Tommy Maddox: From UCLA to Super Bowl Champion
Thomas Alfred Maddox, born on September 2, 1971, is a former American professional football quarterback whose career spanned nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL), most notably with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His journey is a testament to resilience and determination, marked by early struggles, a resurgence in alternative leagues, and ultimately, a Super Bowl victory.
Early Years and UCLA Career
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Maddox graduated from L. D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, in 1989, where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. In 1990, Maddox enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), after a standout high school career at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, where he was regarded as one of the nation's top prep quarterbacks.
Maddox played two seasons (1990-1991) of college football as quarterback at UCLA. In 1990, Maddox emerged as the starting quarterback three games into the season, taking over for Jim Bonds after UCLA's early 1-2 start. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in all 11 games, completing 182 of 327 (55.7%) of his passes for 2,682 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. UCLA went 5-6 in 1990. Maddox added 148 rushing yards and two scores. His performance earned him first-team Freshman All-American honors and helped stabilize the Bruins' offense during a transitional 5-6 season.
The following season, Maddox led UCLA to a 9-3 record and the 1991 John Hancock Bowl title with a 209-for-343 (60.9%) completion rate for 2,681 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Maddox solidified his role in 1991, starting all 11 regular-season games and leading UCLA to a 9-3 record. He completed 192 of 315 passes for 2,505 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, while rushing for two scores despite a net negative of 33 yards on the ground. His efforts were recognized with first-team All-American honors, and he became the first quarterback in Pac-10 history to surpass 5,000 career passing yards by the end of his sophomore season. Over his two seasons as UCLA's primary starter, Maddox compiled a 14-9 regular-season record, demonstrating notable personal and athletic growth from a raw recruit to a polished leader capable of managing high-stakes games.
In his two years with UCLA, Maddox became the first Pac-10 player to pass 5,000 yards by sophomore year.
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NFL Draft and Early Career Struggles
Maddox decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter The NFL draft and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round as the 25th overall pick in the 1992 NFL draft. His selection by the Broncos did not sit well with Elway since the Broncos had greater needs at several other positions, which Elway felt should have been addressed with their first pick instead of using it on Maddox. Maddox was drafted with The 25th overall pick in The 1992 NFL Draft, and was expected to be the heir to John Elway. However, Elway understood that Maddox had no control over the Broncos selection and was always professional in dealing with him, doing what he could to incorporate Maddox into the Broncos system. Maddox was expected to succeed John Elway as starting quarterback. Unfortunately for Maddox, Elway shined in the later parts of his career and continued starting until his retirement in 1998. As a rookie, Maddox served under coach Dan Reeves. Maddox took his first snaps during the Week 6 (October 6) game against the Washington Redskins, completing 2-of-8 passes for 10 yards and one interception in the 34-3 loss. Under coach Wade Phillips, Maddox played all games in 1993 as the placekicker's holder.
On August 27, 1994, the Los Angeles Rams traded a fourth-round 1995 NFL draft pick to the Broncos and acquired Maddox, as the salary cap forced the Broncos to trade him. Initially, Maddox was the Rams' third-string quarterback behind Chris Miller and Chris Chandler. With the Rams in 1994, Maddox played in five games as placekick holder and played as quarterback in two of those games. In an 8-5 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Week 5 (October 2), Maddox was 7-for-15 in completed passes for 86 yards and 2 interceptions. In Week 12 (November 20), Maddox completed 3 out of 4 passes for one 55-yard drive to set up a field goal. This drive included a career-long 39-yard pass to Todd Kinchen. The Rams finished the 1994 season 4-12 and would move to St.
Three days after the St. Louis Rams released him, Maddox signed as a free agent with the New York Giants on August 30, 1995, playing again under coach Dan Reeves. Maddox served as Dave Brown's backup and played all 16 games as the placekick holder. In three games, Maddox replaced Brown as quarterback. Maddox replaced an injured Brown in the second half of the Week 7 (October 15) game against the Philadelphia Eagles. In the Giants' 24-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first exhibition game of 1996, Maddox played during the second half. In that game, Maddox fumbled his first snap from the line of scrimmage, and the Jaguars recovered that fumble. Maddox started the second exhibition game of 1996, but the Giants lost that game 37-27 to the expansion Baltimore Ravens. Maddox again joined coach Dan Reeves, this time with the Atlanta Falcons. However, Maddox was released after training camp on August 18, 1997. In an August 16 preseason game against Washington, Maddox threw for 35 yards, completing 4-of-11 passes.
His first four seasons with the Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants saw limited playing time and minimal success, resulting in him being out of the NFL by 1997. Maddox stepped away from the game, and sold insurance before joining The Arena League in 2000.
Resurgence in Alternative Leagues
On November 17 of that year, Maddox became an insurance agent with Allstate based in Dallas. In 1999, NFL Films did a feature on Maddox. While in Dallas, Maddox continued practicing football regularly and was a volunteer coach for his alma mater L. D. After being out of the NFL from 1996 to 2000, Maddox revitalized his career in alternative leagues. Maddox attended L.D. Bell High School at Hurst, Texas in 1990, and committed to play football at UCLA.
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In 2000, he played for the New Jersey Red Dogs in the Arena Football League, passing for 3,800 yards and 64 touchdowns in a single season. Tommy Maddox appeared in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the New Jersey Red Dogs during the 2000 season, where he served as the starting quarterback over 14 games. The following year, he joined the XFL's Los Angeles Xtreme. When the XFL was looking for players in 2001, the eight teams were allowed to choose players based on proximity. Even though The Los Angeles Xtreme drafted Maryland QB Scott Milanovich with the first overall pick, The Xtreme added Maddox based on his UCLA experience. Maddox won the starting job in camp and became the most prolific passer in XFL history.
Maddox became the starting quarterback for the XFL team Los Angeles Xtreme during the first week of the season, despite the team using its first pick in the XFL draft on quarterback Scott Milanovich. Maddox made an impact in his time in the XFL. He was the only quarterback of the league to start all 10 regular season games, led the league in passing yards, touchdowns, rushed for two touchdowns, and led the Xtreme to the Million Dollar Game, also known as the "Big Game At The End." The Xtreme finished the regular season 7-3, and won their two playoff games to be crowned the first and only XFL Champion. He was the only Quarterback to start all 10 regular season games, and led The XFL in passing yards and touchdowns. He was named league MVP after leading the team to a 7-3 record and the XFL championship, which they won, throwing for 2,186 yards, 18 touchdowns, and earning an 83.1 passer rating while starting all 10 games. In the XFL's inaugural 2001 season, he led the Los Angeles Xtreme as quarterback across 10 regular-season games plus the championship, earning league MVP honors and contributing to the team's title win. Due to abysmal ratings, The NBC canceled the XFL just after one season.
Return to the NFL with the Steelers
Maddox was without a team, but was coming off the best 10-game stretch of his football career. After the XFL folded, Maddox called every team to try to get a training camp invitation. He accepted a tryout with The Pittsburgh Steelers, and signed in 2001 as a backup to Kordell Stewart. Maddox signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2001 as backup to Kordell Stewart. His performance prompted the Steelers to sign him in 2001 as a backup, where he appeared in three games.
His first game action was in Week 7 (October 29) in a 34-7 win over the Tennessee Titans, in which Maddox completed one 57-yard pass to Troy Edwards. In 2002, during his eighth season as Steelers quarterback, Stewart was benched in favor of Maddox. In Week 4, Maddox replaced Kordell Stewart at quarterback and led a come from behind win against the Cleveland Browns. With 2:02 left in regulation, Maddox ended a seven-play, 84-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress to tie the game. Steelers coach Bill Cowher officially named Maddox the starter on October 2, 2002.
Maddox started his first NFL game since 1992 against the New Orleans Saints, which was a 32-29 loss. He went 22-for-38 passing, Maddox threw for 268 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He was sacked four times for 24 yards and lost a fumble. In Week 6 (October 13), Maddox won in his third start with the Steelers in a 34-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers played a Monday Night Football game on Week 7 with a 28-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Peyton Manning. Maddox passed 25-for-33 for 305 yards, three touchdowns and led the Steelers to touchdowns for the team's first three drives. In Week 10 (November 10), the Steelers tied against the Atlanta Falcons, 34-34, the first tied NFL game since 1997. Maddox passed for 473 yards on 28-for-41 passing with four touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked once for three yards and rushed twice for seven yards. On the final play of overtime, Maddox completed a 50-yard pass to Plaxico Burress as time expired that ultimately came up one yard short of what would have been the game-winning touchdown. Maddox left the Week 11 (November 17) game, a 31-23 loss to the Tennessee Titans, in an ambulance after being tripped by Lance Schulters. Kordell Stewart played the following game in Week 12 (November 24), a 29-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, while Maddox recovered from his injuries. Coach Bill Cowher chose to start Stewart the following game. Pittsburgh would win that Week 13 (December 1) game over the Jacksonville Jaguars 25-23. Maddox returned as starter in Week 14 (December 8), but the Steelers lost to the expansion team Houston Texans 24-6 as Maddox went down with six sacks and lost a fumble and had 30-for-57 passes for 325 yards and ended the game with a 55.1 quarterback rating.
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With 13 starts, Maddox led the Steelers into the playoffs as an aerial circus-type passing attack, with a 10-5-1 record in 2002. For the season, Maddox completed 234-of-377 passes (62.1%) for 2,836 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He was sacked 26 times for 148 yards, rushed 19 times for 43 yards, and committed eight fumbles (with three lost fumbles). He went 7-3-1 during that 2002 season, and was named the starter moving forward.
Losing the Starting Role and Super Bowl XL
His time at the top didn’t last long. Maddox went 6-10 in his only full season as an NFL starter, and didn’t inspire confidence in Steelers management. “When I left the facility that Friday they told me that they were probably going to draft an offensive linemen,” Maddox said in an interview last 2016. They didn’t.
Maddox led the Steelers to a Week 1 (September 7) 34-15 victory in Heinz Field over rival Baltimore Ravens and rookie quarterback Kyle Boller. With a 134.3 passer rating, Maddox completed 21-for-29 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Hines Ward caught two of the touchdowns and Jay Riemersma caught the other one. Although Maddox passed for 336 yards the following game in a Week 2 (September 14) 41-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Maddox regressed statistically, with 28-for-47 passing, one touchdown, three interceptions, four sacks, and a 62.0 rating. In Week 3 (September 21), the Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals at home, 17-10. On 21-of-34 passing, Maddox passed for 240 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Late in the second quarter, Maddox successfully completed a trick play called "Bengal", in which on field goal formation (fourth-and-three at the 50), Maddox took the snap on his knee and passed to Jerame Tuman, who advanced 23 yards to the Bengals' nine yard line. This trick play would lead to a touchdown and Steelers 7-0 edge at halftime. With 5:54 left in the fourth quarter, the Steelers ran down the clock the point where Maddox took a knee to seal the victory. Afterwards, the Steelers would lose five in a row and fall to 2-6 for the first half of the season. The five-game losing streak included a 33-13 loss in Week 5 (October 5) to rival Cleveland Browns, the team that Pittsburgh eliminated from the previous season's playoffs. On 11-of-24 passing for 136 yards and a 29.2 passer rating, Maddox threw two interceptions and lost one fumble; Cleveland cornerback Daylon McCutcheon returned one interception 75 yards for a touchdown. At Mile High Stadium on Week 6 (October 12), Pittsburgh lost 17-14 to the Denver Broncos.
In the first round of the 2004 NFL draft, the Steelers drafted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as the 11th overall pick. Maddox started the first two games of 2004: a Week 1 (September 12) victory over the Oakland Raiders, 24-21, and a Week 2 (September 19) 30-13, loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Against Oakland, Maddox was 13-of-22 (59.1%) in passing for 142 yards. Maddox started three games in 2004, but was supplanted by Roethlisberger. Maddox left the game against Baltimore with an elbow sprain in the third quarter, and Roethlisberger took over as quarterback. Roethlisberger was named the new starting quarterback as Maddox would be sidelined until November. As starter, Roethlisberger would lead Pittsburgh to a franchise-record 13-game winning streak but would go down with a rib injury during the Week 16 (December 26) 20-7 win over Baltimore, the game that marked the 13th straight win. (Baltimore defensive end Terrell Suggs caused both injuries to Maddox and Roethlisberger that forced them to leave their games against the Ravens.) Maddox played during the fourth quarter. In the game, Maddox completed one pass to Verron Haynes for no gain, and the Steelers relied mostly on running plays by Haynes, Jerome Bettis, and Hines Ward.
In October 2005, Maddox returned as starter after Roethlisberger suffered a knee injury. In Week 6 (October 16), the Steelers lost Maddox's first start of the season to the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17 as Maddox completed only 11 of 28 passes for 154 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions. In a press conference following the loss, coach Bill Cowher stated he regretted not substituting third-stringer Charlie Batch for Maddox and not having Jerome Bettis in for more running plays. Cowher would demote Maddox to third string behind Batch. Maddox's next game would be in Week 10 (November 13), a 34-21 victory over the Cleveland Browns, in which Maddox completed 4 of 7 passes for 22 yards. As Roethlisberger was undergoing knee surgery, Maddox would next start on Week 11 (November 20) against the Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh lost to Baltimore 16-13 in overtime, and Maddox was 19-for-36 for 230 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and a lost fumble. He filled in briefly in 2005, and won a Super Bowl ring as Roethlisberger led the team to a SBXL win over The Seahawks. The following offseason The Steelers released Maddox, and his NFL career seemed to be over.
Later Career and Coaching
In September 2006, Maddox tried out for The Oakland Raiders. Maddox signed a contract with The Philadelphia Soul of The Arena Football League but was waived in November 2006. With no further opportunities materializing, Maddox effectively retired from professional football at the end of 2006, at age 35.
Maddox was the assistant coach of The Grapevine High School Baseball Team that won The 5A Texas UIL State Championship in 2016 and was runner up in 2017 and an assistant coach for The Grapevine High School Football Team until 2017.
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