Major Everett

Major Everett
No. 39
Date of birth: January 4, 1960
Place of birth: New Hebron, Mississippi
Career information
Position(s): Fullback / Special Teams
College: Mississippi College
NFL Draft: 1983 / Round: Undrafted Free Agent
Organizations
As player:
1983-1986
1986-1987
1987-1988		 Philadelphia Eagles
Cleveland Browns
Atlanta Falcons
Career stats
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Major Donel Everett (born January 4, 1960 in New Hebron, Mississippi) is a former professional running back and American football player in the National Football League for 5 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons. [₁][₁₁]

High school

Everett attended New Hebron High School. The Golden Bears went 11-1 his senior year, winning the 1977-78 Mid-South Conference Championship led by coach John A. Flynt. Everett was named All Conference running back and All Conference defensive back.

Everett also played basketball in high school, as a senior they upset top ranked Monticello Red Devils of the Lawrence County Tournament by a last minute 18 footer from the corner by Greg Lee. Everett also ran track in high school. As a senior he helped the New Hebron High Track Team win the Mid-South Conference Championship, state semifinals and state running the 100 yard dash, 110 high hurdles, 180 low hurdles, 440 relay and 880 relay teams.

College

In 1983, Everett graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. For the Mississippi College Choctaws, Everett was a Kodak Small College All American pick, a three year All Gulf South Conference pick, and a two time MVP selectee. [₂] Topped by a career best 307 yard game versus Delta State, Everett went on to set a school mark with 3,316 yards rushing, a school mark for TD’s with 35, and also caught 43 passes for 458 more yards. [₃]

Statistics

Rushing Receiving
YEAR ATT YDS AVG LP TD NO. YDS AVG LP TD
1979855196.18032168.0101
19801618645.36787699.9211
19811659235.67210181699.4341
19821841,1536.376111620412.8270
Totals5973,3165.880324345810.7343

College Awards and Honors

USFL

Everett was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 13th round as the 149th pick. A tribia question, "Who was the first player that was in a USFL camp and made a NFL team", answer, Major Everett. After Everett was chosen in the 1983 USFL Draft, he reported to the Birmingham Stallions camp, but did not want to play, because his mother had a heart attack the day he was to report to camp. After a week in camp, the Birmingham Stallions release Everett and he went into the NFL as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Professional Life

Everett signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles in May, 1983. As a rookie in 1983, he quickly built a reputation as a special teams player extraordinaire under legendary Special Teams Coach Frank Gansz with 42 tackles and 275 yards on 14 kickoff returns. In 1984, his teammates named him as Special Teams Captain after the career ending injury to teammate Bill Cowher. During that season, he played in every game leading the Eagles with 42 special teams tackles and three kick off returns for 40 yards. In 1985, Everett had 32 special teams tackles and was selected as the NFC Alternate to the Pro Bowl for Special Teams. Additionally, Everett received the Philadelphia Eagles Outstanding Special Teams Award in 1983, 1984, and 1985. Everett was instrumental in redefining the special teams role in professional football, helping to raise the profile of special teams players. [₄] In 1986, Everett joined Coach Marty Schottenheimer’s Cleveland Browns in week eight and contributed with 18 special teams tackles and a fumble recovery under Special Teams Coach Bill Cowher. Everett had three special teams tackles in the exciting AFC Championship game dubbed “The Drive” against the Denver Broncos that season.[₅] [₆] Everett completed his professional career with the Atlanta Falcons in 1987 where he played on all specialty units, even forcing a fumble from Herschel Walker that led to a touchdown in a victory over the Dallas Cowboys. [₁₁]

Statistics

NFL Career Stats
Rushing Receiving
YEAR TEAM ATT YDS AVG LP TD NO. YDS AVG LP TD
1983PHI571.4702189.0110
1984PHI0000000000
1985PHI4133.3804256.3110
1986CLE12433.680000.000
1987CLE34952.81608415.1100
1987ATL000.000000.000
Totals—551582.916014846.0110

POST-NFL CAREER

Everett is President and Founder of Maj Thirty Nine, Inc., a real estate investment and development firm. In 1995, Everett established The Major Everett Foundation [₉] and remains active in the National Football League Players Association. Major and his wife, Valarie, actively participate in NFL events for retired players and their spouses in the Atlanta and Philadelphia areas. [₁₀] Also, he supports many philanthropic efforts in the community where needed, particularly benefiting youth and educational opportunities, and health and wellness initiatives.

Honors

Personal life

Born and raised in New Hebron, MS, as one of eight children (five brothers and two sisters) of Carlie and Velmon Everett. In April, 1984, the town of New Hebron recognized his accomplishments with a Major Everett Day. Major Everett married Valarie Barrett in May, 1988; they have two sons Major Everett, II (b. 1991) and C. Myles Everett (b. 1994). Major also has a son, Brian Gale (b. 1979). The Everett’s share their time between Mississippi, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

References