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Eric Weems
Eric Weems
from Wikipedia

Eric G. Weems (born July 4, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver, special teamer, and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Weems attended Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, Florida and was a letterman in football and basketball.[1] In football, as a senior, he was named the team M.V.P. and was an All-Area selection and an All-State selection. In basketball, he was an All-Area selection.[citation needed]

College career

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While attending Bethune-Cookman University in his hometown of Daytona Beach, Florida,[2][3][4] Weems was a stand-out wide receiver/A-back for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team. He played under head coach Alvin Wyatt from 2003 to 2007. Weems left with his name in the records for numerous receiving categories throughout his four-year career at Bethune-Cookman. In his senior year, he added special teams to his portfolio, serving as the kickoff and punt return specialist for the Wildcats.[5]

Professional career

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Atlanta Falcons (first stint)

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2007 season

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Weems saw action in the NFL for the first time in the season finale against the Seattle Seahawks.[6] He did not post any statistics.[7]

2008 season

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Weems's first career reception came with a 4-yard catch in the first quarter of the Falcons' week 12 match-up against the Carolina Panthers. Later in the same game, Weems provided a key block for a 7-yard Harry Douglas touchdown run.[8] His first career fumble recovery came on a Minnesota Vikings muffed punt in week 16 of the 2008 season.[9]

2009 season

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Eric Weems with Sam Baker, Michael Jenkins and Marty Booker.
Eric Weems playing against the Miami Dolphins in 2009.

Weems won a job with the Atlanta Falcons as a punt returner in 2009 when wide receiver Harry Douglas was placed on the injured reserved list with a season ending knee injury. Weems ended up returning both punts and kicks as the season progressed. Weems scored his first career touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7 of the 2009 season, he caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Ryan.[10] Weems scored his second career touchdown against the New York Giants in Week 11 of the 2009 season, he had a 4-yard touchdown reception.[11]

On the night of November 16, 2009, Weems was arrested in DeKalb County, Georgia for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Shortly afterward, Weems released a statement saying “Unfortunately, I was involved in an incident on November 17, 2009. I am embarrassed about the situation and I sincerely apologize to the entire Atlanta Falcons organization and our great fans.”[12] No specific action was taken by the Atlanta Falcons or the NFL.

Weems finished the 2009 season with six catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed eight times for 53 yards. Weems returned 48 kicks for 1214 yards and 27 punts for 270 yards, fumbled three times and losing two, and recorded 10 tackles.[13]

2010 season

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Weems had a career-high of four catches against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first week of the 2010 season.[14] He had his first career start as a wide receiver against the Arizona Cardinals in week 2.[15] Weems returned his first career kickoff return for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on week 13 of the season. The 102 yards was a franchise record for the Atlanta Falcons.[16] He also returned his first career punt return for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers on week 17 of the season.[17] The 55 yards was a career-high. Weems was selected to the 2011 Pro Bowl as a special teams member.[18] Weems finished the 2010 season with six catches for 61 yards. He returned 40 kickoffs for a 1,100 yards with one touchdown. Weems returned 18 punts for 230 yards with one touchdown.[19] He was the only player in the NFC to return a kick and a punt for a touchdown.[20] Weems had a notable contribution for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2010-2011 NFC Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers. Early in the second quarter, Weems fielded a kickoff two yards deep in his team's own end zone and ran virtually untouched for 102-yard kickoff return touchdown.[21] The 102-yard return was the longest play in NFL postseason history.[22]

2011 season

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The Atlanta Falcons re-signed Weems to a one-year contract on July 31, 2011.[23] He appeared in all 16 games with the Atlanta Falcons, He made two starts at the wide receiver position. Weems caught a career-high 11 catches for a career-high 90 yards. Weems returned 24 kicks for 563 yards. He also returned 32 punts for 315 Yards. Weems also recorded 12 tackles on special teams. He did not score any touchdowns.[24]

Weems was selected as a first-team alternate for the 2012 Pro Bowl as a special teams player.[25]

Weems returned four kickoffs for an average of 20 yards per kickoff and a long of 27 yards in the NFC Wild Card Round game against the New York Giants. He did not record any receptions in the 24–2 loss.[26]

Chicago Bears

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Weems at Bears training camp in 2014

On March 14, 2012, Weems signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Bears as an unrestricted free agent.[27] Weems played in all 16 games with one start at the wide receiver position. Weems caught 2 balls for only 27 yards. He returned 13 kickoffs for 231 yards and 1 punt for no yards. Weems fumbled once and recovered 2 fumbles during the season. He also made 8 tackles.[28] The Bears finished the season with a record of 10-6 and did not make the playoffs.[29]

Weems appeared in all 16 games with the Bears in 2013. He recorded only one reception for eight yards. Weems returned five kickoffs for 57 yards. Weems recorded nine tackles in the season and forced one fumble.[30]

After the Bears signed Santonio Holmes, Weems was released by the team on August 16, 2014.[31]

Atlanta Falcons (second stint)

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On August 21, 2014, Weems signed with the Atlanta Falcons.[32] Weems appeared in all 16 regular season games with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014.[33] On October 5, Weems forced a fumble and recovered a fumble on separate occasions against the New York Giants.[34][35] He caught his first touchdown of the season against the Green Bay Packers on December 8.[36] He then caught his second touchdown two weeks later on December 21, against the New Orleans Saints.[37] Weems caught 10 passes for a career-high 102 yards and two touchdowns. On special teams, he recorded thirteen tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and returned two kicks for 34 yards.[38]

Weems signed a two-year extension with the Falcons on March 6, 2015.[39][40] Weems saw action in all 16 games. He had one reception for 11 yards. Weems returned 15 kicks for 403 yards. He also returned 19 punts for 221 yards.[41]

In the 2016 season, Weems was part of a record-breaking Falcons team.[42] On September 18, 2016, he returned a punt for a career-long 73 yards against the Oakland Raiders.[43] Weems and the Falcons reached Super Bowl LI, where they faced the New England Patriots. In the Super Bowl, Weems had two kick returns for 25 total yards and one punt return for no yards. the Falcons fell in a 34–28 overtime defeat.[44]

Tennessee Titans

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Weems with the Titans in 2017

On March 10, 2017, Weems signed with the Tennessee Titans.[45] He was released on September 2, 2017, but was re-signed the next day.[46][47] In the 2017 season, Weems mainly played on a special teams role for the Titans.[48]

On March 9, 2018, Weems was released by the Titans.[49]

NFL career statistics

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Year Team GP Receiving Punt return Kick return Fumbles
Rec Tgt Yds Avg Lng TD FD Att Yds TD FC Lng Att Yds TD FC Lng Fum Lost
2008 ATL 6 1 1 4 4.0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 19 0 0 19 0 0
2009 ATL 16 6 6 50 8.3 30 2 3 27 270 0 14 28 48 1,214 0 0 62 0 0
2010 ATL 16 6 6 61 10.2 18 0 3 18 230 1 19 55 40 1,100 1 0 102 0 0
2011 ATL 16 11 14 90 8.2 18 0 5 32 315 0 19 42 24 563 0 0 37 0 0
2012 CHI 16 2 4 27 13.5 18 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 13 231 0 0 27 0 0
2013 CHI 16 1 2 8 8.0 8 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 5 57 0 0 19 0 0
2014 ATL 16 10 11 102 10.2 40 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 34 0 0 17 0 0
2015 ATL 16 1 1 11 11.0 11 0 1 19 221 0 16 41 15 403 0 0 50 0 0
2016 ATL 16 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 24 273 0 21 73 17 391 0 0 42 0 0
2017 TEN 16 1 2 5 5.0 5 0 0 2 15 0 0 13 2 18 0 0 18 0 0
Total 150 39 47 358 9.2 40 4 20 123 1,324 1 91 73 167 4,030 1 0 102 0 0

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Eric G. Weems (born July 4, 1985) is a former wide receiver and return specialist who played in the (NFL) for eleven seasons. After attending Bethune-Cookman University, where he played , Weems signed with the as an undrafted free agent in 2007. His NFL career spanned stints with the Falcons (2007–2011, 2014–2016), (2012–2013), and (2017), during which he appeared in 151 games, known for his durability by playing in all 16 games in each of his final nine seasons. Weems earned recognition for his special teams contributions, including a Pro Bowl selection in 2010 and First-Team All-Pro honors as a return specialist that same year. Over his career, he recorded 39 receptions for 358 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver, while excelling in returns with 167 kick returns for 4,030 yards and one touchdown, plus 123 punt returns for 1,324 yards and one touchdown, totaling two scores from returns. A Daytona Beach, Florida native standing at 5 feet 9 inches and weighing 195 pounds, Weems retired after his release from the Titans in 2018, concluding a versatile tenure primarily as a special teams asset.

Early life and education

High school career

Eric Weems was born on July 4, 1985, in , and attended in nearby Ormond Beach. As a multi-sport athlete at Seabreeze, Weems lettered in both football and , showcasing his versatility across disciplines. In football, Weems excelled as a two-way player, contributing on offense as a and on defense as a . As a senior in 2002, he recorded 42 receptions for 667 yards and eight touchdowns on offense, while amassing 97 tackles and nine on defense, earning second-team All-State honors. He was also named his team's MVP, along with All-Area recognition, helping lead Seabreeze to notable victories, including a 52-20 upset over undefeated where he scored two touchdowns, returned a punt 60 yards to set up another score, and had a 38-yard return. Weems also shone in basketball, earning All-Area honors as a senior guard. That season, he averaged 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four steals per game, demonstrating his all-around skills on the court. Despite his high school success, Weems was not heavily recruited by major programs and ultimately received an to Bethune-Cookman , where he continued his football career.

College career

Eric Weems enrolled at Bethune-Cookman University in 2003, where he played for the Wildcats football team under Alvin Wyatt through the 2006 season. During his four-year tenure, Weems developed into a versatile dual-threat player, excelling as both a slot receiver and return specialist in the (MEAC). Over his college career, he recorded 178 receptions for 2,533 yards and 20 receiving . As a receiver, Weems broke numerous school records throughout his career, with notable performances including 166 receiving yards against Delaware State in 2006 and three receptions for 65 yards and a versus A&T in 2005. In the return game, Weems showcased his speed and elusiveness, achieving a 31.0-yard punt return average against A&T in 2006, contributing to Bethune-Cookman's MEAC success. His senior season highlighted his emergence, earning him first-team All-MEAC honors as a and first-team All-American recognition. Weems' multifaceted role extended to occasional rushing contributions, such as nine carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2005, underscoring his adaptability on offense. In key MEAC contests, like the 2006 matchup against Florida A&M, he hauled in four receptions for 28 yards. No specific academic or leadership roles are documented in available records. Following the 2006 season, Weems went undrafted in the but signed with the as an undrafted free agent, transitioning his college skills to the professional level.

Professional career

Atlanta Falcons (2007–2011)

Eric Weems signed with the as an undrafted free agent following the , after a standout college career at Bethune-Cookman University. He spent his first season on the practice squad before earning a spot on the active roster in 2008, initially contributing sparingly in special teams. Over his initial six seasons with the , Weems primarily served as a on kickoffs and punts, with limited offensive involvement as a ; he recorded just 25 receptions for 196 yards and one across 2007–2011, mostly in 2009 and 2011 when injuries to starters opened opportunities. Weems' role solidified in 2009, when he handled 48 kickoff returns for 1,214 yards (25.3 average) and 27 punt returns for 270 yards (10.0 average). In 2010, he elevated his performance with 40 kickoff returns totaling 1,100 yards (27.5 average, third in the ) and one touchdown, alongside 18 punt returns for 230 yards (12.8 average) and another score, earning his selection as the Falcons' kick returner. His 2011 season saw a dip due to a injury, but he still managed 24 kickoff returns for 563 yards (23.5 average) and 32 punt returns for 315 yards (9.8 average). A defining moment came in the 2010 NFC Divisional playoff game against the on January 15, 2011, where Weems returned a kickoff 102 yards for a —the longest in playoff history at the time—briefly giving a 14–7 lead before their 48–21 loss. This play underscored his explosive potential in high-stakes situations. Throughout his tenure, Weems' special teams prowess provided critical field position advantages, contributing to the team's three playoff appearances (, 2010, 2011) and fostering a dynamic unit that complemented the offense led by Matt Ryan. His reliability as a , with four total s from 2009–2010 (two receiving in 2009 and two from returns in 2010), helped stabilize the Falcons' backfield during consistent contention in the .

Chicago Bears (2012–2013)

On March 14, 2012, Eric Weems signed a three-year, $4.2 million contract with the as an unrestricted following his release from the , with his prior selection as a influencing the Bears' interest in bolstering their special teams unit. During the 2012 season, Weems appeared in all 16 games with one start, primarily contributing on special teams while seeing an increased number of snaps at compared to his return-focused role in ; he recorded 2 receptions for 27 yards and no touchdowns on offense, alongside 13 kickoff returns for 231 yards and one punt return for zero yards, reflecting a reduced return workload due to the presence of as the primary returner. His special teams efforts included tackling and coverage duties, helping stabilize the unit during a 10-6 season that ended in a playoff loss. In 2013, Weems again played in all 16 games without starting, but his offensive production was minimal with just 1 reception for 8 yards and no touchdowns, while his return opportunities further diminished to 5 kickoff returns for 57 yards and no punt returns, attributed to ongoing roster depth at returner positions and shifts in special teams personnel under coordinator Joe DeCamillis. Limited by these factors rather than major injuries—he missed no games—Weems focused on core special teams roles, logging 13 tackles and providing reliability in coverage during a transitional 8-8 campaign for the Bears. Weems' tenure with the Bears concluded on August 16, , when the team terminated his contract to sign , capping a two-year stint where he appeared in 32 games and totaled 3 receptions for 35 yards on offense but served as a steady special teams contributor with 18 kickoff returns for 288 yards overall. His presence helped bridge the Bears' special teams during a period of roster flux, though his shift toward offensive experimentation yielded limited results amid competition for snaps.

Atlanta Falcons (2014–2016)

After being released by the Chicago Bears on August 16, 2014, Weems signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons on August 21, 2014, reuniting him with the team where he had spent his first five professional seasons. In the 2014 season, Weems appeared in all 16 games without starting, serving primarily as a backup wide receiver and special teams contributor. He recorded 10 receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns. On special teams, he led the Falcons with 13 tackles (11 solo) and handled two kickoff returns for 34 yards, while also contributing as a backup returner behind primary options. Weems signed a two-year extension with on March 6, 2015. During the 2015 season, he again played in all 16 games, focusing on special teams duties with eight tackles (seven solo). He emerged as a more prominent , returning 15 kickoffs for 403 yards (26.9 average) and 19 punts for 221 yards (11.6 average), including a 39-yard punt return against the . Offensively, his role was minimal, with one reception for 11 yards and one rush for four yards. The 2016 season highlighted Weems' veteran reliability during the Falcons' Super Bowl run, as he played in all 16 regular-season games and three postseason contests, including against the . He contributed 15 special teams tackles (nine solo), the second-most on the team, and handled return duties with 17 kickoffs for 391 yards (23.0 average) and 24 punts for 273 yards (11.4 average), including a 72-yard punt return touchdown against the —his first such score since 2010. Though his offensive snaps were limited with no receptions, Weems was praised for his leadership on special teams, providing sideline guidance and motivation to younger players in a unit that supported the team's title and 11-5 record. Over his three seasons with from 2014 to 2016, Weems appeared in 48 regular-season games and three playoff games, totaling 36 special teams tackles, 34 kickoff returns for 828 yards, 43 punt returns for 494 yards and one , and 11 receptions for 113 yards and two . His consistent performance bolstered ' special teams during their return to contention, culminating in a appearance, before he became an unrestricted in March 2017.

Tennessee Titans (2017)

In March 2017, Weems signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract with the as an unrestricted , providing depth at and bolstering the special teams unit with his extensive experience as a from previous stints with the and . After being released on September 2 and re-signing the following day to the 53-man roster, Weems spent the remainder of the 2017 season with the Titans, appearing in all 16 regular-season games and their single playoff contest. His role was predominantly on special teams, where he contributed minimally on returns with two punt returns for 15 yards and two kickoff returns for 18 yards; offensively, he had one reception for five yards. On March 9, 2018, the Titans released Weems as part of offseason roster moves, effectively ending his 11-year playing career after no further contracts were signed. Over his professional tenure, Weems appeared in 151 games across stints with , Bears, and Titans.

Career statistics and accomplishments

Regular season and postseason stats

Eric Weems' NFL career statistics underscore his value as a , with secondary contributions as a and occasional rusher. Across 151 regular-season games from 2007 to 2017, he amassed 39 receptions for 358 yards and 4 receiving , alongside 10 rushing attempts for 57 yards; on special teams, he totaled 123 punt returns for 1,324 yards and 1 , and 167 kickoff returns for 4,030 yards and 1 , yielding 5,354 combined return yards and 2 return overall. Weems' regular-season performance varied by team and role, peaking in return production during his initial stint with the . The table below details his year-by-year statistics for receiving, rushing, punt returns, and kickoff returns, including (G), receptions (Rec), receiving yards (Rec Yds) and touchdowns (Rec TD), rushing attempts/yards/touchdowns (Rush Att/Yds/TD), punt returns/yards/touchdowns (PR/ Yds/TD), and kickoff returns/yards/touchdowns (KR/Yds/TD). Averages for returns are not included here but can be derived from the yardage and return counts (e.g., his kickoff return average of 27.5 yards ranked third in the among qualified players).
YearTeamGRecRec YdsRec TDRush Att/Yds/TDPR/Yds/TDKR/Yds/TD
2007ATL10000/0/00/0/00/0/0
ATL61400/0/00/0/01/19/0
ATL1665028/53/027/270/048/1,214/0
2010ATL1666100/0/018/230/140/1,100/1
ATL16119000/0/032/315/024/563/0
2012CHI1622700/0/01/0/013/231/0
2013CHI161800/0/00/0/05/57/0
2014ATL161010220/0/00/0/02/34/0
2015ATL1611101/4/019/221/015/403/0
ATL160000/0/024/273/017/391/0
2017TEN161501/0/02/15/02/18/0
Career-15139358410/57/0123/1,324/1167/4,030/1
In the postseason, Weems participated in 8 games across five seasons (2008, 2010, 2011, 2016, and 2017), registering no receptions or rushes but providing key return efforts, including 3 punt returns for 24 yards and 14 kickoff returns for 344 yards and 1 . His most notable postseason play came in the 2010 NFC Divisional round against the , where he returned a kickoff 102 yards for a —setting an NFL playoff record for the longest kickoff return at the time—and finishing that single game with 6 returns for 195 yards. During the Falcons' run to in 2016, he contributed 4 kickoff returns for 66 yards over three playoff games, including the loss to the .

Awards and records

Weems earned a selection in 2011 as the NFC's kick returner, recognizing his third-place ranking in the with a 27.5-yard average on kickoff returns during the 2010 season. He also received First-Team honors as a in 2010. One of his most notable achievements came in the 2010 NFC Divisional playoff game against the , where Weems returned a kickoff 102 yards for a , setting the record for the longest kickoff return in postseason history at the time. Throughout his tenure with the , Weems contributed to the team's success in securing division titles in 2008 and 2010 during his initial stint, as well as in 2016 upon his return, where his special teams play helped the advance to against the . As an undrafted free agent from Bethune-Cookman University, a historically Black college and university (HBCU), Weems established a legacy as a special teams pioneer, demonstrating that players from such backgrounds could excel in the NFL's return game and earn honors without being drafted. No hall of fame inductions or major recognitions for Weems have been reported as of 2025.

Personal life

Family

Eric Weems was born on July 4, 1985, in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he spent his early years before moving to nearby Ormond Beach in 1996 with his mother, Cheryl Weems, and his siblings. His mother played a significant role in his upbringing and remained a steadfast supporter throughout his athletic career, including accepting a proclamation from the City of Daytona Beach on his behalf in 2011 while wearing his Atlanta Falcons jersey. Weems has a brother, Bruna' Foster, who also pursued football, playing at the collegiate level with and later attempting to break into the after stints in indoor leagues. The siblings grew up in the Daytona Beach area, with Foster attending while Weems went to , fostering a shared interest in the sport within their family. Weems is the father of Eric Weems Jr., a multi-position from Olympia High School in Orlando, who committed to Bethune-Cookman to play football in August 2025. This decision continues the family's tradition at the historically Black college and (HBCU), where Weems himself starred as a from 2003 to 2006, amassing 178 receptions for 2,533 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Post-retirement activities

Following his release from the on March 9, 2018, Eric Weems did not sign with any other team and effectively retired from professional football after 11 seasons, having appeared in 151 regular season games. Public information on Weems' professional pursuits after retirement remains limited, with no documented roles in , business ventures, or community initiatives as of November 2025. In October 2019, during his induction into the Hall of Fame, Weems expressed ongoing hopes of resuming his career but no further opportunities materialized. A notable 2025 development in Weems' post-retirement life involves his family's athletic legacy, as his son, Eric Weems Jr., a senior at Olympia High School in , committed to play at Bethune-Cookman University—Weems' —on August 7, 2025. Weems Jr., a versatile athlete who played , , and in high school, follows in his father's footsteps at the HBCU where Weems starred before entering the . No media appearances or endorsements involving Weems have been reported in recent years.

References

  1. https://www.[espn.com](/page/ESPN.com)/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/253022448
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