William Fuller (American Football) - Professional Career

Professional Career

Fuller was selected by the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL in the 1984 USFL player draft. He was also selected with the 21st selection in the first round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players by the Los Angeles Rams. Fuller decided to play in the USFL with the Stars, where he played for two seasons, winning two USFL championships and playing with future NFL players such as Bart Oates and Sam Mills. Fuller was granted free agency by the USFL in 1986 and his rights were subsequently traded by the Rams to the Houston Oilers where he started his career in the NFL. After recording a total of 3 sacks in his first two seasons, Fuller emerged in 1988 and tied for the team lead in sacks with 8.5. He was described as the most improved defensive player on the team by head coach Jerry Glanville. After recording 14.5 sacks over 1989 and 1990, Fuller finished tied for second in the NFL with 15 sacks in 1991, and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He followed that up by recording eight and ten sacks, respectively in 1992 and 1993. After the 1993 season Fuller signed a three-year $8 Million contract as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles, in part out of a desire to be closer to his off–season home in Virginia. He subsequently played three stellar seasons in 1994, 1995, and 1996. He recorded 9.5 sacks in his first season there (1994) and set a team record for most consecutive games with a sack at seven. Fuller had 13 sacks in each of the following two seasons (1995 and 1996), and was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons with the Eagles. After the 1996 season Fuller signed a two-year $5.6 million dollar contract with the San Diego Chargers, while there his production steeply declined. After two seasons, in which he recorded three sacks each, Fuller retired following the 1998 season. By the time his NFL career ended Fuller had recorded 100.5 sacks becoming one of the few players in NFL history to record more than 100 sacks.

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