James Wilder Sr.


James Curtis Wilder Sr. is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, and the Detroit Lions.

High school career

Wilder played high school football at Sikeston High School where he set school records in career rushing yards and single season rushing yards. He led the Bulldogs to an undefeated season in 1976, his senior year with the team.

College career

Wilder played at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma, then attended and played college football at the University of Missouri where he led the Tigers to three bowl games and became known as the "Sikeston Train" and one of the most popular players for the program.

Professional career

Wilder was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. After he shared the backfield as a rookie with Jerry Eckwood in 1981, the Buccaneers released Eckwood in favor of Wilder prior to the 1982 season. He played for most of his career with Tampa Bay, and was a Pro Bowl selection in 1984. Wilder almost set an NFL record that season for combined rushing and receiving yards in a season finishing 16 yards short with 2,229. In an attempt to give Wilder one more chance to break the record in the final minute of the final game of the 1984 season against the New York Jets, head coach John McKay ordered his defense to let the Jets score, so that the Bucs could go back on offense. This resulted in one of the strangest plays in NFL history where the Tampa Bay defense simply stood still as the Jets ran the ball into the end zone; McKay was given a large fine from the league for that stunt.
He ranks first in Buccaneer history in rushing yards, rushing attempts and receptions and even set an NFL record with 43 carries in a single game in 1984. Also in 1984, he set NFL records for carries and touches in a single season.
Lawrence Taylor has stated that Wilder was one of the toughest running backs that he played against during his career.

Personal life

Wilder's son, James Wilder Jr., is a professional football player who is currently signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. He played football for Florida State and was a part of their 2013 National Championship winning team, and the 2017 Grey Cup winning team. Coincidentally, Marc Trestman, who was a Buccaneers assistant coach during the senior Wilder's career, was the junior Wilder's head coach.
Wilder's daughter, Courtney Wilder, played running back on the Tampa Breeze during the 2011–12 LFL season.