CARDS: Action Packed Rookies 1992, Star Pics 1992 ACQUIRED: TTM 2024, C/o Home SENT: 8/17/24 RECEIVED: 3/21/25 (216 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
DB Darren Perry played college ball at Penn State from 1988-’91.
Over his last two years with the program he really demonstrated a nose for the ball, recording 7 picks in ’90 and 6 in ’91.
Of those interceptions he returned 3 for TDs over that span.
His 7 picks in 90 were the most by a Nittany Lion defender since 1978.
At the time his 15 career interceptions were second in school history.
Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 8th round of the 1992 NFL Draft.
Went on to have 6 interceptions his rookie season from his FS position- and became the first rookie to lead the Steelers in picks.
Had a career high 7 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries in 1994.
In 1996 had 2 picks for 40 yards and his only career TD against the Houston Oilers.
Started 110 straight games from 1992-’98.
Signed with the San Diego Chargers in 1999- but injured his neck and was out the entire season.
Played a final season in 2000 with the New Orleans Saints, tallying 3 final interceptions.
Has built an extensive coaching resume starting with the Bengals in 2002-’03.
Returned to Steelers to coach from 2004-’06, and then off to the Raiders from ’07-’08.
Spent most of coaching career with the Green Bay Packers from 2009-’17 as their safeties coach.
In 2023, he appeared back on the coaching radar as the DBs coach for the XFL Vegas Vipers.
NOTES:
I knew that Darren signed TTM so I wasn’t going to blink twice when I realized I sent these cards right before a paid signing popped. That being said, I waited a long time to get these back TTM but I was happy to add them to their respective sets.
So way, way back in 1992 or so when I got his autograph through the Packers, Darrell signed my cards with a D—— T——-. That’s it! It was pretty uninspiring.
When I unpacked the cards and started looking at the autographs online, I noticed that Darrell was a voracious signer, and that he was signing his full autograph- which is a lot better than his original. So over the years, I kicked the tires on mailing out a few more cards to him to get autographed. That was probably 15-ish years ago?
I always wanted to get the Action Packed 1990 Rookies card replaced, so I tossed that in along with a few others. He not only signed the cards, he also wrote a really nice note- saying that he’d try harder <in regards to the autograph this time around>.
Randal Hill converted from DB to WR in college playing for the Miami Hurricanes from 1988-’90.
He caught 107 passes for 1643 yards and 11 TDs, while also returning 54 kickoffs for 1169 yards.
A first round choice of the Miami Dolphins in 1991.
Traded to the Phoenix Cardinals early on during the season for a first round pick in 1992.
Had a career high 58 catches for 861 yards and 3 TDs in 1992.
After 1993 season, signed with the Miami Dolphins, playing for them through 1996.
Played a final season in New Orleans in 1997, catching 55 passes for 761 yards and 2 TDs.
Caught career long 89 yard game winning TD against Chicago in ’97 .
Signed with Chicago in 1998 but didn’t make the squad and opted to retire.
Worked in law enforcement after retirement, and dabbled in politics.
Star Pics 1992, #17
NOTES:
Randal had been on my list for years and I sent out to him in 2017. Never getting him back, I tried again 3 years later and got him on three set needs: Action Packed Rookies 1991, ’92, and his Gameday card. I assumed that the mail gods had eaten my previous attempt back in ’17.
Well lo and behold to my surprise waiting for me at my in-laws house was this envelope. Among them was two more Action Packed Rookies cards and the original Star Pics card from 2017.
Earlier this year Paxton Lynch took the number two spot on my longest waits, and now it looks like this one dethrones it by a little over 100 days.
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
262
3849
14.7
14
89
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
