Sean McHugh
Encyclopedia
Sean McHugh is an American football
tight end
/fullback
who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Pittsburgh Steelers
in the National Football League
.
in Chagrin Falls, Ohio
, where he was a four-year letterman. Upon his graduation in 2000, McHugh had set single season (2,260 yards) and career (5,855 yards) rushing records that still stand at Chagrin Falls.
He also lettered in wrestling
his freshman and sophomore years.
in 2004
, in the seventh round (241st overall). He was cut at the end of training camp.
as a free agent
. He made his NFL debut in the Packers' September 13, 2004 game at Carolina
.
. He saw action in 3 games that season. The Lions allocated him to the Frankfurt Galaxy
for NFL Europa's 2006 season. He would play in Frankfurt's World Bowl XIV
victory over the Amsterdam Admirals
.
McHugh returned to Detroit for the 2006 NFL season
. He was momentarily elevated to the #1 tight end slot due to a wrist injury to Casey FitzSimmons
in the preseason, but found himself on the team's practice squad at the start of the season. A week 7 injury to fullback Cory Schlesinger
moved McHugh back onto the active roster as a fullback on October 22, 2006. McHugh saw action at fullback on that week versus the New York Jets
. His first career reception came against the Falcons
on November 5, 2006 for seven yards. He would appear in 6 games in 2006, starting 3, and finishing with 3 receptions for 25 yards.
McHugh saw increased playing time in 2007
, mostly back at tight end. He played in 15 games and finished the season with 252 yards on 17 receptions. He was released by the Lions on August 31, 2008 at the end of training camp.
on September 3, 2008. He would dress for the Steelers' week 2 game versus Cleveland
. An ankle injury to Carey Davis
prompted McHugh's move to fullback, where he would be the starter for the Steelers' week 7 game versus Cincinnati
. He would be used primarily as a fullback for the remainder of the season and throughout the playoffs, making 3 receptions, totaling 24 yards. In his first season at Pittsburgh, McHugh won the AFC Championship and ultimately Super Bowl XLIII
, earning McHugh his first Super Bowl ring
.
During the two-week period leading up to the Super Bowl, McHugh gained notoriety for having been cut by the Lions, deemed not good enough to play on a team that ultimately went 0-16 for the season
, but good enough to play on a Super Bowl
team such as Pittsburgh and make major contributions as a blocker for Willie Parker
and Ben Roethlisberger
. McHugh himself had mixed feelings about the situation, feeling bad for his former Lions teammates for the imperfect season
(the NFL's first since the 1976
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
) but also feeling it's a little payback for the Lions for releasing him in the first place.
For the 2009 season
, McHugh signed a 3-year, $2.57M contract to stay in Pittsburgh. McHugh was released by the Steelers on September 3, 2010.
in Novi, MI, where he is the offensive line and linebackers coach and also serves as special teams coordinator.
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...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
/fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
who is currently a free agent. He most recently 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...
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...
.
Early years
McHugh played running back and linebacker from 1996-1999 at Chagrin Falls High SchoolChagrin Falls High School
Chagrin Falls High School is located in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, a suburb in the Greater Cleveland metropolitan area. The high school's mascot is Mortimer the Tiger .-Awards and recognition:...
in Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Chagrin Falls is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Cleveland in the Northeast Ohio region, the 14th largest Combined Statistical Area nationwide. The village was established and has grown around a natural waterfall on the Chagrin River. As of the 2010 census,...
, where he was a four-year letterman. Upon his graduation in 2000, McHugh had set single season (2,260 yards) and career (5,855 yards) rushing records that still stand at Chagrin Falls.
He also lettered in wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
his freshman and sophomore years.
College career
McHugh was a four year letterman at Penn State from 2000–2003, starting at fullback his junior and senior seasons. During his career, McHugh ran 82 times for 322 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also made 44 catches for 297 yards and one touchdown.Tennessee Titans
McHugh was drafted by the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
in 2004
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 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 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
, in the seventh round (241st overall). He was cut at the end of training camp.
Green Bay Packers
McHugh would then sign with the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He made his NFL debut in the Packers' September 13, 2004 game at Carolina
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
.
Detroit Lions
The next season, McHugh signed a free agent contract with the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. He saw action in 3 games that season. The Lions allocated him to the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
for NFL Europa's 2006 season. He would play in Frankfurt's World Bowl XIV
World Bowl XIV
World Bowl XIV was NFL Europe's 2006 championship game. It was played at the LTU Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany on Saturday, May 27, 2006.The game was between the 7-3 Frankfurt Galaxy and the defending World Bowl Champion Amsterdam Admirals . 36,286 people were in attendance, as the Galaxy stripped...
victory over the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
.
McHugh returned to Detroit for the 2006 NFL season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
. He was momentarily elevated to the #1 tight end slot due to a wrist injury to Casey FitzSimmons
Casey FitzSimmons
Casey FitzSimmons is a former National Football League tight end. He played his whole career for the Detroit Lions.-High school years:...
in the preseason, but found himself on the team's practice squad at the start of the season. A week 7 injury to fullback Cory Schlesinger
Cory Schlesinger
Cory Schlesinger is a former American football fullback of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft...
moved McHugh back onto the active roster as a fullback on October 22, 2006. McHugh saw action at fullback on that week versus the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. His first career reception came against the Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 5, 2006 for seven yards. He would appear in 6 games in 2006, starting 3, and finishing with 3 receptions for 25 yards.
McHugh saw increased playing time in 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
, mostly back at tight end. He played in 15 games and finished the season with 252 yards on 17 receptions. He was released by the Lions on August 31, 2008 at the end of training camp.
Pittsburgh Steelers
McHugh signed 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 September 3, 2008. He would dress for the Steelers' week 2 game versus Cleveland
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. An ankle injury to Carey Davis
Carey Davis
Carey Alexander Davis is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
prompted McHugh's move to fullback, where he would be the starter for the Steelers' week 7 game versus Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
. He would be used primarily as a fullback for the remainder of the season and throughout the playoffs, making 3 receptions, totaling 24 yards. In his first season at Pittsburgh, McHugh won the AFC Championship and ultimately Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League champion for the 2008 season. The game was played on February 1, 2009,...
, earning McHugh his first Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
.
During the two-week period leading up to the Super Bowl, McHugh gained notoriety for having been cut by the Lions, deemed not good enough to play on a team that ultimately went 0-16 for the season
2008 Detroit Lions season
The 2008 Detroit Lions season was the 79th season for the franchise in the National Football League. Although the Lions had a flawless preseason with a 4-0 record, the Lions became the first team in NFL history to compile an 0-16 record in regular season play. They were mathematically eliminated...
, but good enough to play on a Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
team such as Pittsburgh and make major contributions as a blocker for 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...
and Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
. McHugh himself had mixed feelings about the situation, feeling bad for his former Lions teammates for the imperfect season
Imperfect season
An imperfect season is defined as a team losing all of their games. It is the antithesis of a perfect season, and is often referred to as such in a tongue-in-cheek manner...
(the NFL's first since the 1976
1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers played their debut season in 1976, making league history as the first team to play an entire 14-game season without winning or tying a single game. They did not score until their third game and did not score a touchdown until their fourth. They lost by a touchdown or...
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
) but also feeling it's a little payback for the Lions for releasing him in the first place.
For the 2009 season
2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 77th season in the National Football League . They were coming off a season in which they compiled a 12–4 regular season record and capped the season by winning the franchise's record sixth Super Bowl...
, McHugh signed a 3-year, $2.57M contract to stay in Pittsburgh. McHugh was released by the Steelers on September 3, 2010.
Personal life
McHugh and his wife Ashlee reside in suburban Detroit with their son Jack and daughter Emma. McHugh is now an assistant football coach at Novi High SchoolNovi High School
Novi High School is a public secondary school in Novi, Michigan, United States, serving students in grades 9–12. It is operated by Novi Community School District and was awarded Blue Ribbon School status in 1986-87 and 1999-00...
in Novi, MI, where he is the offensive line and linebackers coach and also serves as special teams coordinator.