After a standout career playing left tackle for Valdosta State University, Pumphrey was drafted by the Tampa Bay Bandits in the third round of the 1986 USFL Draft. After a season with the Bandits, Don was signed to play left tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987. Pumphrey made several starts for the Buccaneers before being cut just before the 1988 season.
Career after football
After being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Don returned home to complete his bachelor's degree at Florida State University. Pumphrey graduated with his bachelor's degree in Criminology from Florida State University in 1989. That same year he applied for and qualified for the Florida Marine Patrol Academy and entered the academy where he was required to live while receiving intensive training under Florida Criminal Justice Standards, Defensive Tactics, Weapons training both on land and waterborne, National Marine Fisheries Training, Boat Captain Training, Customs search and boarding training, advanced tactical survival training, Federal Wildlife Officer training, marine survival techniques among others and the list goes on. After graduating and being sworn in as a State Police Officer by then Florida Governor Bob Martinez. Pumphrey requested duty assignments in South Florida working both Dade and Broward County in addition to off duty details with DEA and Customs. After service as a Full Time State Police Officer, Pumphrey took a reserve status and clerked in large law firm before attending Stetson College of Law. Don Pumphrey enrolled in Florida's first law school Stetson University College of Law, where he excelled in Trial Skills and Trail Advocacy. Pumphrey competed in the super competitive trial team selection process and secured a place on the Country's top rated trial team at the #1 School in the Country in Trial and Appellate Advocacy according to U.S. News and World Report at the time. Pumphrey graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 1996 and accepted another competitive position at the State Attorneys Office of the 6th Judicial Circuit working for State Attorney Bernie McCabe. While working as a young prosecutor, Pumphrey was approached and accepted a position coaching the trial team at Stetson College of Law. Pumphrey excelled as a young prosecutor averaging 25 jury trials a year with a high success rate. Pumphrey was promoted to supervisor of an entire division of prosecutors as the "Lead Trial Attorney" or LTA before being promoted again to Major Felonies and selection to the DUI Manslaughter Task Force then spent several years working for the Pinellas County State Attorney's Office, where he was both the Assistant State Attorney and Lead Trial Attorney. Don also competed in and finished the Ironman Triathlon. Don works closely with accomplished physical therapist in order to treat his body for injuries from his NFL days and keep himself in shape for triathlons. Don has publicly stated his support and belief in stretch therapy for recovering from the physical duress a body goes through.
In 1999, Pumphrey decided to return to his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida and open his own criminal defenselegal practice. Since then, Pumphrey has become one of the area's more prominent attorneys handling all sorts of cases, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies.
Notable cases
In 2007, Pumphrey represented Richard Kelley Hart who was accused of murder in relation to the death of his wife. Murder charges were dropped and Hart was freed later that year. In 2009, Pumphrey made national headlines when he represented escaped inmate Charlie Free, who had escaped from a Florida prison over 30 years prior and had been living a double-life. Free was ultimately freed based on unanimous decision from the Florida Parole Commission.
