Player Profile

PRO: After playing under new Cowboys Head Coach Bill Parcells for three seasons with the N.Y. Jets (1997-99), Richie Anderson chose to re-join his former coach in Dallas as an unrestricted free agent. Anderson is a veteran fullback who has the ability to make plays blocking, carrying the ball or catching passes out of the backfield. He finished his 10-year career with the Jets tied for ninth in club annals with 305 career catches, making him the most prolific pass catching running back in Jets history. He also averaged 3.8 yards-per-carry (191 rushes for 722 yards) during his stint in New York. His blocking helped lead Curtis Martin to 6,562 rushing yards and 44 touchdowns over the past five seasons - the most rushing yards of any NFL running back over that time span. Also during Anderson's 10 years in New York, the Jets had a running back eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark seven times (Martin - 5, Adrian Murrell - 2). Anderson's blocking skills and his ability to make plays out of the backfield will provide Dallas with a quality third down back who has the ability to step in and play every down as the team's blocking fullback.

2002: Anderson finished his 10th season fourth on the Jets with 45 catches for 257 yards and a touchdown, and he carried the ball five times for 27 yards. While starting all 16 regular season games for the fourth consecutive year, he keyed the running game with his blocking, helping lead running back Martin to 1,094 rushing yards and a 4.2 yards-per-carry average. Anderson kicked off the season by catching three passes for 19 yards at Buffalo (9/8) and five passes for 28 yards against New England (9/15). He caught another four passes for 28 yards at Miami (9/22). He added a 16-yard carry against Kansas City (10/6) as part of a 147-yard rushing day by the Jets. Against the Chiefs, New York averaged 5.4 yards on 27 carries. After posting a two catch for seven yard performance against Minnesota (10/20) and a three catch for 16 yards effort against Cleveland (10/27), Anderson caught a season- and team-high seven passes for 56 yards at San Diego (11/3). His blocking against the Chargers helped the Jets rush for 165 yards on 30 carries (5.5 avg.). After catching two passes against Miami (11/10), he put a string of one catch games together at Detroit (11/17), against Buffalo (11/24), at Oakland (12/2) and against Denver (12/8). Anderson helped New York rush for a season-high 189 yards on 39 carries (4.8 avg.) in the Lions contest and 155 yards on 37 carries (4.2 avg.) in the Bills game. He began a late season push by catching three passes for 23 yards at Chicago (12/15), making him the Jets all-time leading receptions leader among running backs. He also led the way for the Jets to rush for 134 yards on 24 carries (5.6 avg.) against the Bears. The next week at New England (12/22), he tied for the team lead with five receptions for 34 yards. He closed the regular season against Green Bay (12/29) by hauling in two passes for nine yards and a score while helping New York rush for 129 yards on 29 carries (4.4 avg.). He then kicked off the Jets postseason by totaling 66 yards on two receptions - including a career-long 56-yard scoring catch-and-run on a screen pass - against Indianapolis (1/4/03). In the Jets loss at Oakland (1/12/03), he caught two passes for 20 yards while carrying the ball twice for eight yards.

2001: Anderson started all 16 regular season games for the third consecutive season and finished fourth on the team in receptions (40) and fifth in receiving yards (252) with two receiving touchdowns while adding 102 rushing yards on 26 carries. His work as a blocker helped running back Martin rush for a club-record 1,513 yards and finish second in the NFL in rushing (Priest Holmes, 1,555). Anderson opened the season against Indianapolis (9/9) by tying for the team lead with six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown while carrying the ball twice for 21 yards. His blocking helped the Jets total 135 rushing yards on 29 carries against the Colts. He followed the performance with a two catch for 10 yards and three carries for five yards game at New England (9/23). At Buffalo (10/7), he caught two passes for nine yards and a touchdown while picking up eight yards on his only carry of the day. The following week against Miami (10/14), Anderson led the way as Martin rushed for 120 yards and a score on 22 carries. Anderson also rushed once for five yards and caught a 10-yard pass against the Dolphins. Anderson then caught four passes for 34 yards and rushed twice for 13 yards against St. Louis (10/21). He posted another four reception day (12 yards) at Carolina (10/28) while adding 12 rushing yards on two carries. He caught three passes for 42 yards - including a season-long 22-yarder - against Kansas City (11/11) while carrying the ball twice for 10 yards and paving the way for Martin's 113-rushing yard, three touchdown performance. He picked up 21 yards on five catches and 10 yards on two carries at Indianapolis (12/23). In an AFC Wild Card Playoff Game at Oakland (1/12/02), Anderson was second on the team with six catches for 33 yards and a touchdown in the Jets 38-24 loss.

2000: In earning his first Pro Bowl appearance as the AFC's starting fullback, Anderson led the Jets with a team- and career-high 88 catches for 853 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 63 yards on 27 carries. His blocking helped spring Martin to 1,204 rushing yards. Anderson's performance also earned him All-Pro honors from College and Pro Football Newsweekly, Football Digest and USA Today. He opened the season with three receptions for 41 yards at Green Bay (9/3). In a Week Two Monday night match-up against New England (9/11), he led the team with six catches for 88 yards, including five grabs in the fourth quarter as New York erased a 19-7 deficit to win 20-19. Anderson then contributed four catches for 29 yards against Buffalo (9/17) and six catches for 39 yards at Tampa Bay (9/24). After catching four passes for 34 yards and rushing three times for 10 yards at New England (10/15), he recorded a career-high while leading the team with 12 receptions for 109 yards against Miami (10/23). Seven of his catches against the Dolphins came in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Jets fought back from a 30-13 deficit to defeat Miami 40-37. The following week at Buffalo (10/29), he totaled 24 yards on six receptions. He posted his longest rushing attempt of the season with a nine-yard carry against Denver (11/5). In the Jets rematch at Miami (11/19), he caught five passes for 53 yards before recording six receptions for 69 yards and his first touchdown of the season against Chicago (11/26). While catching five passes for 75 yards and rushing four times for nine yards against Indianapolis (12/3), Anderson helped lead the way for Martin to rush for a team-record 203 yards on 30 carries. In his 100th career game, Anderson caught a team-high eight passes for 103 yards at Oakland (12/10). He caught five passes for 22 yards against Detroit (12/17) before closing the season with 11 catches for a career-high 139 yards and a score at Baltimore (12/24).

1999: Playing in the F-back position (fullback/tight end hybrid), Anderson finished fourth on the team in receptions (29) and receiving yards (302) while adding three touchdowns. He also rushed for 84 yards on 16 carries while helping lead the way for Martin to rush for a then club-record 1,464 yards with six 100-yard rushing days. Anderson kicked off the year by catching a 27-yard touchdown pass and gaining 16 yards on his only carry of the day against New England (9/12). After catching three passes for 40 yards at Buffalo (9/19), he caught a team- and season-high five passes for 71 yards against Washington (9/26). He totaled four receptions for 14 yards against Jacksonville (10/11) and an eight-yard catch to go with 21 rushing yards on four carries at New England (11/15). Against Buffalo (11/21), Anderson caught two passes for 21 yards - including a 20-yarder that pushed him over the 1,000-career receiving yard mark - then recorded two receptions for 13 yards and two rushes for 12 yards at Indianapolis (11/28). He closed out the season by rushing twice for 15 yards at Miami (12/27) and catching three passes for 43 yards - including a season-long 29-yarder - against Seattle (1/2/00).

1998: Anderson totaled three catches for 12 yards and a two-yard carry while seeing extensive special teams duty in the eight games in which he played. He also contributed two special teams tackles. He saw action at fullback at Miami (12/13), springing Martin on a nine-yard touchdown run in the Jets 21-16 victory. He started at fullback in the regular season finale against New England (12/27) for the injured Keith Byars and helped Martin rush for his team-record eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season. After seeing special teams action in New York's divisional playoff win over Jacksonville (1/10/00), he did not play in the AFC Championship Game at Denver (1/17/00).

1997: Anderson saw action in all 16 games, starting six, and finished with 70 rushing yards on 21 carries and 150 receiving yards and a touchdown on 26 receptions. He opened the season at Seattle (8/31) by helping Murrell rush for 136 yards on 24 carries (5.7 avg.). Anderson posted a season-high four receptions for 37 yards against Oakland (9/21). He made his first start of the season at Cincinnati (9/28) and scored his only touchdown of the year on a seven-yard pass from Neil O'Donnell in the fourth quarter. He finished with a season-high tying four catches for 28 yards while leading the way for Murrell to rush for a season-high 156 yards. Anderson rushed for a season-high 28 yards on four carries at Miami (11/9).

1996: Anderson posted the best statistical year of his young career when he caught 44 passes for 385 yards and carried the ball 47 times for 150 yards while starting every game at fullback. His 385 receiving yards were the most by a Jets fullback since Clark Gaines totaled 469 receiving yards in 1977. Anderson's work as a blocker was instrumental in Adrian Murrell gaining 1,249 rushing yards on the season. Anderson carried the ball a season-high seven times for 38 yards and caught three passes for 24 yards at Jacksonville (10/13). Against New England (11/10), he recorded 85 receiving yards - including a career-long 48-yard catch.

1995: Playing in only 10 games, Anderson registered five carries for 17 yards and five receptions for 26 yards. He saw limited action throughout the season on special teams and at fullback. He missed the game against New England (11/5) with the flu, then missed the game against Seattle (11/26) with a high ankle sprain on his right leg suffered during the week. He missed the final four games of the season after being placed on Reserve/Injured with the ankle injury.

1994: Despite seeing action in only 13 games as a reserve (four starts), Anderson finished second on the team with 207 rushing yards and a touchdown on 43 carries and fifth with 25 receptions for 212 yards and a touchdown. He totaled four plays of 20 yards or more during the season. He scored his first professional touchdown on a one-yard jaunt in the season opener at Buffalo (9/4). He started his first career game at fullback for an injured Brad Baxter against Denver (9/11) and caught three passes for 22 yards. He scored on a 27-yard reception at Miami (9/18) before suffering a compound dislocation of his finger against Chicago (9/25) that forced him to miss the next three games. He then gained 35 yards on seven rushes in his only start at running back - for an injured Johnny Johnson - against Buffalo (11/6). The next week at Green Bay (11/13), Anderson ran for a career-high 74 yards on seven carries, including a 55-yarder that set up a field goal. He then rushed for 29 yards on four carries at New England (12/4). Anderson started at fullback against San Diego (12/18) and led the team with 23 rushing yards on six carries and seven receptions for 64 yards. He closed the season as the starting fullback at Houston (12/24) and rushed four times for 29 yards.

1993: Anderson played in seven games as a rookie and finished sixth on the team with six special teams tackles while returning four kickoffs for 66 yards. He saw his first professional action against Philadelphia (10/3) on special teams. He recorded his longest kickoff return - a 22-yarder - against Miami (11/7) before posting a season-high two special teams stops at Indianapolis (11/14). He missed Weeks 11-15 with an ankle sprain before being placed on Reserve/Injured prior to the season finale at Houston (1/2/94). He was originally a six round (144th overall) selection of the Jets in the NFL Draft.

COLLEGE: Anderson finished his Nittany Lions career with 1,756 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on 363 carries and 353 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 37 receptions. He finished second in the nation as a senior with 116 points and 19 touchdowns. He finished his final collegiate campaign with 195 carries for 900 yards and 18 touchdowns while also catching 16 passes for 98 yards and a score. He gained 1,256 all-purpose yards as a junior while leading the team in rushing with 779 yards and one score on 152 carries while catching 21 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown and returning nine kickoffs for 222 yards (24.7 avg.). He redshirted as a sophomore in 1990 after playing mostly as a reserve tailback and returner on special teams as a freshman. He finished his initial campaign with 16 carries for 77 yards while returning seven kickoffs for 156 yards (22.3 avg.).

PERSONAL: Anderson was a consensus All-America selection and was named Maryland Player of the Year by USA Today as a senior at Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring, Md. He rushed for more than 3,500 yards and 40 touchdowns while averaging 8.0 yards-per-carry during his final two prep campaigns. The exercise and sport science major also earned honors in basketball and track. Anderson was named the winner of the Jets' NFLPA Byron "Whizzer" White Award for 2000, recognizing the Unsung Hero Award. He has two sons, Richie Anderson II and Reginald.