Eddie George was announced as the 22nd head football coach at Tennessee State University on April 13, 2021.

 

"I am excited about being named head coach at Tennessee State University," said George. “All I have done has prepared me for this moment, whether that's my football career, my entrepreneurial endeavors, my acting career. Coaching is a full commitment, a duty of service. I take that seriously. I've done a lot of soul searching and due diligence. The more I thought about it, I got more and more excited about it. It was like picking up an old guitar or getting back on a bike, it's familiar but in a different capacity. It's exciting. I'm going to be innovative, creative and fun." 

 

George played college football for Ohio State University and won the Heisman in 1995. That season, George rushed for a school record 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns, an average of 148.23 yards per game, while also catching 47 passes for 417 yards and another score. He left Ohio State second in school history in career rushing yards (3,768) and third in rushing touchdowns (44). The Philadelphia native finished with 4,284 all-purpose yards, 45 touchdowns, and a 5.5 yards-per-carry average. 

 

In 1996, George was the first-round draft selection of the then-Houston Oilers. He won the NFL Rookie of the Year award that season and was the Oilers/Titans' starting tailback through 2003, never missing a start. He made the Pro Bowl four consecutive years (1997–2000) and assisted the Titans to a championship appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV. 

 

George is only the second NFL running back to rush for 10,000 yards while never missing a start, joining Jim Brown. Only Walter Payton (170) started more consecutive regular season games than George's 130. 

 

In 2004, George signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys where he started eight games and finished the season with 432 yards and four touchdowns. He officially retired in 2006. 

 

George's career totals include 10,441 rushing yards, 268 receptions, 2,227 receiving yards, and 78 touchdowns (68 rushing and 10 receiving).

 

George was inducted in the College Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. A native of Philadelphia, George graduated from Ohio State in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture. He later earned an MBA from Northwestern in 2009.

 

He is married to Tamara “Taj” George and they have two sons, Eriq and Jaire.