Jerheme Urban


Jerheme Wayne Urban is an American football head coach at Trinity University and a former wide receiver in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Trinity University.

Early years

Urban attended Stroman High School, where he competed in football and track. He accepted a football scholarship from Division III Trinity University. As a freshman, he broke his left hand and was moved from quarterback to wide receiver.
As a senior, he led the team with 75 receptions for 1,274 yards and 19 touchdowns. He contributed to the team reaching the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III Football Championship game.
Urban holds the school career record for touchdowns and kickoff return yards. He set-single season school records for all-purpose yards, most touchdowns, and most touchdowns scored.
In track, he captured 16 conference championships and became the first person in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference history to receive Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year four years in a row. He also set school or conference records in the 100 metres, 400 metres, 400 metres hurdles, long jump, triple jump, and 4 × 400 metres relay.
In 2019, he was inducted into the Trinity Athletic Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Seattle Seahawks

Urban was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks after the 2003 NFL Draft on May 1. He was waived and signed to the practice squad. On December 26, he was promoted to the active roster. He was declared inactive for the season finale and the playoffs.
On September 10, 2004, he was released and signed to the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster. He appeared in 4 games, registering 7 receptions for 151 yards. He missed the last 2 games and the playoffs with a foot injury.
On September 13, 2005, he was released. On October 4, he was re-signed for depth purposes. His season was cut short by a re-aggravated left foot stress fracture. On November 8, he was released and placed on injured reserve the next day. He was kept as a member of the team during the 2005 NFC Championship run that saw the Seahawks play in Super Bowl XL. Urban was considered in the media to be the ultimate team player. Seattle Post-Intelligencer sportswriter Jim Moore wrote of Urban's tenure with the Seahawks that he "...wasn't a good soldier, he was a great one." Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said of Urban, "Whatever the definition of a Seahawk is, he's it." ESPN's Bill Williamson wrote, "This is an under-the-radar player who always seems to make coaches fall in love with him." On June 2, 2006, he was released as he had problems staying healthy during his time with the Seahawks.
In 2019, he was inducted into the Trinity Athletic Hall of Fame.

Dallas Cowboys

On October 19, 2006, he was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. On September 1, 2007, he was released.

Arizona Cardinals

On September 2, 2007, he was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals. He caught a then career-high 22 receptions for 329 yards and 2 touchdowns, in the NFC Championship year that saw the Cardinals play in Super Bowl XLIII.
In 2008, he set new career marks with 34 catches for 448 yards and four touchdowns. He also contributed 11 tackles on special teams and completed his first pass in the NFL. In 2009, he appeared in 10 games, collecting 18 receptions for 186 yards. He wasn't re-signed after the season.

Kansas City Chiefs

On March 11, 2010, he was signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs, reuniting with his former coach Todd Haley. On September 4, he was placed on the injured reserve list, with a torn flexor tendon in the ring finger on his right hand. In 2011, he appeared in 6 games, making 4 receptions for 35 yards and one touchdown. He wasn't re-signed after the season.

Coaching career

In 2005, he was a track assistant coach at Trinity University, coaching the long jump, triple jump and javelin. In 2012, he was hired as the defensive backs coach.
In 2013, he was named the offensive coordinator. On November 21, 2013, he became the Tigers head football coach after the retirement of Steve Mohr, who held the position for 24 years. After six seasons, his record at the school stands at 38-22 with one Southern Athletic Association championship in 2019.