Derrick Alexander (wide receiver)

Derrick Scott Alexander (born November 6, 1971) is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and in 2000 set the Kansas City Chiefs record of 1,391 receiving yards in a single season. He is currently employed as an assistant coach in charge of wide receivers at Morgan State University.

This article is about the wide receiver. For the defensive lineman, see Derrick Alexander (defensive end).
Derrick Alexander
No. 85, 82
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1971-11-06) November 6, 1971
Detroit, Michigan
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Benedictine
(Detroit, Michigan)
College:Michigan
NFL Draft:1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:417
Receiving yards:6,971
Receiving touchdowns:40
Player stats at NFL.com

College career

Alexander was a wide receiver for the University of Michigan from 1989–1993. His Junior year (1991) tore his ACL in a game against Boston College which resulted in him taking a redshirt year. After the graduation of Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, he became the Wolverines top receiver. In his junior and senior seasons he led the team in receptions and receiving yards.[1] In 1993, he had a career game against Illinois, catching seven passes from quarterback and future teammate in the NFL as well, Todd Collins for 188 yards and two touchdowns. His 90-yard touchdown reception stood as the longest completion in Michigan football history until Mario Manningham surpassed it with a 97-yard reception on November 10, 2007 at Wisconsin.[2]

In his final college game, he returned a punt for 79 yards, the longest punt return in Outback Bowl history, as well as the only punt returned for a touchdown.[3]

Alexander was twice named to the All-Big Ten Conference team, and was honored as an All-American in 1992.[2]

Professional career

Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens

Derrick Alexander was taken by the Cleveland Browns with the final pick in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He had an immediate impact, leading the playoff-bound Browns in receiving as a rookie.[4]

Following the 1995 season, the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. After playing only sporadically in 1995, Alexander recorded two consecutive 1,000 yard seasons for the Ravens. He is the Ravens all-time leader in yards-per reception (16.6). He also has the most 100-yard receiving games in Ravens history, as well as the longest pass reception.[5]

Kansas City Chiefs

In 1998, he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs.[6] Alexander led the team in receiving yards.[7] In 2000, he set a team record for receiving yards in a season with 1,391, although this would be surpassed by Tyreek Hill in 2018 (1,479 yards).[8] The Chiefs quarterback that year was his former Michigan teammate, Elvis Grbac.

Minnesota Vikings

Alexander signed with the Minnesota Vikings prior to the 2002 season.[9] A knee injury ended his season prematurely, and the Vikings released him in the off-season.[10]

Retirement

On July 22, 2005, he signed a one-day ceremonial contract with the Chiefs to retire as a Chief.[11] He ended his career with 417 receptions for 6,971 yards and 40 touchdowns.

NFL statistics
YearTeamGamesReceptionsYardsYards per ReceptionLongest ReceptionTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1994CLE144882817.38123820
1995CLE141521614.4400910
1996BAL15621,09917.76495000
1997BAL15651,00915.59293911
1998KC155499218.46544000
1999KC165483215.48623100
2000KC16781,39117.881105500
2001KC132747017.44632200
2002MIN8141349.6181700
Career1264176,97116.7924029141

[12]

See also
  • Lists of Michigan Wolverines football receiving leaders

References
  1. "Michigan Football Statistic Archive". MGoBlue.com. Regents of the University of Michigan. Archived from the original on 2007-05-07. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
  2. "Derrick Alexander, Football All-American". University of Michigan Athletic History. Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
  3. "Outback Bowl Individual Records". Outback Bowl.com. Outback Bowl. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
  4. "1994 Cleveland Browns statistics". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
  5. "Ravens Records" (PDF). Baltimore Ravens 2006 Media Guide. Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
  6. "Alexander Is Signed To Pair With Rison". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 1998-03-03. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
  7. "1998 Kansas City Chiefs statistics". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
  8. "All-Time Records". KC Chiefs.com. Kansas City Chiefs. Archived from the original on 2006-10-18. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
  9. "Alexander signs with Vikings". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 2002-06-08. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
  10. Pasquarelli, Len (2003-08-13). "Moss plan doesn't pan out for receiver". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  11. "WR Alexander retires with Chiefs". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. 2005-07-22. Archived from the original on 2006-12-10. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
  12. "Derrick Alexander Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
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