Ricky Watters

Biography

Born April 7, 1969, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Richard James Watters attended Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, where he played quarterback, wore number twelve, and earned four letters in football. He arrived at the University of Notre Dame in 1987 as a highly touted member of head coach Lou Holtz's second recruiting class. Initially backing up running back Mark Green and occasionally returning kickoffs, Watters helped the Fighting Irish to an 8-4 record and Cotton Bowl appearance. Following the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, Holtz moved Watters to flanker for the 1988 season, where he led the team in receiving and returned two punts for touchdowns. Despite being suspended before the annual USC game for disciplinary reasons, Notre Dame won convincingly, and Watters contributed to the Fighting Irish's 34-21 Fiesta Bowl victory over West Virginia to secure the school's eleventh national championship. In 1989, Watters moved back to tailback and finished second on the team in rushing behind quarterback Tony Rice as Notre Dame finished ranked second nationally after defeating top-ranked Colorado in the Orange Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers selected Watters in the second round, forty-fifth overall, in the 1991 NFL Draft, though he sat out his entire rookie season due to injuries. Strengths included outstanding receiving skills that made him dangerous as both a runner and pass-catcher, a unique high-stepping running style that earned him the nickname "Ricky Running Watters" from ESPN's Chris Berman, and exceptional versatility that allowed him to line up at multiple positions.' During the 1994 NFC Divisional Round against the New York Giants, Watters set an NFL postseason record with five rushing touchdowns in San Francisco's 44-3 victory. His thirty points scored established a new record for most points by one player in a postseason game that still stands. In Super Bowl XXIX, Watters scored three touchdowns in the 49ers' 49-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers, tying a Super Bowl mark. After signing with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent in 1995, he led the league in yards from scrimmage in 1996. Watters joined the Seattle Seahawks in 1998, playing until his retirement in 2001. Watters finished his career with 10,643 rushing yards, 4,248 receiving yards, and ninety-one total touchdowns. He remains one of only two NFL running backs to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season for three different teams. He earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1992 to 1996. Currently a motivational speaker for adopted children, he is also president and CEO of Tigero Entertainment.