Eric David Hicks (born June 17, 1976) is a former American football defensive end. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 1998. He played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

at Maryland. Hicks was also a member of the

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The J ...

and the

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...

Early years

Hicks attended

Mercyhurst Preparatory School Mercyhurst Preparatory School, commonly called Mercyhurst Prep or MPS, is a Catholic, coeducational secondary school located in Erie, Pennsylvania. In the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, the school is located behind Mercyhurst University on East ...

in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1994 after transferring there before his sophomore year. As a senior, he posted 6.0 sacks, and 68 tackles. He was also named First-team All-Metro. In 2006, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award.

College career

Hicks attended the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in

criminology Criminology (from Latin , "accusation", and Ancient Greek , ''-logia'', from λόγος ''logos'' meaning: "word, reason") is the study of crime and deviant behaviour. Criminology is an interdisciplinary field in both the behavioural and so ...

and criminal justice, where he finished his career with 9.5 sacks, 147 tackles (26 for losses), three forced

fumble A fumble in gridiron football occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled), scoring, or going out of bounds. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful ...

s, two fumble recoveries, and three

pass deflections In American football, a pass deflected, also known as a pass deflection, a pass defended, a pass , a pass knockdown, or a pass breakup, is an incomplete pass that is caused by a defensive player. This is done by slapping or blocking the ball with ...

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

Hicks was an undrafted free agent in 1998 when he made the Kansas City Chiefs opening day roster, the only rookie free agent to make the club’s opening day roster that year. He started 90 of the 96 games he has played in. He ranks fifth in franchise history with 40.5 career sacks. He recorded a career high 14.0 sacks in just 11 starts during the 2000 campaign, becoming just the fourth Kansas City Chiefs player to ever reach the 14.0-sack mark. He accumulated four tackles (three solo) in his lone postseason start in 2003. Hicks saw a decline in production in 2006, as he only registered two solo tackles and five assisted tackles in 16 games. He signed to a six-year contract in 2004 but became a salary cap casualty before the 2007 season and was cut in May 2007.

New York Jets

Hicks was signed by the

for the 2007 season, appearing in 11 games while recording 17 tackles and no sacks. On December 18, 2007, he was released by the Jets.

Detroit Lions

After spending the 2008 season out of football, Hicks was signed by the

on May 4, 2009. He was released on July 30, 2009.

Personal life

Hicks was born to Cheryl Vaughn and Augustas Hicks. He has two sisters and two brothers.

Head coaching record

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hicks, Eric 1976 births Living people American football defensive ends Avila Eagles football coaches Detroit Lions players Kansas City Chiefs players Lamar Cardinals football coaches Maryland Terrapins football players New York Jets players Players of American football from Erie, Pennsylvania