Biography - Terrell Owens

From questionable contract negotiations to over-the-top victory dances, Terrell Owens is a classic gridiron villain. Despite his controversial behavior, however, Owens puts his talent where his mouth is, and for the past decade has been one of the NFL’s most consistent and high-performing wide receivers.

Growing up in Alexander City, Alabama (where he was born on December 7, 1973), Owens had a difficult family life and dreamed of playing professional football like his idol, San Francisco 49ers superstar Jerry Rice. Unlike many contemporary football stars, Owens was a relatively unexceptional high school player, and only received a starting position in his senior year. Despite his lack of standout skill at the time, he managed to obtain an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he ultimately excelled as a basketball player, medium-distance runner, and particularly as a receiver for the football team. His junior year saw him catch 58 passes for 836 yards, leading him to a spot in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft.

Owens truly followed in his idol’s footsteps after the 49ers picked him up in the draft, and the young receiver quickly rose to the top of the team’s offense. Paired with 49ers QB Steve Young, Owens led the team to a terrific 1997 season, which preceded an embarrassing three-season slump that saw Young retire and Owens begin a long feud with coach Steve Mariucci and new starting QB Jeff Garcia. Lengthy, controversial, and tiresome contract negotiations followed for Owens, who eventually made it to the Philadelphia Eagles. His short stay with the Donovan McNabb-led Eagles was dramatic but fruitful, particularly when he shocked fans by playing in Super Bowl XXXIX despite recent severe injuries. The unstoppable New England Patriots defeated the Eagles, though Owens managed a superb nine receptions for 122 yards. Afterwards, Owens hired uber-agent Drew Rosenhaus to renegotiate his contract with the Eagles, and publicly blamed McNabb for losing the Super Bowl, two moves that didn’t sit well with the Eagles organization. After sitting out most of the 2005-06 season due to a conduct-related suspension, Owens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Cowboys fans were initially miffed by the hire, as a notorious 2000 incident that saw Owens ‘defame’ the Cowboys’ star logo with a touchdown victory dance was still fresh in their minds.

Regardless of the numerous controversies, Owens is still one of the best receivers in the NFL, and holds a slew of Hall of Fame-bound career records.