Duce Staley
Encyclopedia
Duce Staley is a former American football
running back
in the National Football League
best known for his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles
. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers
. He played college football
at University of South Carolina
. Staley is currently the special teams quality control coach for the Eagles.
in West Columbia, South Carolina
and was an All-State wide receiver
, as he did not play running back until college.
in 1996, Staley was ranked 13th in the nation in rushing with 1,116 rushing yards. In his South Carolina years, he attempted 345 rushes for 1,582 yards (4.58 per average). He also caught 59 passes for 489 yards and two touchdowns. Staley attended Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi in 1993 and 1994 where he was a community college all American.
by the Philadelphia Eagles
in the 1997 NFL Draft
and played for the Eagles through the 2003 season
. After his rookie season and the departure of Ricky Watters
, Staley became the starter in a tumultuous 3–13 season which led to the dismissal of head coach Ray Rhodes
. Under Andy Reid
, Staley developed into the team's perennial leading receiver through Reid's screen-heavy West Coast offense. However, he played in only five games of the 2000 season due to a serious Lisfranc fracture
. Staley also missed some playing time in 2001 due to a shoulder injury. Entering the 2003 season, Staley held out of training camp in an attempt to bargain for a new contract, as he was in the last year of his deal. With Correll Buckhalter
coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) and Brian Westbrook
entering his second season, the Eagles decided not to budge. This resulted in shared playing time among the three, as Westbrook became the premier back by season's end. They were known as the "Three-Headed Monster". Consequently, the Eagles decided to not re-sign Staley.
on March 9, 2004. Staley had rooted for the Steelers when he was growing up. He instantly became the number one running back for his new team. However, he scored few touchdowns as handoffs in the redzone went to veteran back Jerome Bettis
. After Staley was injured in mid-2004
, Bettis took over the starting job.
In 2005
, after both he and Bettis were injured, Willie Parker
, an undrafted free agent, had a stellar season, and Staley, in another injury plagued season, was dropped to third-string, managing only 148 yards in five games, with a 3.9 yard per carry average.
Despite a preseason in which he ran for just 92 yards on 42 carries, Staley made the Steelers' 53-man roster in 2006. After week one, the Steelers signed former Packers' running back Najeh Davenport
to replace him as the Steelers' power back. The true signal of Staley's demise was when third-down back Verron Haynes
went down with a season-ending injury, and the Steelers promoted John Kuhn
from the practice squad instead of activating Staley. On December 3, 2006, the Steelers released Staley. In his three year tenure with the team, Staley played in just 16 games.
during the Eagles-Giants game on December 9, 2007. At halftime, Staley was escorted onto the field by former teammates for his retirement celebration featuring a brief ceremony and two highlight videos.
during the 2010 offseason. On February 8, 2011, Staley was promoted special teams quality control coach.
First Steps early childhood education program in 1999 (Dec. 23) to help improve education in the state.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
best known for his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. Staley is currently the special teams quality control coach for the Eagles.
Early years
Staley attended Airport High SchoolAirport High School
Airport High School in West Columbia, South Carolina is a public high school offering education for grades 9 – 12, serving the surrounding communities of West Columbia, Cayce, South Congaree, Pine Ridge, and parts of Gaston. It derives its name from its location next to Columbia Metropolitan...
in West Columbia, South Carolina
West Columbia, South Carolina
West Columbia is a city in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 13,064 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and was an All-State wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, as he did not play running back until college.
College career
As a senior at the University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in 1996, Staley was ranked 13th in the nation in rushing with 1,116 rushing yards. In his South Carolina years, he attempted 345 rushes for 1,582 yards (4.58 per average). He also caught 59 passes for 489 yards and two touchdowns. Staley attended Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi in 1993 and 1994 where he was a community college all American.
Philadelphia Eagles
Staley was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1997 NFL Draft
1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
and played for the Eagles through the 2003 season
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
. After his rookie season and the departure of Ricky Watters
Ricky Watters
Richard "Ricky" James Watters is a former American football running back who played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. Watters played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he played wide receiver on the...
, Staley became the starter in a tumultuous 3–13 season which led to the dismissal of head coach Ray Rhodes
Ray Rhodes
Raymond Earl Rhodes is currently a defensive assistant for the Cleveland Browns. He is also the former American football head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers. He is the former assistant defensive backs coach of the Houston Texans...
. Under Andy Reid
Andy Reid
Andrew Walter "Andy" Reid is the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL, a post he has held since 1999. Since 2001, he has also been the team's executive vice president of football operations...
, Staley developed into the team's perennial leading receiver through Reid's screen-heavy West Coast offense. However, he played in only five games of the 2000 season due to a serious Lisfranc fracture
Lisfranc fracture
The Lisfranc fracture is a fracture of the foot in which one or all of the metatarsals are displaced from the tarsus.It is named after 18th- and 19th-century surgeon and gynecologist Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin.-Causes:...
. Staley also missed some playing time in 2001 due to a shoulder injury. Entering the 2003 season, Staley held out of training camp in an attempt to bargain for a new contract, as he was in the last year of his deal. With Correll Buckhalter
Correll Buckhalter
Correll Buckhalter is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
(ACL) and Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook
Brian Collins Westbrook is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football at Villanova...
entering his second season, the Eagles decided not to budge. This resulted in shared playing time among the three, as Westbrook became the premier back by season's end. They were known as the "Three-Headed Monster". Consequently, the Eagles decided to not re-sign Staley.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Staley signed a five-year, $14 million contract with the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
on March 9, 2004. Staley had rooted for the Steelers when he was growing up. He instantly became the number one running back for his new team. However, he scored few touchdowns as handoffs in the redzone went to veteran back Jerome Bettis
Jerome Bettis
Jerome Abram "The Bus" Bettis is a retired American football halfback who played for the NFL's Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. Bettis is considered one of the best big backs ever because his footwork and power, and is currently fifth on the National Football League's all-time...
. After Staley was injured in mid-2004
2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers looked to rebound after a disappointing 6–10 season the year before, which saw the team go through the entire season without winning consecutive games....
, Bettis took over the starting job.
In 2005
2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season began with the team trying to improve on their 15–1 record from 2004 in which they lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field. The Steelers, with the sixth and final seed to the playoffs, became just the second team ever to win...
, after both he and Bettis were injured, Willie Parker
Willie Parker
"Fast" Willie Everette Parker Jr. is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at North Carolina...
, an undrafted free agent, had a stellar season, and Staley, in another injury plagued season, was dropped to third-string, managing only 148 yards in five games, with a 3.9 yard per carry average.
Despite a preseason in which he ran for just 92 yards on 42 carries, Staley made the Steelers' 53-man roster in 2006. After week one, the Steelers signed former Packers' running back Najeh Davenport
Najeh Davenport
Najeh Trenadious Monté Davenport is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
to replace him as the Steelers' power back. The true signal of Staley's demise was when third-down back Verron Haynes
Verron Haynes
Verron Ulric Haynes is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
went down with a season-ending injury, and the Steelers promoted John Kuhn
John Kuhn
John Allen Kuhn is an American football fullback, currently playing for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2005. John attended Dover Area High School in Dover, Pennsylvania...
from the practice squad instead of activating Staley. On December 3, 2006, the Steelers released Staley. In his three year tenure with the team, Staley played in just 16 games.
Retirement
Staley officially retired as a Philadelphia EaglePhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
during the Eagles-Giants game on December 9, 2007. At halftime, Staley was escorted onto the field by former teammates for his retirement celebration featuring a brief ceremony and two highlight videos.
Statistics
| Year | Games Played | Games Started | Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns | Avg. | Receptions | Rec. Yards | Rec. Touchdowns | Rec. Avg. | Fumbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 29 | 0 | 4.1 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 11.0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 16 | 13 | 258 | 1,065 | 5 | 4.1 | 57 | 432 | 1 | 7.6 | 2 |
| 1999 | 16 | 16 | 325 | 1,273 | 4 | 3.9 | 41 | 294 | 2 | 7.2 | 5 |
| 2000 | 5 | 5 | 79 | 344 | 1 | 4.4 | 25 | 201 | 0 | 8.0 | 3 |
| 2001 | 13 | 10 | 166 | 604 | 2 | 3.6 | 63 | 626 | 2 | 9.9 | 3 |
| 2002 | 16 | 16 | 269 | 1,029 | 5 | 3.8 | 51 | 541 | 3 | 10.6 | 3 |
| 2003 | 16 | 4 | 96 | 463 | 5 | 4.8 | 36 | 382 | 2 | 10.6 | 2 |
| 2004 | 10 | 10 | 192 | 830 | 1 | 4.3 | 6 | 55 | 0 | 9.2 | 3 |
| 2005 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 148 | 1 | 3.9 | 6 | 34 | 0 | 5.7 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| Totals | 114 | 75 | 1,430 | 5,785 | 24 | 4.1 | 287 | 2,587 | 10 | 8.9 | 22 |
Philadelphia Eagles
Staley became a coaching intern for the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
during the 2010 offseason. On February 8, 2011, Staley was promoted special teams quality control coach.
Personal
Staley is single and has a daughter, Shakia, and a son, Damani Zihir. He is a native of Columbia, South Carolina, which is where he resided during the offseason. He underwent a grueling yet innovative rehabilitation period prior to the 2001 season to become the first successful return from a Lisfranc injury. He annually holds The Duce Staley Football Camp at West Chester (PA) University, which benefits several charities, including First Steps Program in South Carolina, the Variety Club and Direct Care for Kids. He launched Catch 22 Foundation to help single mothers. He donated $25,000 to South Carolina Governor Jim HodgesJim Hodges
James Hovis "Jim" Hodges is a Democrat who served one term as the 114th Governor of South Carolina from 1999 until 2003.-Early career:...
First Steps early childhood education program in 1999 (Dec. 23) to help improve education in the state.