Jamal Anderson

Jamal Sharif Anderson (born September 30, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft.[1] He played high school football at El Camino Real High School, where he was named to the CIF Los Angeles City Section 4-A All-City first-team in 1989.[2] He went on to play college football at Moorpark College for the Moorpark College Raiders before playing at Utah.

This article is about the former running back. For the defensive end, see Jamaal Anderson.

Jamal Anderson
refer to caption
Anderson in August 2007
No. 32
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1972-09-30) September 30, 1972
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:237 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school:El Camino Real (Los Angeles, California)
College:Utah
NFL Draft:1994 / Round: 7 / Pick: 201
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:5,336
Average:4.0
Touchdowns:34
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Anderson earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1998, leading the NFC in rushing and helping the Falcons to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII. He suffered a career-ending knee injury in 2001 while finishing his eight-year career with 41 touchdowns and nearly 7,000 yards of offense.

Professional career

Atlanta Falcons

Anderson played eight seasons with the Falcons, amassing 5,336 rushing yards, 156 receptions for 1,645 yards, and 41 touchdowns before he suffered what became a career-ending tear of his ACL in 2001.

He was well known for his "Dirty Bird" touchdown celebration, in which he flapped his arms as if they were wings and rhythmically bouncing side to side. The dance has been widely copied; in a press conference Anderson stated, “people break out and do the Dirty Bird in the strangest places.”[3]

NFL statistics

Rushing Stats[4]

YearTeamGamesCarriesYardsYards per CarryLongest CarryTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1994ATL32-1-0.500000
1995ATL16391614.11311000
1996ATL162321,0554.53254633
1997ATL162901,0023.53975431
1998ATL164101,8464.548149052
1999ATL219593.1200100
2000ATL162821,0243.64265364
2001ATL3551903.5141811
Career881,3295,3364.048342621811

Receiving Stats[4]

YearTeamGamesReceptionsYardsYards per ReceptionLongest ReceptionsTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1995ATL1644210.5170200
1996ATL16494739.73411911
1997ATL16292849.84731511
1998ATL162731911.82721300
1999ATL223417.0320100
2000ATL16423829.15501400
2001ATL3311137.0941100
Career881561,64510.59476522

Sports broadcasting career

Anderson appeared as an analyst on ESPN/ABC, often promoting his alma mater the University of Utah, and the Mountain West Conference. He is a big proponent of the BCS non-AQ conference schools gaining more access to the same opportunities as BCS AQ conference schools.

From mid-August to late-October 2009, Anderson appeared as a regular phone-in guest on "Morency" on Hardcore Sports Radio (HSR) to recap/discuss the week that was and the week that was coming up in the NFL with Gabriel Morency and Cam Stewart. After two-week period from late-October to early-November 2009, where HSR dropped Morency (the person and the show) from their programming line-up, Anderson returned as a regular weekly guest again on HSR's replacement show "Red Heat" hosted by Cam Stewart.

In October 2010, Anderson began appearing as an analyst for CNN Newsroom, providing insight on current NFL issues as well as news and highlights from the major sports leagues.

Personal life

Anderson was arrested in February 2009 on suspicion of cocaine possession. Atlanta police said that Anderson and another man were snorting cocaine off the toilet bowl in the restroom of the Peachtree Tavern nightclub.[5]

Anderson was arrested for DUI on June 24, 2012. He was arrested in DeKalb county, just northeast of Atlanta.[6]

Anderson was banned from a QuikTrip store in Suwanee, Georgia on December 14, 2016 after allegedly exposing himself and appearing intoxicated. He was not arrested, but was issued a warning for criminal trespass, effectively a warning that he will be arrested if he returns to that QuikTrip location.[7]

Anderson was arrested on December 23, 2018, after refusing to pay his limo driver $50. He was arrested by Gwinnett County Police where he was released on $213 bail. The limo driver did not press charges. Anderson was intoxicated.[8][9]

He resides in Braselton, Georgia.

His son, Jamal, is a linebacker for the Clemson Tigers.[10]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jamal Anderson.
  1. "1994 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  2. CIF Football 1989.PDF
  3. Kamb, Susie (January 26, 1998). "Jamal leaves a lasting image". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  4. "Jamal Anderson Stats". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  5. "Police: Ex-Falcon was snorting cocaine off toilet bowl". WSBTV.com. February 9, 2009. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  6. Feed, AP. "Former Atlanta Falcons RB Jamal Anderson charged with DUI".
  7. Burns, Steve. "Former Falcons star Jamal Anderson banned from QuikTrip in Gwinnett". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  8. Gwinnett Daily Post, December 26, 2018, pg 2A
  9. "Lawrenceville police arrest ex-Atlanta Falcon Jamal Anderson for public drunkenness".
  10. "Jamal Anderson, Mill Creek, Linebacker".
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