Ira Valentine

Ira Lynn Valentine (June 4, 1963 – July 6, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a running back one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies and also had a stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Early life and education Valentine was born on June 4, 1963, in Marshall, Texas, to Maudell and Ira Valentine. He attended Marshall High School and played football. He played on defense for his first three seasons, only seeing time as a running back in his senior year. As a senior, Valentine ran 174 times for 858 yards (a 4.9 yard average) and scored nine touchdowns. He was the first Marshall player to sign a letter-of-intent in 1982, signing at 8 a.m. on February 10, the earliest possible time. For his first season at the school, he played on the junior varsity football team.

Valentine made the varsity roster in 1983 as the backup fullback. However, he suffered an injury and did not play. Valentine saw his first "extensive playing time" in 1985 and was the team's top blocking back. He scored his first career touchdown in a 43–16 win over Houston in week five and scored a key two-point conversion in the Aggies' 28–27 win versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders two weeks earlier. He finished his college career with 101 touches for 486 yards and six touchdowns.

Professional career Valentine was selected in the 12th round (314th overall) of the 1987 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers. "Ira was the fastest player at his position still available when it came our turn," said Oilers' head coach Jerry Glanville, as Valentine had run a 4.40 second 40-yard dash in college. "That's what we look for in our 12th round pick ... the fastest player available at his position." In two preseason games against the Indianapolis Colts, Valentine ran for 65 yards on 15 carries. He survived the final roster cuts on September 7 and made his NFL debut in week one against the Los Angeles Rams, in a 20–16 win.

Valentine did not play again until week ten, a 23–3 win at the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was released at the final roster cuts in August.

Valentine received a tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals in October 1988, but was not signed. In January , he signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was released at the final roster cuts in August and did not sign another NFL contract afterwards.

Later life and death Valentine returned to East Texas, where he grew up, after his football career ended and worked at a forging plant. He died July 6, 2022, at the age of 59, from a heart attack.