Darren Sproles

At 40 years old, Darren Sproles has this physical status:

Darren Lee Sproles (born June 20, 1983) is an American football running back and return specialist for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football at Kansas State, where he is the all-time leading rusher, and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. On the Chargers' 50th Anniversary Team, Sproles was named as a kick returner.

He joined the New Orleans Saints in free agency before the 2011 season and set a new record for most single-season all-purpose yardage with 2,696 yards.

He made career debuts with 603 yards (6.9 yards per carry) and 710 yards receiving, totaling 9 touchdowns, during the 1999 season.

Sproles is the first NFL player to have over 2,200+ all purpose yards in four seasons (2008–2011).

The Sproles are currently ranked 5th in all-purpose yards in NFL history (19,696 yards).

Early years

In Olathe, Kansas, Sproles attended Olathe North High School. He has been beating a speech impediment he has suffered with since childhood. After being born at 10 lb (4.5 kg), Sproles became a celebrity in football, earning the nickname "Tank." He was an All-Sunflower League honoree, All-Metro honoree, and an All-State pick for two years in a row. In addition, he was named twice as the Best of the Year in Kansas City twice. He was named both the Kansas Hall of Fame Player of the Year and the USA Today Kansas Player of the Year as a senior. Sproles rushed for 5,230 yards, averaging nearly 8.4 yards per carry and 79 touchdowns throughout his high school career.

According to Student Sports Magazine, Sproles was a high school All-American. He was also the winner of Thomas A. Simone Trophy, which was given to the best big-class footballer in the Kansas City metro area. In 1999, he rushed for 2,031 yards in nine games as a junior. Sproles rushed for 2,485 yards, scoring 49 touchdowns in 2000, during his senior year. He led the Olathe North Eagles to a 12–0 record and their fourth Kansas 6A state championship in five years.

Sproles played for basketball, not football, at Olathe North. With a time of 21.6 seconds, he finished second in the state in the 200 meters as a junior. He also ranked fourth at Class 6A States in 100 meters, and 3rd in the 200 meters in 22.04 seconds.

In the 200 meters, Sproles has set personal records of 10.6 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.6 seconds.

Personal life

Larry Sproles' father played basketball at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Larry was 5 foot (5.65 meters) tall. Annette's mother died of cancer in April 2004.

Sproles lives in Poway, California, where he has remained in off-season.

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College career

Sproles played football at Kansas State University from 2001 to 2004, winning all games in his last two seasons and setting school records. He made his collegiate debut against New Mexico State in 2001 and had four carries for 49 yards and a touchdown. In six games, he had 28 passes for 210 yards and one touchdown.

Sproles' presence in the offense soared during the 2002 season. He had 135 passing yards and a rushing touchdown in the season opener against Western Kentucky. In the game against Colorado on October 5, he had 121 passing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He had 110 passing yards against Kansas on November 2, with two rushing touchdowns. Against Iowa State, he continued to play 103 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He had 159 passing yards and three running touchdowns in the next game against Nebraska. He had 1,465 passing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in the 2002 season.

The Sproles continued to produce a good deal for the Wildcats in the 2003 season. He had 175 passing yards and a rushing touchdown in the season opener against California. He had 152 passing yards and three running touchdowns against Massachusetts on September 13, helping the Wildcats get off to a 4–0 start. He had 201 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in a game at Iowa State on November 8. He had 43 passes for 273 yards and two rushing touchdowns against Missouri on November 22, who had 43 tackles for 273 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He had 235 passing yards and 88 receiving yards as a result in the Big 12 Conference championship in 2003, a 35-7 victory over #1 ranked Oklahoma. He finished the 2003 season with 1,986 passing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting last year. He received his degree in speech pathology. In 2003, he led all FBS teams in rushing yards with 1,986 points.

In a victory over Western Kentucky, the Sproles started the 2004 season off with 42 carries for 221 yards and a touchdown. He had 292 passing yards and a touchdown against Louisiana–Lafayette on September 18, which was his first appearance on September 18. He had 135 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns against Nebraska on October 23, 1993. He had 160 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns against Missouri on November 6, 1997. He had 167 passing yards and a rushing touchdown in his last game of his collegiate career against Iowa State. He finished the 2004 season with 1,318 passing yards and 11 touchdowns.

With the 6th most all-purpose yards in NCAA history, the Sproles finished 11th on the all-time college rushing yards list, ranked 11th on the all-time college rushing yards list.

Sproles was inducted into the Kansas State Athletic Hall of Fame, leading the 2021 class.

Professional career

In the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Sproles was drafted by the Chargers with the 130th overall pick.

The Sproles were the third string running back in 2005, behind LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner, who returned kicks and punts. After breaking his ankle during the preseason, he spent the remainder of the 2006 season on injured reserve.

Sproles made history by returning a kickoff and a punt for his first two NFL touchdowns on November 11, 2007, the first player in league history to do so. For the game's first score, he returned 89 yards in the first round. Sproles punted 46 yards for another touchdown, the Chargers' lead was boosted by Nate Kaeding's field goal. Sproles became the first player to return a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same game since Dante Hall did so in 2003.

Sproles ran one yard against the Detroit Lions on December 16, 2007, his first career rushing touchdown. He was followed by an 11-yard touchdown for his second straight rushing touchdown, capping off his first 100+ yard rushing game in his career. He finished the 2007 regular season with 164 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with ten receptions for 31 yards. He had 37 kick returns for 1,008 net yards and a touchdown, as well as 24 punt returns for 229 net yards and a touchdown on special teams. In 2007, the Chargers made the playoffs for the first time. In the Divisional Round against the Indianapolis Colts, he had a 56-yard receiving touchdown in the 28-24 victory. In the AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots in the next round, he had 34 rushing yards.

Sproles became just the second player in NFL history with 50 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, and 100 return yards in one game on September 14, 2008 (the other being Gale Sayers with the Chicago Bears). 53 rushing yards, 72 receiving yards, and 192 return yards were among the game's statistics. In a 39–38 loss to the Denver Broncos, the Sproles tallied 317 all-purpose yards. He also had a 103-yard touchdown return. In a 34–7 victory over the Oakland Raiders on December 4, he had three receptions for 34 yards and two touchdowns. He had 115 passing yards and his lone rushing touchdown of the regular season in the regular season opener against the Denver Broncos. Overall, he had 330 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, and 29 receivers for 342 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He had 53 kick returns for 1,376 net yards and a touchdown, as well as 22 punt returns for 249 net yards on special teams.

Sproles ran for two touchdowns in place of the injured LaDainian Tomlinson's shambling in overtime to beat the Colts 23-17 on January 3, 2009. Sproles defeated the Colts 3-2 for the third straight yards by a player in a single NFL post-season game in history, with 105 yards passing, 45 yards receiving, and 178 return yards. For the second week in a row, he was named the "Horse Trailer Player of the Week" on NBC. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers suspended Sproles the following week. He only had 15 yards on 11 attempts, but he did have 5 receptions for 91 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown.

The Chargers adopted a Sproles franchise tag on February 18, 2009. He signed the agreement on April 28, 2009, valuing it at $6.621 million. In Week 2, against the Baltimore Ravens, he had seven receptions for 124 yards. In a 34-23 loss to the Denver Broncos, he had a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown on October 19. In a 42-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans, he had 38 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on Christmas Day. In the 2009 regular season, he had 343 passing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 45 plays, 497 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. He had 54 kick returns for 1,300 net yards and 26 punt returns for 183 net yards and a touchdown on special teams.

The Chargers had a contract with Sproles, worth about $7.3 million, on March 4, 2010. If the Chargers and third-round draft picks were to sign Sproles, another team would have to fork over the Chargers' first and third draft picks. He appeared in all 16 games and scored 59 receptions for 520 yards and two touchdowns, as well as 50 rushing yards. He had 51 kick returns for 1,257 net yards and 24 punt returns for 166 net yards on special teams.

Sproles and the New Orleans Saints announced on July 29, 2011 that they had agreed to a four-year contract worth $14 million. The deal had $6 million in pledged funds.

Sproles punt 72 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and returned a second punt for 20 yards; he also had two kick-off returns for 83 yards, including a 57-yard return. On offense, Sproles had seven receptions for 75 yards, with just two carries for seven yards, and he had 257 all-purpose yards.

Sproles had 193 all-purpose yards (108 special teams yards and 85 offensive yards) on September 25, 2011, including a 30-yard touchdown field run, and on special teams, there were four kick-off returns for 103 yards.

Darren Sproles had 190 all-purpose yards with two touchdowns during a game against the Indianapolis Colts on October 23, 2011. He had six returns for 83 yards on special teams. On offense, he had 12 carries for 88 yards with a 16-yard touchdown run and six receptions for 19 yards with a six-yard touchdown pass. Sproles broke the 1,000 all-purpose yards record during the game.

Sproles had 236 all-purpose yards during a game against the Atlanta Falcons on December 26, 2011. He had four kick-off returns for 147 yards, including a 92-yard return in which the football team had just returned the game to the hospital, but on offense, he had 89 yards, two touchdowns for 22 yards, but not on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees. Drew Brees broke the single-season record for passing yards (5,084), which had been held by Dan Marino since 1984. This last-play touchdown pass in the fourth quarter helped Drew Brees smash the single season record for passing yards (5,084). Brees 5,087 yards on the 2011 regular season, with just one game remaining.

Sproles had 168 all-purpose yards in a season (696) on January 1, 2012. In the fourth quarter of a thrilling back-and-forth match against the San Francisco 49ers that the Saints ultimately lost 36–32, the Saints won three touchdowns, including a 44-yard catch and run.

In only his seventh game as a Saint, the Sproles broke over 1,000 all-purpose yards. Maintaining an average of 168.5 all purpose yards per game, the Sproles finished the 2011 season with 2,696 all-purpose yards, tying a new franchise record set in 2000 by Derrick Mason (2,690 yards). On the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012, he was ranked 86th by his peers.

Sproles had 13 receptions for 128 yards in Week 2 (a 35–27 loss to the Carolina Panthers). Saints interim head coach Joe Vitt announced on November 2, 2012, that Sproles would be out indefinitely due to a fractured hand. The Sproles returned in Week 12 and played in the Saints' remaining games, totaling 48 rushes for 667 yards and seven touchdowns, 75 kickoff returns for 483 yards, and 23 punt returns for 183 yards.

Sproles played in 15 regular season games, throwing for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 53 attempts, with 71 catches for 604 yards and two touchdowns, 12 kickoff returns for 194 yards, and 29 punt returns for 194 yards. He appeared in both of the Saints' playoff games, with seven runs for 31 yards and nine catches for 63 yards.

The Philadelphia Eagles acquired Sproles on March 13, 2014 in exchange for a 2014 5th-round draft pick. "You only see a Darren Sproles type of player come around once in your life," Drew Brees said after the trade: "You only see a Darren Sproles type of player come around once in your life."

In his first regular season game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had 11 passes for a total of 71 yards and one touchdown (49 yards), the longest stretch of his career). He won NFC Offensive Player of the Week against the Indianapolis Colts on week two, throwing for 26 yards and a touchdown and four touchdowns. For his efforts in Week 4 and Week 10, he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Sproles played in 15 regular season games in 2014, throwing for 329 yards on 57 attempts, one kickoff return for 15 yards, and 39 punt returns for 560 yards and two touchdowns, the most in the NFL in 2014. He was named to his first Pro Bowl appearance for his efforts. He was selected second team All-Pro as a return specialist, his first time on an All-Pro team. On the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015, he was ranked 81st by his peers.

Much rumors surrounding the Eagles' signing of reigning rushing champion DeMarco Murray and San Diego starter Ryan Mathews in the 2015 season, leading to rumors that the Sproles will get less playing time. Sproles rushed for 50 yards on five attempts and scored seven passes for 76 yards as well as returning three punts for 25 yards in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Murray and Mathews rushed for a total of 11 carries and 13 yards, although Sproles did not have a touchdown rush because they both had touchdowns.

DeMarco Murray did not participate in Week 3 due to injury, but the Eagles' running game flourished under Mathews and Sproles. For the touchdown, the Sproles were named NFC Special Teams player of the week for returning a punt 89 yards. He also ran for 17 yards and one touchdown, helping the Eagles win their first game of the season against the 2-0 New York Jets 24–17.

In a Week 13 game against the tenacious New England Patriots, Sproles was given his largest workload since the 2009 season due to Murray and Mathews' ineffectiveness. In the 35–28 victory, the Sproles had 15 carries for 66 yards, four catches for 34 yards, and five punt returns for 115 yards and a touchdown. The Sproles won by 23-20 with a strong game against the Buffalo Bills, with sevem carries for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Three rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, and two punt return touchdowns boosted the NFL for the second year in a row. Sproles was selected to his second straight Pro Bowl and his second year as an All-Pro and his first-team pick.

Sproles' contract with the Eagles ran for one year from July 29, 2016. In the first three games of the season, the Sproles was an immediate weapon out of the backfield, catching 10 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown, but he was also limited to only 51 yards on 19 carries rushing in that same timeframe. Sproles took over as the lead back after losing 5 yards and 5 touchdowns in Week 8 to the Dallas Cowboys. Sproles will keep the lead back role against the New York Giants next week, rushing 13 times for 57 yards, catching three passes for 14 yards, and totaling 76 yards on two punt returns. Sproles were officially named starting back on November 7, the day after the Giants' game. He finished the 2016 season with 438 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, 52 plays, 427 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns. He received his third straight Pro Bowl nomination.

In a game against the New York Giants on September 25, 2017, it was revealed that Sproles sustained a broken arm and a torn ACL on the same play. On the day, he was officially put on injured reserve, prematurely ending his season. He ran 15 times for 61 yards in three games, with seven receptions for 73 yards. The Eagles went on to win Super Bowl LII. Sproles expressed his desire to return to the Eagles for one more season after the season ended.

Sproles re-signed with the Eagles on a one-year deal on April 28, 2018. Sproles revealed on July 15, 2018 that this will be his last NFL season. In the season-opening 18–12 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, he recovered from his injury to play in the season-opening 18–12. In preparations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Week 2 game, his return from injury was short-lived. He returned in Week 13 to face the Washington Redskins and scored a touchdown. He had a receiving touchdown in the Dallas Cowboys' game. In Week 16, he scored his second touchdown against the Houston Texans. He finished the 2018 season with 120 passing yards, one rushing touchdown, 160 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. In the 16–15 victory over the Chicago Bears, he had 21 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards. In the Divisional Round loss to the New Orleans Saints, he had four rushing yards and 21 passing yards.

On July 19, 2019, Sproles re-signed with the Eagles on a one-year contract. Tim Brown led the New York Jets to his fifth all-purpose yards list in Week 5 this season, beating Tim Brown for his 5th all-time record. However, the Sproles suffered a partial right hip flexor muscle and missed the next three games. He returned in Week 9, but the injury was exacerbated even more. He was later discovered that he ripped the muscle completely and was effectively barred from participation in the remainder of the season. On November 15, he was put on injured reserve. Sproles revealed on December 21, 2019, that he would have to leave the league following the 2019 season. Sproles was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2010s Team.

Post-playing career

Sproles and former teammate Brent Celek were hired as a staff consultant in the Eagles' football operations department on February 7, 2020.

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