CARDS: Fleer 1990, Game Day 1992 ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, 2022 C/o Home SENT: 10/27/21 RECEIVED: 2/13/23 (474 days) SENT: 1/25/22 RECEIVED: 2/19/22 (25 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
EJ Junior played from 1977-’80 at defensive end for Alabama.
Over his college career he had 190 tackles and 21 sacks.
He’d be the 5th overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft by the St Louis Cardinals who shifted him to OLB.
Had 49 tackles, 10 pass deflections, an interception and a sack his rookie year.
Displayed versatility seeing action at OLB and MLB.
In ’84 led the team in tackles with 99- and had 9.5 sacks, and 6 pass deflections.
His 5 interceptions in ’85 were the most by a Cardinals LB since 1956.
Ranked second on the team with 106 total tackles, 2 sacks and 8 pass deflections.
From 1986-’88, EJ was hampered by a series of injuries.
Signed by the Miami Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent in 1989.
Found new life as the Dolphins designated pass rusher, posting a total of 11 sacks between 1990 and 1991.
Joined the Bucs in 1992- finishing his season with the Seahawks dressing for 5 contests.
Played one final year in 1993 for the Seahawks, dressing for 4 games, before transitioning to the team’s linebackers coach for the ’94 campaign.
Over NFL career played in 170 games- starting 120.
Worked as the Director of Player Development for the Dolphins from 1996-’98.
Spent a season with the Vikings (’03), and Jaguars (’05) as a minority intern coach.
Earned first assistant coaching gig working in the NFLE with the Rhein Fire in 2005.
Returned stateside in 2006 and served as a linebackers coach for Southwest Baptist until 2008.
Head coach at Central State (OH) from 2009-’13 finishing with a 9-45 record.
After a brief hiatus, served as defensive line coach at Delaware State from 2015-’17.
ACCOLADES:
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 2012
College Football Hall of Fame
Senior Bowl Hall of Fame 2007
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame 2010
NFL All Rookie Team 1981
Pro Bowl 1984, ’85
NOTES:
I sent to EJ to try and get him on these two cards. After I sent to him I saw a lot of RTSes from that address. I turned around and mailed these two same cards a few months later to his new address and he kindly responded. I must have been the last mail he got before his forwarding address expired, as over a year later the original cards I sent out in 2021 came back autographed.
