Today In Patriots History March 1, 2024: Patriots release J.C. Jackson

March 1, 2024:
Patriots release CB J.C. Jackson


Over the course of just two years Jackson went from being considered one of the best players in the league, about to get a big pay day in free agent, to a player no NFL team wanted.

J.C. Jackson was originally signed by the Patriots as an undrafted rookie out of Maryland in 2018. His draft stock slipped due to character concerns (Jackson was arrested as a freshman at Florida for armed robbery, though found not guilty) as well as being measured as 5'9 at the combine, after previously being listed as 6'1. A good training camp and preseason resulted in his making the roster over former 2nd round pick Cyrus Jones, and pushing another 2nd round pick, Duke Dawson, further down on the depth chart. As the season progressed Eric Rowe was injured, and Jackson passed Jonathan Jones for playing time, becoming the third corner after Stephon Gilmore and Jason McCourty.

In 2020 Jackson set a franchise record with interceptions in five consecutive games, and finished the season with a team-high nine picks. (Nobody else had more than two.) He followed that up by again leading the Pats with eight picks in 2021, and an NFL-high 23 passes defensed. Jackson had an 88-yard pick-six in a 24-6 win over Carolina, one of two interceptions he had that day. In a vote among all NFL players, Jackson ranked #20 among the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022. His 25 interceptions tied an NFL record for the most by any player in the first four years of his career.

With all that on his résumé, fans astutely knew that there was no way that the Patriots could afford to retain the free agent to be. Jackson signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with San Diego, with $40 million guaranteed.

Chargers fans are surely still fuming over that deal. In August he underwent ankle surgery, forcing him to miss the season opener. When he returned Jackson struggled in coverage, and was benched in week six. One week later he suffered a non-contact patellar tendon rupture, prematurely ending his season. opposing QBs had a near-perfect 152.8 passer rating on balls thrown to receivers Jackson was covering.

Jackson began the 2023 season better, limiting opponents to 46% pass completions in the first two games. But in the next two weeks he was inactive once, and did not play in the other game. Meanwhile, in week four of 2023 rookie Christian Gonzalez suffered a torn labrum, ending his season. The Patriots were desperate for a corner, and the Chargers desperately wanted to unload Jackson. After restructuring his contract so that the Patriots would only have to spend $1.5 million in 2023 on Jackson, the Chargers traded Jackson to New England. In eight games with six starts Jackson was okay, but nothing special. He had no picks versus four TD allowed, limiting opponents to a 56.9% compeletion rate, but also giving up a 107.8 passer rating. With the three remaining years left on his contract all in the $12 million per year range, there was no way that the Patriots (or any other team) would pay Jackson that amount.

Jackson went through the 2024 season unsigned as a free agent; I was mildly surprised, given that he was only 28. No team ever signed Jackson and his NFL career was over. Other off-field news certainly had much to do with it. On December 19, 2022 Jackson was arrested in Dartmouth Mass following a 'non-violent family issue', and on September 25, 2023, a warrant was issued for Jackson's arrest in Massachusetts. The warrant was a result of Jackson not appearing in court for a probation violation hearing, which stemmed from a criminal speeding arrest back in 2021. Then in 2023 Jackson and Jack Jones missed curfew the night before a game versus Washington, and Jackson did not travel the following week for a game in Germany against the Colts. (That was the same game that the Krafts allegedly decided to fire Bill Belichick.)





























Analysis: Patriots Release CB J.C. Jackson, Top Takeaways from Tight End and Cornerback Workouts at the Combine -- Evan Lazar, Patriots.com









#20, DB J.C. Jackson (up from #29)










Career Earnings: $45,193,999

Bill, to the very end, never lost his feel for CB’s.

Knowing who to bring in, and notably who to let walk. Letting JC walk in 2022 was the best example of this.

Happy 44th birthday to Mike Wright
Born March 1, 1982 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Patriot DT/DE, 2005-2011; uniform #99
Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Cincinnati on April 29, 2005
Pats résumé: 7 seasons, 81 games (22 starts); 134 tackles (18 for a loss), 15 sacks


Mike Wright was a quality defender who could effectively fill multiple roles: nose tackle or right defensive end in 3-4 sets, or DT or DE in a 4-3 or 4-2 formation. As an undrafted rookie he was primarily used on special teams, but his playing time soon increased. 5-Technique, 3-Tech, 1-Tech, it didn't matter; he could play anywhere on the line. He was effective whether it be as a rotational guy to give somebody like Vince Wifork a breather, or as a starter. In terms of how he was used, he was a bit ahead of his time. Defensive tackles were exclusively mammoth guys like Wilfork; Mike Wright ushered in an era of undersized cat-quick DTs to compliment the big guys on the roster, and create mismatches for opposing lines. Unfortunately Wright ended up on injured reserve multiple times, and too many concussions caused his career to come to an end before the age of 30.





Dec 28, 2006 - Patriots.com
Interesting full-length article on the obstacles that Mike Wright had to overcome to play college football as a walk-on for the University of Cincinnati:




March 23, 2009 - Mike Reiss:




Oct 13, 2011 - Mike Dussault:








Feb 22, 2012 - Gregg Rosenthal:






Feb 22, 2012 - Nick Underhill:






May 3, 2018:




June 1, 2019 - David Latham
Below is a good retrospective/biography on Mike Wright:

March 1, 1978:
The Patriots sign free agents Ted Bachman and Mike Tiagwad

Bachman was a CB who originally played with Calgary in the CFL in 1973-74, before the New Mexico State grad was signed by the Browns in 1976. His final stop in the NFL was with the Patriots, who signed him early in the 1978 offseason but was cut by Chuck Fairbanks prior to start of the season. Bachman played in 13 NFL games, all in 1976, with Miami and Cleveland, and also spent time with Seattle.

In his post-football life Bachman was a CPA, and worked as the Head Controller for the Los Angeles Coliseum.



Michael Tiagwad set single season school records as a wide receiver at Central Connecticut State. He was listed in the Pats media guide as "Bill" Tiagwad, so I am guessing William is his birth name, but he went by his middle name of Michael. He went on to have a very successful business career as Executive Chairman and CEO of Conner Strong & Buckelew, am insurance brokerage and consulting firm that is one of the 15 largest insurance brokers in the US, with over $2 billion in annual revenue.










March 1, 1982:
Nose tackle Luther Henson is claimed off waivers from Cincinnati

The 6', 275 pound Sandusky Ohio native played in 21 games over three seasons for the Patriots.



A two time All-Big 10 defensive tackle at Ohio State, Luther Martin Henson originally signed in his home state as an undrafted rookie with Cincinnati. After Henson was cut by the Bengals, Ron Meyer, in his first year as New England’s head coach signed the big man to fortify the defensive line. Henson made an impact, upgrading the interior pass rush. The defense allowed six fewer points per game from the previous season and the Pats improved, from 2-14 to a playoff berth in ’82.

Luther Henson played in 21 games over three seasons for the Patriots, registering three sacks. He later returned to Ohio, joining a former college teammate in a successful auto dealership. Since 2012 Henson has been the Sales Director at Columbus Car Trader in Ohio[/URL].




Sept 20, 1982:





Jan 10, 2009:






Aug 7, 2010:


Luther M Henson - LinkedIn
Played for Woody Hayes and Earle Bruce, then went to play in the NFL for the New England Patriots for three years

I really liked JC Jackson and the conversation would be differently on him had he been a starter on a Super Bowl winning team. He seems like an afterthought because he was on such bad teams.

From his rookie year to his last season in NE, he was the most productive CB in the NFL. Even though BB tried re-signing him at the 11th hour, he had a nagging ankle issue that ended up derailing his career. The classless Chargers organization and GM threw him under the bus after the way the team Doctors prematurely cleared him to play. He could barely run after his ankle surgery. He was never the same.

March 1, 1989:
Free agent linebacker Eric Naposki signs with Dallas

Naposki was undrafted out of UConn after missing his senior season due to either 'family obligations', or disagreements with the head coach, depending on different internet sources. Either way, he managed to get a tryout and made the team as an undrafted rookie, playing in three games in 1988. He was released by the Cowboys before the start of the '89 season, bounced back and forth between the Colts and Pats five times in '89, and later spent three seasons in Europe with the Barcelona Dragons, and parts of two seasons in the CFL.

Apparently in 1994 Naposki murdered a California multi-millionaire investor, who was married to a much younger woman that Naposki was seeing on the side. The case remained unsolved for 15 years before she and Naposki were charged with the crime. On July 14, 2011, an Orange County jury found Naposki guilty of first-degree murder. The panel also found true a special circumstance allegation that Naposki committed the murder for financial gain and that he personally discharged a firearm, which would have made him eligible for the death penalty. He has been appealing the sentence ever since, to no avail thus far.









March 1, 1995:
New England signs veteran free agent Bobby Abrams

Abrams entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie from Michigan in 1990. He was well traveled, signing nine times with five different teams, playing in 74 games from '90-'95 - and collecting three super bowl rings with the Giants and Cowboys in the process. He played in nine games for the Pats in '95, then went on IR on August 20, 1996. The Pars released him with an injury settlement three weeks later, and he never caught on with another team. In his post-NFL life Abrams is a high school principal in Montgomery, Alabama.








March 1, 1995:
The Patriots lose FB Kevin Turner in free agency after he signs with Philadelphia in free agency

Turner was a third round 1992 draft pick by the Pats out of Alabama. He never missed a game in three seasons with the Patriots, scoring seven touchdowns, with most of his 1,238 yards coming on screen passes rather than rushes.

In 1994 Drew Bledsoe led the NFL in completions, attempts, passing yards - and interceptions. The Pats running game was dismal, with Marion Butts the lead running back, averaging a paltry 2.9yards per carry. None of the '94 backs - Butts, 3.1 ypc Leroy Thompson, or 3.1 ypc Turner would return. Two days after the Eagles signed Turner, Tuna signed Giants free agent RB Dave Meggett.

Because Turner's signing occured prior to genuine free agency, New England received compensation back from Philadelphia. In this case it was a third round draft pick - which was used to select future Hall of Fame RB Curtis Martin. In 1994 the Patriots rushed for 1,332 yards, averaging 3.1 ypc while scoring 12 rushing touchdowns. The following year those numbers improved to 1,866, 3.9 and 16.

As for Kevin Turner, his life story is tragic.

March 1, 2001:
Two players become restricted free agents: RB Harold Shaw, and DE Greg Spires. In addition, nine others become unrestricted free agents: OT Bruce Armstrong, RB Tony Carter, DT Chad Eaton, DE Bobby Hamilton, LB Rob Holmberg, G Sale Isaia, DL Brandon Mitchell, DT Chuck Osborne and S Matt Stevens.

For Armstrong, this was the end of the line for his illustrious 14-year career. A first round draft pick in 1987 out of Louisville, he started 212 games, all but his first three seasons at left tackle. Armstrong held the franchise record for most starts until 2015, and is one of only eight Patriots to have his number retired. Seven weeks later the Patriots would select Purdue's Matt Light in the second round, and he took over Armstrong's left tackle position for the next eleven seasons.







March 1, 2001:
Bill Belichick hires Josh McDaniels as a Personnel Assistant in the scouting department

The John Carroll alum had just turned 25 years old at the time. A high school kicker and quarterback in Canton Ohio, he was a backup QB in college to Nick Caserio, who also joined the Pats in 2001. McDaniels was also a college teammate of Dave Ziegler, who later become the Pats Director of Player Personnel. Josh was a grad assistant in 1999 at Michigan State under Nick Saban, but then got out of football. McDaniels was doing well as plastics sales representative in Cleveland when he received the unsolicited call to work longer hours at less pay - and jumped at the opportunity.




March 1, 2002:
Patriots re-sign RB Antowain Smith










March 1, 2003:
Monti Ossenfort is hired as a Personnel Assistant. He had worked the previous season in Houston as a Pro Personnel Intern for Charlie Casserly, would return to the Texans in 2004 - and then return to the Patriots, from 2006 to 2019.




March 1, 2004:
Patriote re-sign OL Russ Hochstein




The Patriots also hired Brian Flores as a Scouting Assistant. A 2003 graduate from Boston College, this was Flores' first job in the NFL, his initiation to the "20-20" club: work 20 hours a day, for $20,000 a year. He is now the Defensive Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings under another former Patriot, Kevin O'Connell.





March 1, 2005:
The Patriots decline the option on Troy Brown, making him a free agent.
The Pats also tendered four restricted free agents: WR David Givens, DE Jarvis Green, G Stephen Neal and OT Tom Ashworth

New England would re-sign Brown to a more team-friendly deal on May 23.















March 1, 2006:
Patriots hire Josh Boyer as a Defensive Assistant

This was Boyer's first job in the NFL. After graduating from Muskingum College, where he played football as a wide receiver and defensive back, he began his coaching career in 2000 as a graduate assistant at King's College in Pennsylvania. He then served in the same role at the University of Dayton (2001) and Kent State (2002-03). In 2004, Boyer served as the Defensive Backs Coach at Bryant University; he then worked as Defensive Coordinator at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2005 before joining the Patriots.


The Patriots also hired Monti Ossenfort, who had previously worked for them in 2003 as a Personnel Assistant, as an Area Scout.




March 1, 2008:
Brian Flores is promoted to Special Teams Assistant

Flores had joined the Patriots as a scouting assistant in 2004, at the age of 23. After two years in that position he was promoted to Pro Scout in 2006, until taking this coaching job. This marked the first time Flores had been given coaching duties, rather than working as a xcout.




March 1, 2010:
Perry Brooks passes away at the age of 55

In 1976 the Patriots selected the defensive tackle from Southern University in the seventh round, 202nd overall. Brooks had an uphill battle to climb to make the roster. The 3-4 defensive line was set with incumbents Tony McGee, Ray Hamilton and Julius Adams. Fifth round draft pick Richard Bishop would spell Hamilton at nose tackle. That meant Brooks would have to beat veteran tackles Tommy Neville or Arthur Moore to survive roster cuts, which did not happen. The Redskins ended up signing Brooks, and he played in 98 games for Washington from 1977 to 1984, winning one super bowl (27-17 over Miami following the 1982 season), and losing another a year later, 38-9 to the Raiders. His son, Ahmad Brooks was a Pro Bowl linebacker for the 49ers who played in 153 games from 2006-2017.







March 1, 2010:
The Patriots promote Brian Flores to Offensive Assistant and Special Teams Coach

Brian Flores makes the news again. His upward career trajectory was constant and steady until he went to work for the Dolphins.

March 1, 2011:
Monti Ossenfort is promoted to Assistant Director of College Scouting

Ossenfort began his NFL career as an intern with the Vikings in 2001, and joined the Pats as a Personnel Assistant in 2003.
He was an Area Scout from 2006-08 and National Scout from 2009-10 with the Patriots.


Pats sign Marcus Stroud








March 1, 2013:
The Pats hire Dave Ziegler as Assistant Director of Pro Scouting

The John Carroll grad had previously worked with Denver as their Player Personnel Assistant in 2010, and as a scout for the Broncos from 2011-2012.








March 1, 2020:
Patriots promote Cole Popovich to Co-Offensive Line Coach

Popovich would share duties with Carmen Bricilloin, because it takes two people to replace Dante Scarnecchia.
He began his career with the Patriots in 2016 as a Coaching Assistant, and became an Assistant Running Backs Coach in 2019.

In addition, Dave Ziegler is promoted to Assistant Director of Player Personnel, and Cam Achord is promoted from Assistant Special Teams Coach to Special Teams Coordinator, filling the spot vacated by Joe Judge, who had accepted a job as Giants head coach. Achord would serve as the Pats ST coach from 2020-2023; his is now the ST coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.




March 1, 2024:
Patriots re-sign QB Nathan Rourke

Happy 75th birthday to Prentice McCray
Born March 1, 1951 in Los Angeles
Patriot safety, 1974-1980; uniform #34
Signed as a 2nd-year free agent on April 3, 1974
Pats résumé: 7 seasons, 81 games (65 starts); 15 interceptions, two pick-sixes

Happy 56th birthday to Ray Crittenden
Born March 1, 1970 in Washington DC
Patriot wide receiver, 1993-1994; uniform #81
Signed as an undrafted rookie out of Virginia Tech on May 20, 1993
Pats résumé: 2 seasons, 32 games (4 starts); 101 receptions, four touchdowns

Happy 25th birthday to Terrell Jennings
Born March 1, 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida
Patriot running back, 2024-present; uniform #29, #26
Signed as an undrafted rookie out of Florida A&M on May 13, 2024
Pats résumé: 2 seasons, 10 games (0 starts); 36 carries, one TD




Terrell Jennings spent most of his rookie year on the practice squad, appearing briefly in three games. 2025 was more of the same, until he was a game-day elevation in weeks 6-8. With Antonio Gibson on IR and Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined, Jennings was forced into duty as the #2 back in week 9 against Atlanta; he had 11 carries, one reception and scored a TD. Stevenson returned the next week, but with Gibson out for the season that meant Jennings was now the #3 back. Jennings suffered a knee injury in November, then a concussion and hamstring injury after a 39-yard kickoff return against the Giants on Dec 1. He never returned after being placed on IR on Dec 13.





Terrell Jennings Bio - Patriots.com


‘He was with us’: DeMario Douglas, Terrell Jennings had heavy hearts in Patriots win

How dire is Patriots RB situation ahead of Thursday night? Terrell Jennings provides update - MassLive, Nov 10, 2025

From homeless teen to NFL end zone: The remarkable journey of Patriots RB Terrell Jennings - MassLive, Nov 25, 2025

Happy 32nd birthday to Keionta Davis
Born March 1, 1994 in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Patriot defensive end, 2017-2020; uniform #58
Signed as an undrafted rookie out of Tenn-Chattanooga on August 11, 2017
Pats résumé: 3 seasons, 6 games (3 starts); one ring




Keionta Davis was originally forecast to be a mid-round draft pick in 2017, but due to the discovery of a bulging disc during the NFL combine, he went undrafted. The Pats took a flyer on him, signing Davis after the start of training camp, hoping for another Marcus Cannon style low risk/high ceiling investment. Davis spent the entire 2017 season on the NFI list.

The following year Davis bounced up and down between the active roster and the practice squad, making three starts. He played in each of the first three games, logging a career-high 55 snaps in the week two loss at Jacksonville, as well as playing in each the week 8-10 games. Overall Davis was on the field for 183 defensive snaps and two special teams snaps - but did not play in any games after week 10. He was placed on injured reserve on August 26, missing an entire second season. The Patriots somewhat surprisingly re-signed Davis on March 17, 2020, but released him one day after the 2020 draft. He was never picked up by another team, thus ending his brief NFL career.





LinkedIn - Keionta Davis
Transitioning from the field to the boardroom, I've excelled in roles spanning business development, client relationship management, and leadership coaching.

Happy 49th birthday to Dave Stachelski
Born March 1, 1977 in Chicago; hometown Marysville WA
Patriot tight end, 2000; uniform #84
Selected in the 5th round (141st overall) of the 2000 draft, from Boise State
Pats résumé: one offseason

The 6'3, 245 TE didn't even make it to the end of camp; he was cut on August 14, and claimed off waivers by New Orleans. Stachelski played in nine games over two seasons for the Saints and finished his pro football career in 2002 with the NFLE's Frankfurt Galaxy.







Happy 36th birthday to Griff Whalen
Born March 1, 1990 in Detroit; hometown Sylvania, Ohio
Patriot wide receiver, 2016; uniform #14
Signed as a 5th-year free agent on December 9, 2016
Pats résumé: one week

One week after the Pats signed Whalen, he was released to make room on the roster for former Arizona WR Michael Floyd. Whalen was a healthy scratch for his only game as a Patriot, a 30-23 MNF victory over the Ravens on Dec 12, 2016.











Happy 48th birthday to Damione Lewis
Born March 1, 1978 in Sulphur Springs, Texas
Patriot defensive tackle, 2010; uniform #92
Signed as a 32-year old ten-year veteran free agent on April 5, 2010
Pats résumé: one full offseason, training camp and preseason

Damione Lewis played in 145 NFL games over ten seasons, primarily with the Rams and Panthers. From 2001-2010 he had 284 tackles, 25½ sacks and 16 pass deflections.
















Happy 78th birthday to John Mosier
Born March 1, 1948 in Wichita Falls, Texas; hometown Wichita, Kansas
Patriot tight end, 1973; uniform #
Signed as a 25-year old fourth-year free agent on October 26, 1973
Pats résumé: one season, three games

Denver selected Mosier in the sixth round of the 1970 draft, out of Kansas. He appeared in 25 games for the Broncos and Baltimore Colts from 1971-72. On Friday, October 26, 1973 the Patriots made a series of transactions. OT Bob Reynolds and DE Nate Dorsey were placed on injured reserve; QB Charlie Richards was waived; TE Bob Adams was placed on the inactive list; and OT Kevin Hunt and TE John Mosier were signed. Mosier appeared in week 7 and 8 losses to the Dolphins and Eagles, was inactive for weeks 9-12, played again in a week 13 loss at Buffalo, and was inactive again for the final game of the season. He had no stats in any of those games and appears in most web sites as having played zero games for the Patriots, but the official NFL game summaries show that Mosier did play in those three games. Regardless, that was the final season of John Mosier's pro football career.

Tyreek Hill, 32; March 1, 1994 in Douglas, GA
KC/Miami WR, 2016-present
Patriots Draft Pick Trades
'Reek actually has a bit of a connection to the Patriots. This is actually a bit of a stretch, since the trade was between the Chiefs and Dolphins. Anyways, KC traded Tyreek to Miami in 2022 for a 2022 1st round, 29th overall pick; a 2022 2nd (50th), a 2022 4th (121st), a 2023 4th and a 2023 6th.
A month later the Pats traded down, sending their first round pick (#21) to KC for the 1.29 and 4.121 they had received from Miami, plus KC's own 3.94

The Chiefs used the Pats original 1.21 on All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie
The Pats used the Miami->KC->NE 1.29 on G Cole Strange
The Pats used the Miami->KC->NE 4.121 on CB Jack Jones

The Pats took KC's 3.94 and traded down to Carolina for a 4.137 and a 2023 3rd
The Panthers used 3.94 on backup QB Matt Corrall
The Pats used the Carolina->NE 4.137 on QB Bailey Zappe
The Pats used the Carolina->NE 2023 3.76 on LB Marte Mapu

In a separate trade, the Pats traded up, sending their 2nd (#54) and a 5th (#158) to move up four spots
The Pats used that Miami->KC->NE 2.50 on WR Tyquan Thornton
The Chiefs used New England's 2.54 on WR Sky Moore
KC traded NE's 5.158 to Seattle, used for OLB Tyreke Smith

So after all that dust has settled, given what currently remains on the roster it looks like the Patriots traded away an All-Pro CB for Marte Mapu, more or less.





Other March 1 NFL birthdays with a New England connection:

Pete Perreault (1939-2001)
Jets/Bengals/Vikings G, 1963-1971
Born and raised in Shrewsbury; Shrewsbury High School; Boston University
Pete played in 96 AFL/NFL games over nine seasons. He is one of eight BU Terriers to play for nine or more seasons.








Stan Hindman (1944-2020)
49ers DL, 1966-1974
Born in Houlton, Maine






Joe Sims (1969-2024)
Falcons/Packers OT, 1991-95
Born and raised in Sudbury; Lincoln-Sudbury High School





Silas Redd, 34 (March 1, 1992)
Washington RB, 2014-16
Born in Norwalk CT; High School in Stamford CT
After his career was derailed by a torn ACL and suspensions for HgH while rehabbing, Silas became a professional rugby player in Australia.






Gordon Rule, 80 (March 1, 1946)
Packers safety, 1968-69
Dartmouth




David Steinmetz, 31 (March 1, 1995)
Miami/Houston/Washington/KC OT, 2018-22
Born and raised in Grafton MA; Grafton High School
Played in four games whild bouncing between practice squads.




Al Greene (1901-1977)
Halfback from the 1920s
Raised in Haverhill; Haverhill High School
Not to be confused with the singer, our Al Greene was born in Russia with the name Albert Greenstein, and immigrated to the US with his parents at an early age. Despite being undersized even back then (5'8, 160) Greene was quick and tough enough to play halfback/tailback/wingback on offense, and defensive halfback (safety) on defense. Greene played for the short-lived (1922-26) Milwaukee Badgers, in the first season that the American Professional Football Association was renamed to the National Football League. That team included future Hall of Famer Fritz Pollard (the first black QB in NFL history) and Paul Robeson, who went on to become a singer known for his baritone voice, and actor who was blacklisted for his political activism during the dark days of McCarthyism.





Other NFL March 1 Birthdays:

Elvin Bethea, 80 (March 1, 1946)
Oilers DE, 1968-83
8x Pro Bowl
210 games (135 consecutive)
North Carolina A&T Athletic Hall of Fame, 1980
Titans/Oilers Ring of Honor, inaugural class, 1999
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2003
Texas Sports Hall of Fame, 2003
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, 2005



Stephen Davis, 52 (March 1, 1974)
Washington/Carolina/St Louis RB, 1996-2006
Led NFL with 17 rushing TD in 1999
Four seasons with 1,500-plus yards from scrimmage
69 touchdowns, 9,546 yards from scrimmage



Riley Odoms, 76 (March 1, 1950)
Denver Broncos TE, 1972-1983
2x All Pro, 4x Pro Bowl
14.5 yards per catch, 5,755 yards receiving, 43 touchdowns
Denver Broncos Ring of Fame, 2024




Ja'Marr Chase, 26 (March 1, 2000)
Cincinnati Bengals WR, 2021-present
2x All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl
2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year
Led NFL in 2024 in receptions (127), receiving yardage (1,708), receiving TD (17) and yards per touch (13.4)
Already at 6,837 career yards receiving and 54 career touchdowns
Perennial PatsFans Fever Dream




Thomas 'Hollywood' Henderson, 73 (March 1, 1953)
Dallas Cowboys LB, 1975-1980
1x Pro Bowl, 1x Super Bowl champion
Million dollar talent wasted




March 1 obituaries:

Jerry Richardson (1936-2023)
Colts receiver made millions as a fast food owner, then became a hard-ass owner of the Carolina Panthers that was the primary driving force in the 2011 NFL lockout.




Andy Russell (1941-2024)
Pittsburgh LB, 1963-76
1x All Pro, 7x Pro Bowl
2x Super Bowl champion
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, 1976
Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame, 1976
NFL All-Decade Team of the 1970s
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team, 2007
Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2013
Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor, 2017
168 games played despite missing two years to military service
After suffering through several crappy Pittsburgh teams, Andy Russell was one of the few Steeler veterans that Chuck Noll retained, and he finally won two Super Bowls near the end of his career.