Eric Hicks

Eric David Hicks (born June 17, 1976) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 1998. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins.

Hicks was also a member of the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions.

Early life Hicks attended Mercyhurst Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1994 after transferring there before his sophomore year. As a senior, he posted 6.0 sacks, and 68 tackles. He was also named First-team All-Metro. In 2006, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award.

College career Hicks attended the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in criminology and criminal justice, where he finished his career with 9.5 sacks, 147 tackles (26 for losses), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three pass deflections.

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs Hicks was an undrafted free agent in 1998 when he made the Kansas City Chiefs opening day roster, the only rookie free agent to make the club's opening day roster that year. He started 90 of the 96 games he has played in. He ranks fifth in franchise history with 40.5 career sacks. He recorded a career high 14.0 sacks in just 11 starts during the 2000 campaign, becoming just the fourth Kansas City Chiefs player to ever reach the 14.0-sack mark. He accumulated four tackles (three solo) in his lone postseason start in 2003. Hicks saw a decline in production in 2006, as he only registered two solo tackles and five assisted tackles in 16 games. He signed to a six-year contract in 2004 but became a salary cap casualty before the 2007 season and was cut in May 2007.

New York Jets Hicks was signed by the New York Jets for the 2007 season, appearing in 11 games while recording 17 tackles and no sacks. On December 18, 2007, he was released by the Jets.

Detroit Lions After spending the 2008 season out of football, Hicks was signed by the Detroit Lions on May 4, 2009. He was released on July 30, 2009.

NFL career statistics Legend Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sck Int Yds TD Lng FF FR Yds TD 1998 KAN 3 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1999 KAN 16 16 38 28 10 4.0 0 0 0 0 1 2 44 1 2000 KAN 13 11 46 37 9 14.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2001 KAN 16 16 54 45 9 3.5 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 2002 KAN 16 15 55 41 14 9.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2003 KAN 16 16 49 37 12 5.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 KAN 16 16 31 25 6 5.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 KAN 16 14 44 36 8 4.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2006 KAN 16 0 7 2 5 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 NYJ 11 0 17 10 7 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 139 104 341 261 80 44.5 0 0 0 0 6 6 44 1

Playoffs Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sck Int Yds TD Lng FF FR Yds TD 2003 KAN 1 1 3 2 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 KAN 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 3 2 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Personal life Hicks was born to Cheryl Vaughn and Augustas Hicks. He has two sisters and two brothers.

Head coaching record