Cards: Pro Set 1989, Game Day1992 Acquired: TTM 2021, C/o Home Sent: 4/22 Received: 5/14 (22 Days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Bill Pickel played college ball at Rutgers where he honed his unique quick set 4 point stance playing all along the line.
He ranks sixth in career sacks (16) as well as 10th on the career unassisted tackles list with 160 for the Scarlet Knights.
Selected in the 2nd Round of the 1983 draft by the Los Angeles Raiders who employed him at both DT and NT over his career.
Enjoyed 3 consecutive double digit sack seasons from 84-86.
Played 7 seasons for the Raiders (83-90) logging 53 sacks and 454 tackles.
Moved closer to home and played for Jets from 90-93 to finish out career.
TAC
SAC
FUM REC
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
576
56.0
11
0
0
-.-
0
-.-
ACCOLADES:
Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame 1986
NFL All-Rookie Team 1983
NFL All-Pro 1986
Pro Set 1989, #190
NOTES:
When I got Tecmo Bowl as a kid I did not think that ‘Pickle’ was a real player on the Raiders. My friends and I always got a kick out of sacking each other as Bill. He also made an appearance on the TV show Home Improvement during the 90s. To keep himself busy now, Bill coaches the defense of a HS football team and works in private aviation.
Recorded 379 tackles and 5 sacks playing for the Buckeyes from 1982-1985.
New York Giants 2nd Round pick out of Ohio State in 1986 who was penciled in to play inside linebacker replacing Harry Carson.
Equally adept dropping into pass coverage or laying down the wood on opposing ball carriers.
Giants leading tackler in 1988, 1990-1992.
Pepper joined the Cleveland Browns in 1993, reuniting him with former Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, who used him at both inside and outside linebacker.
Johnson led the Browns in tackles with 207 in 1994, and 195 in 1995.
Went on to play for the Lions (96), and Jets (97/98).
Joined coaching staff of the Patriots in 2000 as a positional coach, and coached there through 2013.
Later Pepper coached for the Bills (14), Jets (15/16), in the AAF with the Memphis Express (2019), and briefly with the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL (2020).
In 2021 Pepper coached for IMG Academy in Florida.
Topps AAF 2019 #78
ACCOLADES:
Pepper is a two time Pro Bowler (90/94).
First team All-Pro (90).
Two time Super Bowl champion as player (XXI, XXV).
Three time Super Bowl champion as coach (XXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX)
NOTES:
Pepper’s given name is Thomas. His nickname came from his habit of sprinkling pepper on his cereal as a child.
Pepper’s time in the XFL as a defensive coach lasted just one game as defensive coordinator of the Wildcats in 2020. He was fired after the team allowed 4 TD passes against the Houston Roughnecks in their season opener.
Big bodied TE (6’6″) who finished 7th on the career all- time reception charts at Penn State with 76 catches.
9th overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
Played 4 seasons with the Jets finishing with 93 receptions for 949 yards and 10 TDs.
Signed with Jaguars in 1999.
Had best season as a pro in 2000 finishing with 64 receptions for 729 yards and 3 TDs.
Played one final season in 2007 with the Patriots.
2003 Upper Deck MVP, #256
INSCRIPTION:
Romans 10:9
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Leaf Certified Materials 2003, #61
NOTES:
Since his playing days Kyle dabbled in sports broadcasting for NFLE and later the Big 10 Network, and financial advisor. Brady was notoriously booed by the Jets faithful on Draft Day 1995 who wanted Warren Sapp instead, therefore I have always seen him as more of a Jag than a Jet.
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
343
3519
10.3
25
42
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