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David Fulcher
File:Fulchersmall.jpg
David Fulcher at the 2008 Midwest Tecmo Super Bowl Tournament.
No. 45, 33     
Safety
Personal information
Date of birth: (1964-11-28) November 28, 1964 (age 59)
Place of birth: Los Angeles, California
High School: Los Angeles (CA) Fremont
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Weight: 236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
College: Arizona State
NFL Draft: 1986 / Round: 3 / Pick: 78
Debuted in 1986 for the Cincinnati Bengals
Last played in 1993 for the Los Angeles Raiders
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Sacks     8.5
Interceptions     31
Stats at pro-football-reference.com
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

David Dwayne Fulcher (born September 28, 1964) is a former American Football safety who played for the Cincinnati Bengals (1986-1992), and the Los Angeles Raiders (1993) in the National Football League. At 6'3" and 238 pounds, Fulcher was extremely large and strong for a defensive back, but still had enough speed to cover and chase down wide receivers.

College career[]

After graduating from John C. Fremont Senior High School in Los Angeles, Fulcher played college football at Arizona State University. While playing for the Sun Devils, Fulcher was known for his cover skills and punishing tackles. He earned the nickname "Fo-Rock" after tackling an opposing wide receiver in a game against New Mexico State University. "The guy laid there for a while, then got up and was dizzy. Then he said 'Man, I feel like I ran into a rock,'" Fulcher explained. "My teammates started calling me 'Rock'. A lot of people, when they pronounce my last name, say 'Fo-cher. So I just put the 'Fo' in front of Rock." (1)

After his junior season was over in 1986, Fulcher declared himself eligible for the NFL draft. He finished his three seasons at New Mexico State with 12 interceptions, 4 as a freshman, 2 as a sophomore, and 6 as a junior.[1]

NFL career[]

Fulcher was selected by the Bengals in the third round of the NFL Draft. After just two NFL seasons, Fulcher was viewed as one of the top defensive backs in the NFL.

In 1988 he recorded five interceptions and one touchdown, and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. The Bengals finished the season with a 12-4 record and went on to face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII, where they ended up losing narrowly to the 49ers 20-16 after quarterback Joe Montana threw the game-winning touchdown pass with 34 seconds left. In the game, Fulcher recorded several key tackles, a sack and forced a fumble that the Bengals recovered. Fulcher later said this game was his most memorable NFL moment. "It was the time they called my name during the introductions at the Super Bowl," he said. "Walking out of the tunnel at Joe Robbie Stadium, making sure I did not trip on the turf and fall down."(2).

In 1989, Fulcher recorded eight interceptions, at the time the second-highest single-season total by a Bengals player. He also tied a Bengals record by recording three interceptions in one game, a feat he accomplished twice. Fulcher once again was selected to play in the Pro Bowl, but the Bengals finished the year with an 8-8 record and failed to make the playoffs.

In 1990 Fulcher made the Pro Bowl for the third year in a row. He intercepted four passes, forced three fumbles and recorded 53 solo tackles. The Bengals finished the season 9-7 and made it to the divisional playoffs, with Fulcher recording an interception in both of their playoff games. This would be the last winning season Fulcher would have playing for the Bengals, as they would not record a winning record again until 2005. In 1991, he led the team with 68 solo tackles, four forced fumbles (recovering three of them) and he intercepted four passes, returning them for 51 yards and a touchdown. In his final season in Cincinnati in 1992, he intercepted three passes and recovered five fumbles.

Fulcher joined the Raiders as a free agent in 1993, but due to injuries he only played three games, and retired after the season. In his eight NFL seasons, Fulcher recorded 10 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, 12 fumble-return yards, 31 interceptions, 246 interception return yards and two touchdowns. His 31 interceptions are the third most in Bengals history behind Ken Riley and Louis Breeden.

After the NFL[]

Fulcher has an annual youth football camp in Mason, Ohio in July of each year. He is active in fundraising and awareness activities, especially for Multiple Sclerosis, and he founded the non-profit MANA Mentoring Against Negative Actions), working with inmates to teach them life skills.[2]

Fulcher is currently the head football coach at Cincinnati Christian High School, a position he has held since the 2011 season. He lives with his wife, Judy, their son, David Jr., a running back at the College of Mount St. Joseph, and daughter, Kayla, who plays softball at Thomas More College.[3][4][5]

References[]

Sources[]

Ludwig, Chick. Cincinnati Bengals, The Legends. Willmington, OH: Orange Frazer P, 2004. ISBN 1-882203-38-0 page 202.(1)

Ludwig, page 207(2)

In Excellent: A Tecmo Companion

External links[]

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