TTM Stats
- Sent: 11/8/2021 | Received: 12/22/2021 | 44 Days
- ’79 Topps, ’80 Topps
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Rick Upchurch is a former wide receiver in the NFL. He played from 1975 to 1983 and spent his whole career with the Denver Broncos.
Upchurch is a native of Ohio. He went to Centerville Community College in Iowa before getting to the University of Minnesota. Witht he Golden Gophers he ran for 1,783 yars and caught a few ball for 242 yards, score 18 total touchdowns. He was drafted by the Broncos with a fourth round pick in the 1975 NFL Draft.
He was a wide receiver but really excelled at returning kicks. In 1975 he return 40 kicks for 1,084 yards, amazingly though he didn’t get any touchdowns with all those yards. He added 312 yards in punt returns, 436 yards in receiving yards and topped it off with 97 yards rushing. H was named to the All-Rookie team.
The following year he made his first Pro Bowl (of four he would have for his career) and he made his first First-Team All-Pro selection. He would have three of those and add two Second-Team All-Pro selections to that in his career. In 1976 he led the league in punt return touchdowns with four and in 1977 he led the league in punt return yards with 653.
He helped the Broncos to their first ever Super Bowl appearance but they would lose to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII. He did have a kickoff return for 67 yards for the Broncos only score, it was a record at the time. He would later earn a spot on the NFL 70’s and 80’s All-Decade teams, the Broncos 50th Anniversary team and he is on the Broncos Ring of Fame.
After retiring he coached some college and high school football. He once dated former Secretary of State Condolezza Rice.
The Score on Rick Upchurch – 6.5
Rick has a pretty standard signature, but I love this return so much. That 1980 Topps card is one of the cards that I have burned in my brain from my collection. There’s always a few cards that come up a lot and you remember them specifically and that’s one of mine. This return definitely made me smile with nostalgia.
Thanks Mr. Upchurch! I’m giving this return a 6.5.
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Pro Football Reference.