Wilbert Montgomery

Wilbert Montgomery (born September 16, 1954) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for nine years with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Abilene Christian Wildcats. After his playing career, Montgomery was the running backs and tight ends coach for the St. Louis Rams (1997–2005) and running backs coach for the Lions (2006–2007), Baltimore Ravens (2008–2013) and Cleveland Browns (2014–2015).

Playing career

College An outstanding athlete at Abilene Christian University, Montgomery was a four-year starter at running back and set the all-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics record for touchdowns with 76. He broke the record for touchdowns by a freshman with 37, and helped lead the Wildcats to the NAIA Division I National Championship in 1973. That same year, he was featured in "Faces in the Crowd" in the November 12 issue of Sports Illustrated.

NFL Montgomery was selected 154th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL draft. Wearing number 31, Montgomery played eight seasons with Philadelphia, shattering most Eagles' rushing records and leading the club in rushing six times. He concluded his NFL career with the Detroit Lions in 1985, and still holds or previously held seven Philadelphia rushing records, including: career attempts (1,465), rushing yards (6,538, broken by LeSean McCoy in 2014),

At the 2002 NFC Championship game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium, Montgomery was the Eagles’ honorary captain, and introduced to a thunderous ovation prior to the game.

He joined the Ravens in 2008 and was running backs coach through the 2013 season. He won his second Super Bowl title when the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.

Montgomery was hired as running backs coach of the Cleveland Browns on February 6, 2014. He was not retained after Head Coach Mike Pettine was fired.

Personal life Montgomery is a native of Greenville, Mississippi, and one of four brothers (Fred, Cleotha Montgomery, and Tyrone) who played in the NFL. Montgomery earned the Abilene Christian University Alumni Citation Award in 1979, was inducted onto the inaugural Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll in 1987, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

Montgomery and his wife Patti have three children, twins Briana and Brendan, and a son, Tavian. Montgomery also has a daughter, Sherrita, and a son Derron, who was a wide receiver for the Iowa State Cyclones and a Graduate Assistant and Assistant wide receiver coach for the Miami Hurricanes. Derron was a wide receiver coach for the Michigan Wolverines, tight ends coach for his father's alma mater Abilene Christian University and is now the Offensive Quality Control - Assistant RB's coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Tavian is a current college sophomore, playing cornerback for Northern Arizona University.