Fred McAfee


Fred Lee McAfee is a former American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He has a daughter and son.
McAfee is currently the Director of Player Development at the New Orleans Saints.

Early years

McAfee attended Philadelphia High School and was a student and a letterman in football & track. In football, he won All-District honors. In track, he was a two-time state champion in the pole vault. McAfee graduated high school in 1986. Fred is also a first cousin to legendary running back Marcus Dupree, and was the Philadelphia High School Football team's ball boy during Dupree's renowned years. A person featured in the ESPN "30 for 30" series about Marcus Dupree says that a young McAfee would give away or sell Dupree's torn game jerseys.
McAfee graduated with a degree in mass communications from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi and played for the Choctaws football team in Division II. He set school records for rushing yards, attempts and rushing touchdowns. He led the Choctaws to the 1989 Gulf South Conference football champion, which was later vacated as punishment for recruiting violations, and earned All-American honors.

Pro career

McAfee was drafted by the Saints in the 1991 NFL Draft. He is the first player in Saints franchise history to be on the roster for three of the team's division titles. The 1991 season was his most prolific, offensively, as he rushed for a career-high 109 times for 494 yards and two touchdowns.
During the 1994 season, McAfee played for the Arizona Cardinals for seven games, then was released. On November 9, 1994, McAfee signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who he would play for until the 1999 season, where he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. While he was with the Steelers, he played in Super Bowl XXX, which the Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27–17.
However, less than a month after signing with the Chiefs, he was released. On December 28, 1999, McAfee signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During the 1999 season, McAfee played in only one game, and in October 2000, McAfee signed with the team that drafted him back in 1991, the New Orleans Saints. Throughout his second stint with the Saints, McAfee re-signed and declared free agency numerous times with the Saints. He was elected to go to the Pro Bowl in 2002 for his special team efforts. He was also known around the team for his tremendous work ethic, being a leader on and off the football field, and bringing a camaraderie to the locker room. During his second stint with the Saints, for 6 seasons, McAfee had only seven attempts for 117 yards. On August 28, 2006, McAfee was cut by the New Orleans Saints, thus making him a free agent eligible to sign with any NFL team. McAfee was re-signed by the Saints on November 21, 2006. On December 27, McAfee was waived by the Saints. Two days later, he was re-signed by the Saints and scored a touchdown on December 31, 2006 against the Carolina Panthers. This was McAfee's first NFL touchdown since October 26, 1998, which was on a blocked punt and his first rushing/offensive touchdown since September 10, 1995,
A few weeks later, on January 10, 2007, McAfee was placed on the Injured Reserve list by the Saints, reportedly to make roster room for newly signed place kicker Billy Cundiff. On May 25, 2007, the Saints announced they would hire him as director of player programs.

Career statistics

Rushing statistics
YearTeamGamesCarriesYardsYards per CarryLongest CarryTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1991NO91094944.53422300
1992NO14391142.9191800
1993NO15511603.1271711
1994ARI72-5-2.521110
1994PIT616563.5131500
1995PIT16391564.02211100
1996PIT147172.450000
1997PIT1413413.290111
1998PIT14181116.2140500
2000NO1223718.5400100
2001NO16122.020000
2002NO1111111.0110100
2003NO1411313.0130100
2004NO1125427.0530100
2006NO43124.061100
Career1933041,2734.25386632

Receiving statistics
YearTeamGamesReceptionsYardsYards per ReceptionLongest ReceptionTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1991NO9188.080000
1992NO1411616.0160100
1993NO15133.030000
1994ARI7144.040000
1995PIT1615885.9180200
1996PIT145214.290100
1997PIT1424422.0300200
1998PIT149273.0110100
Career193352116.0300700

Kickoff return statistics
YearTeamGamesAttemptsYardsTouchdownsFair CatchesLongest Return
1991NO91140014
1992NO14193930038
1993NO15285800055
1994ARI771130029
1995PIT165560025
1998PIT141100025
2000NO12102510052
2001NO1661440034
2002NO112690051
2003NO1491400023
2004NO1181370026
2005NO16224850034
2006NO41200020
Career1591192,4120055