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Fred Coleman
Fred Coleman
from Wikipedia

Fredrick Dewayne Coleman (born January 31, 1975) is an American former professional football wide receiver. He has played in the National Football League (NFL), Arena Football League (AFL), and XFL. Coleman graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, and played for the Lee Red Raiders. Coleman was selected in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL draft.[1] Coleman only had two career receptions in the NFL, but one was a vital 46 yard slant play during the New England Patriots' 17–16 comeback win in Week 12 in 2001 against the Jets. His other catch came in week 17 against the Panthers.[2] Coleman was also a contributor on special teams, as the Patriots made their way through the playoffs and onto the victory in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Key Information

Currently, he is a coach at McKinney High School.[3]

References

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from Grokipedia
Fredrick Dewayne Coleman (born January 31, 1975) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football for the Washington Huskies and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round (160th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft. Coleman had brief stints in the NFL with the Bills, New York Jets (primarily on practice squads), and New England Patriots, where he appeared in nine games over the 2001 and 2002 seasons, recording two receptions for 50 yards. He also played professionally in the XFL for the Los Angeles Xtreme, the Arena Football League for teams including the Buffalo Destroyers and Dallas Desperados, and the Canadian Football League for the Ottawa Renegades.

Early life

Upbringing

Fred Coleman was born on January 31, 1975, in . Limited details are available regarding his family background, but he grew up in , a region where is deeply ingrained in community identity and youth development. In areas like Tyler, local youth leagues and school programs provide widespread early access to the sport, fostering participation among children from a young age. This environment contributed to Coleman's initial engagement with football, setting the stage for his later athletic pursuits.

High school career

Fred Coleman attended Robert E. Lee High School in , where he graduated in 1993. During his high school years, Coleman played football for the Lee Red Raiders primarily as a . Over his career, he recorded 118 receptions for 2,425 yards and 25 touchdowns. In his senior season, he led the state in receiving with 61 catches for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning first-team All-State honors and the All-East Texas Offensive Player of the Year award; he was also a two-time All-East Texas selection. Coleman's standout performances drew significant attention from college scouts, making him one of the most highly recruited players in . This recruitment interest culminated in his commitment to the , where his high school success positioned him for early recognition in .

College career

University of Washington

Fred Coleman enrolled at the in 1994 as a for the Huskies football team, joining under . Coming from High School in , his speed and route-running skills from high school prepared him for the demands of college-level play in the Pac-10 Conference. As a freshman in 1994, Coleman made his debut as a contributor off the bench, providing depth at the flanker position during a season where the Huskies finished 7–4 in Pac-10 play and were ineligible for a bowl due to NCAA sanctions. Over the next two years, he steadily built his role on the team, transitioning into a more prominent offensive contributor amid Lambright's balanced attack that emphasized a strong passing game. In 1995, as a sophomore, Coleman helped the Huskies share the Pac-10 title with a 6–1–1 conference record, appearing in key games including the Sun Bowl loss to Iowa. The 1996 junior season saw further growth, with the team posting a 7–1 Pac-10 mark and reaching the Holiday Bowl against Colorado, where Coleman's increasing involvement supported the Huskies' 9–3 overall finish. By his senior year in 1997, Coleman had evolved into a starting flanker and team leader, anchoring the receiving corps alongside teammates like Jerome Pathon during an 8–4 season that included a 5–3 Pac-10 record. His leadership was evident in high-stakes conference matchups and culminated in the Huskies' appearance in the , where Washington secured a 51–23 victory over Michigan State. Throughout his four-year tenure, Coleman's progression from reserve to starter exemplified his adaptation to the physicality and complexity of Pac-10 competition under Lambright's guidance.

Career statistics and achievements

During his four seasons with the University of Washington Huskies from 1994 to 1997, Fred Coleman recorded 97 receptions for 1,588 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. The following table provides a yearly breakdown of his receiving statistics:
YearGamesReceptionsYardsYards per ReceptionTouchdowns
1994114194.80
1995113249815.64
1996101934818.30
1997114272317.27
Career43971,58816.411
Coleman's performance earned him Pac-10 statistical rankings, including 17th in yards per reception (15.6) and tied for 11th in receiving touchdowns (4) in 1995, as well as ninth in yards per reception (17.2) and tied for 12th in receiving touchdowns (7) in 1997. At the conclusion of his college career, he ranked eighth in University of Washington history for career receptions (97) and sixth for career receiving yards (1,588), with his 723 yards in 1997 placing ninth on the school's single-season list. Coleman's contributions were integral to the Huskies' offensive output, particularly in 1997 when he and Jerome Pathon formed the Pac-10's most productive receiving tandem with 111 combined catches for 1,968 yards and nine 100-yard games together—the most by any UW duo in a single season—which helped the achieve a 7-4 record and secure a berth in the .

Professional career

National Football League

Coleman was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round (160th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft out of the University of Washington. He spent the 1998 season on the Bills' practice squad but did not appear in any regular-season games. In 1999, he joined the New York Jets' practice squad, again without seeing game action, and was out of the league entirely in 2000. On November 8, 2001, Coleman signed with the to fill a roster spot. During the 2001 season, he appeared in eight regular-season games and three postseason contests, primarily contributing on special teams. His limited offensive role produced two receptions for 50 yards and no ; one highlight was a 46-yard slant reception in Week 12 against the Jets on December 2, 2001—his first catch—which set up a and sparked a 17–16 comeback victory. His second reception, a four-yard gain, came in the regular-season finale against the on January 6, 2002. In 2002, he appeared in one regular-season game with no statistics. As a roster member, Coleman was part of the Patriots' XXXVI-winning team following the 2001 season, though his snaps were limited primarily to special teams during the playoff run. He was re-signed by in 2002 but released on after training camp; the team brought him back on December 24, marking the end of his brief NFL tenure with no further appearances.

XFL

Fred Coleman signed with the Chicago Enforcers ahead of the inaugural 2001 XFL season, a professional football league co-owned by and . Playing as a , Coleman appeared in nine of the Enforcers' ten regular-season games, helping the team achieve a 5-5 record and clinch second place in the Eastern Division for a playoff spot. During the season, he recorded five receptions for 106 yards, averaging 21.2 yards per catch with a longest gain of 33 yards, though he did not score any touchdowns. The XFL differentiated itself with rule changes designed to heighten action and viewer engagement, including the elimination of fair catches on punts—replaced by a five-yard "halo" protection zone around the returner—and innovative broadcast features like a camera mounted inside the football for perspectives. The Enforcers' postseason run ended in the semifinals with a 16–33 loss to the at the . Coleman's visibility in the XFL paved the way for an opportunity, as the signed him on November 8, 2001, to bolster their roster late in the season.

Arena Football League

Fred Coleman entered the in 2004 as a and for the . His AFL career spanned four seasons across three teams, where he established himself as a versatile two-way player, contributing significantly on offense and defense in the high-scoring indoor format. Coleman's most productive phase came during his time with the SaberCats and Kats, highlighted by his role in playoff pushes and standout receiving performances. In , he recorded 54 receptions for 705 yards and 17 touchdowns, helping San Jose secure the Western Division title and win XVIII against the , 69–62; in the championship game, Coleman caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Mark Grieb. He moved to the in 2005, leading the team with 75 receptions for 848 yards and 12 touchdowns, though Nashville finished 6–9–1 and missed the . Returning to San Jose in 2006, Coleman added 18 receptions for 161 yards and 1 touchdown while contributing 8 tackles, aiding the SaberCats to a 10–6 record and an American Conference Championship appearance before a loss to the . His final season came in 2008 with the Georgia Force, where he had 9 receptions for 88 yards in limited action. Overall, Coleman amassed 156 receptions for 1,802 yards and 30 receiving touchdowns, plus 25 tackles, 1 interception, and 3 fumble recoveries on defense.
YearTeamReceptionsYardsTouchdowns
20045470517
20057584812
2006181611
2008Georgia Force9880
Career1561,80230
Unlike his limited NFL tenure, where he recorded just 2 receptions for 50 yards across two seasons with the , the AFL's compact field and fast-paced style enabled Coleman a sustained professional career, with far greater production and opportunities to showcase his skills. His earlier stint in the XFL with the Enforcers provided an initial bridge to indoor football dynamics. Coleman retired after the 2008 season.

References

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