Daryl Johnston is now the defacto point man for the unified USFL/XFL. I think it’s great he loves the sport so much. I appreciate his insightfulness and willingness to throw himself in there. I wasn’t sure what direction he’d go in after the dissolution of the AAF, as I thought he could move into an NFL executive role already, but he seems quite good at- and happy working with the UFL promoting the spring league.
He came down to San Antonio and talked to us about the Brahmas and the merged league. Afterwards he and Wade stood around and signed autographs and took photos. My friend Brandon and I bode our time and eventually we were able to snag him on most or all the items we wanted. I think that I’m finally running dry on things to get Daryl to sign. As a fullback during the 90s even there was an eventual finite level of cards I’d hit that I wanted to have him autograph.
Reggie Rucker played college ball at Boston University as a WR and PR.
Undrafted in 1969, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
He’d be buried on the depth chart, spending time on and off the taxi squad while recovering from injury.
Cut in 1971, he spent about a month on the Giants.
Broke into the starting lineup with the Patriots in 1972, after signing with the team in late ’71.
Rucker became an impact player for Cleveland after being traded to the Browns in 1975.
Led the league among wide receivers that year with a career high 60 catches.
Had best season in ’78 with 43 receptions for 893 yards and 8 TDs.
Retired in 1982 due to lingering knee injuries.
ACCOLADES:
Boston University HOF 1978
NOTES:
An argument could be made that Reggie Rucker could’ve been the proto Bo Jackson of the 70s. A letterman in FOUR sports, Reggie didn’t just letter- he was damn good at both football and baseball. He had that X-factor that allowed him to make big plays on the big stage when the team needed it most. His stats are also heavily impacted by the ‘dead ball era’ of football during the ’70s.
Rucker has had a controversial career since retirement. He went into broadcasting and was considered an up and coming personality in the ranks, but his image was tarnished after he was caught fabricating a story. Eventually his role was diminished so much that eventually he left the profession all together.
(Now, it seems like a big deal maybe, but keep in mind, in this day and age, there are plenty of color commentators who have been busted fabricating talking to the coach during halftime that have just shrugged it off and continue on.)
CARDS: Pro Set 1990, Pro Set 1991 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 5/23 RECEIVED: 6/6 (14 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Played TE at the University of the Pacific from 1965-’67.
Went undrafted and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1969.
Played the next 8 seasons for the franchise,
Best season came in 1971, catching 21 passes for 356 yards and 4 TDs, including a 71 yard long.
Joined the 49ers coaching staff in ’80 as a TE coach.
Returned to the Bengals in ’81 where he coached WRs through ’84.
Sam Wyche moved Coslet to offensive coordinator the following season, where he took the WCO to the next level setting franchise offensive records over the next few seasons.
Was hired by the Jets after the 1989 season concluded.
Served as HC in NY through the 1993 season.
Jets got to the playoffs after the ’91 season, losing to the Houston Oilers in the Wild Card round.
Returned in 1994 to Cincinnati, serving again as OC- this time under HC Dave Shula.
During a chaotic ’96 season Shula resigned as HC after a disastrous 1-6 start.
Coslet stepped in and led the team to a 7-2 finish, and some level of respectability.
After the franchise decided to overhaul the roster in 2000, Coslet resigned 3 games into the season.
Spent a final season in 2002 as OC of the Dallas Cowboys.
Playaction 16 Boss Z Post
ACCOLADES:
Pacific Tigers Hall of Fame 1985
NOTES:
I mean I took a shot in the dark on Coslet that he’d pen a play for me and I was absolutely tickled with what he drew up. I’m always curious about an offensive minded coach’s DNA, but especially what and why they chose the play they chose to draw up, and as a member of the Walsh coaching tree- WCO, this one is an absolute treasure.
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
61
878
14.4
9
71
W
L
T
PCT
44
77
0
.379
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
