Darryl Hammond

Darryl Hammond (September 24, 1967 – February 19, 2017) was an American arena football wide receiver / defensive back in the Arena Football League (AFL).

Hammond is ranked in the top 20 in numerous career record books. His sixteen-year career is currently the longest career in Arena Football League history. His 8,559 receiving yards are sixteenth-most in Arena football history and his 802 receptions rank 10th, and 144 touchdown receptions rank 20th in league history. His 728 career tackles rank second, and his 31 career interceptions are tied for 20th in league history as well. He was named as one of the 25 greatest players in Arena football history on the list compiled in 2012 as part of the league's 25th anniversary celebration.

High school and college Hammond was an All-State player football player at Essex High School. He then attended Ferrum College for his freshman and sophomore years. He then transferred to the University of Virginia, where he was the team's leading receiver in 1985. He recorded 11 receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown in 1986. He was switched from wide receiver to strong safety for his senior season in 1987, and he recorded 61 tackles and earned honorable All-ACC mention honors.

Professional career

National Football League (1989–1990) Hammond went unselected in the 1988 NFL draft and worked at a Ben & Jerry's plant while completing his Sociology degree. He also spent time working as a deputy sheriff in Manassas, Virginia. He then spent two years as a graduate assistant at Penn State under head coach Joe Paterno where he completed his degree in Turf management. He was one of at least 345 former NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repeated hits to the head. He had a wife, Robin, and three children: two daughters, Darryn and Sydney, and a son, Todd.