the Chiefs from 1995-98, but emerged as a starter in 1999 and went on to play 16 seasons in the NFL with the Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets.
When he retired in 2010 after his third season with the Jets, Tony Richardson had accumulated 1,727 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground as well as 1,543 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches. But of course his job description went far beyond picking up yards.
Richardson was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008 for his work paving the way for star running backs such as Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, Adrian Peterson and LaDanian Tomlinson.
Only kicker Al Del Greco played more NFL seasons than the bruising fullback’s 16 year-career.
Next: 9. Bo Jackson