Tommy Maddox

Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox (born September 2, 1971 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA

Early years
At L. D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, Maddox was a letterwinner in football, basketball, and baseball. As a senior, he was team captain, and was named the Southwest Texas Offensive Player of the Year, District Most Valuable Player, and the Area Most Valuable Player.

College career
Maddox played college football as quarterback at UCLA, where he was well regarded, but was, in opinions of some, ill-advised in attempting to turn professional after his sophomore season.

Denver Broncos
Maddox was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He wore Jersey number 8. He was drafted by then Broncos head coach Dan Reeves. This was viewed as a sign of the coach's troubled relationship with quarterback John Elway.

Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons
Maddox also played for the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants before being released by the Atlanta Falcons during the 1997 preseason because he was caught with drugs.

New Jersey Red Dogs
After being released from the NFL, Maddox was out of football for a period of time, selling insurance for his father in Houston, Texas. After being featured on NFL Films about where his career had gone since being drafted, he had the itch to play again, and joined the New Jersey Red Dogs of the Arena Football League for one season.

Los Angeles Xtreme
After his brief stint in the Arena Football League, Tommy was invited to try out for the Los Angeles Xtreme of the XFL. Maddox became the starting quarterback for LA during the first week of the season, despite the team using its first pick in the XFL Draft on quarterback Scott Milanovich. Maddox made an impact in his time in the XFL. He was the only quarterback of the league to start all 10 regular season games, led the league in passing yards, touchdowns, rushed for 2 touchdowns, and led the Xtreme to the Million Dollar Game, also known as the "Big Game At The End." The Xtreme defeated the San Francisco Demons with a score of 38-6. Maddox was named the XFL MVP in 2001. However Tommy Maddox's XFL glory would not last, as the league closed after its only season in 2001.

During his stint in the XFL, Maddox's playing style was noticeably different as well. Considered a more "mobile" quarterback who could scramble during his days at UCLA and in his early NFL days, Maddox's time away from football (combined with his one year in the AFL) made him more of a traditional "pocket passer", as the AFL requires quick passes with a smaller field.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Maddox signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a backup in 2001. His signing continued a coincidental tradition of having Louisiana natives at quarterback for the Steelers. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the Steelers have had four starting quarterbacks from the state, with Terry Bradshaw and Maddox both being from Shreveport, Bubby Brister being from Monroe, and Kordell Stewart being from the New Orleans suburb of Marrero.

Early in the 2002 season, Maddox replaced Kordell Stewart at quarterback in a comeback win over the rival Cleveland Browns. In 2002 Maddox led the Steelers into the playoffs with a 10-5-1 record. One of Maddox's most memorable games came in the first round of the playoffs when he overcame a 17 point 3rd quarter deficit against the Browns. Maddox delivered a clutch 36-33 win over the Browns at home in the wild card round before a 34-31 loss at the Tennessee Titans in the second round. He won the ESPN ESPY for Best Comeback Athlete and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award for his performance during the 2002 season, in which he threw 20 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

In 2003, Maddox had a sub-par year statistically as the Steelers finished at a disappointing 6-10. After the 2003 season, the Steelers drafted a new quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, in the first round, to give the position some youth. (Maddox was over a year older than his predecessor, Kordell Stewart.) Roethlisberger was given the starting job after Maddox was injured during a week 2 game against the Ravens, and responded by guiding the Steelers to 14 straight regular season wins and a trip to the AFC Championship game.

Maddox reassumed his starting QB role when Roethlisberger suffered a knee injury early in the 2005 season, but losses in a poor performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens sent him back to the bench, giving Charlie Batch the second-string spot. Following the Steelers' win in Super Bowl XL, Maddox was released from the team for salary cap reasons.

Tommy Maddox is one of three players (along with Bobby Singh and Ron Carpenter) to hold both a Super Bowl ring and XFL championship ring. However, Maddox was among a handful of Steelers players, including linebacker James Harrison, who opted not to attend the ceremony at the White House honoring their Super Bowl championship.

Philadelphia Soul
In September 2006, he tried out for the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots, but did not sign a contract. Maddox did sign a contract with the Philadelphia Soul. However he was eventually waived by the club.

Retirement
Soon after being waived by the Philadelphia Soul, Maddox retired from playing professional football.

Post-football career
Maddox is an avid golfer, and he is the founder of the Tommy Maddox Foundation for disadvantaged children.