Wilbert Montgomery
Wilbert Montgomery
As we prepare for the NFL Playoffs, we remember as the Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month a running back that enjoyed a tremendous playoff run to lead his team to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance.
Though only 5-foot-10, Wilbert Montgomery was a workhorse running back during his career playing primarily for the Philadelphia Eagles.
A sixth round choice in the 1977 NFL Draft out of Abilene Christian University, Montgomery saw action primarily as a kick returner during his rookie year, but he gained 103 yards as the Eagles defeated the New York Jets 27-0 in the final game of the regular season.
That performance proved to be the prelude to a great streak for both Montgomery and the Eagles.
In 1978 Montgomery moved into the starting lineup and earned his first Pro Bowl trip by rushing for 1,220 yards with an average of 4.7 yards per attempt. The Eagles posted a 9-7 record and reached the playoffs for the first time in 18 years.
The following season, the Eagles finished with an 11-5 record and Montgomery was one of the best running backs in the league. He rushed for a career-high 1,512 yards to rank fourth in the NFL. He also caught 41 passes for 494 yards and led the NFL with 2,006 yards from scrimmage.
Injuries hampered Montgomery during the 1980 regular season as he played in only 12 games and rushed for 778 yards while catching 50 passes. Even with Montgomery missing significant action, the Eagles finished with a 12-4 record to win the NFC East Division and the top seed in the NFC Playoffs.
By the time the playoffs came along, Montgomery was healthy and ready to help the Eagles advance through the playoffs. He rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns in an opening round victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
In the NFC Championship Game, he rushed for a record 194 yards as the Eagles defeated the Dallas Cowboys 20-7 to advance to their first Super Bowl. Montgomery opened the scoring with a 42-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and also had a 55-yard run in the game.
The Eagles lost the Super Bowl to the Oakland Raiders, but Montgomery had 44 yards rushing and 91 yards receiving in the game.
Montgomery registered the third 1,000-yard season of his career in 1981 as he gained 1,402 yards rushing. He also caught 49 passes for 521 yards. The Eagles finished with a 10-6 record to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season. However, they lost to the New York Giants in their only playoff game.
In the strike-shortened 1982 season, Montgomery rushed for 515 yards, but the Eagles finished with a 3-6 record to miss the playoffs.
After injuries limited him to only five games in 1983, Montgomery rebounded in 1984 to rush for 789 yards and catch a career-high 60 passes for 501 yards.
Montgomery finished his career with the Detroit Lions in 1985.
For his career, Montgomery gained 6,789 yards rushing, which ranked 14th in NFL history at the time of his retirement. He also caught 273 passes for 2,502 yards and scored 58 career touchdowns.
Interestingly, Wilbert was one of four brothers to play college or professional football. The most notable of the brothers was Cleo, who played six years in the NFL and earned a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1984.
Since his retirement, Montgomery has developed into a successful NFL assistant coach. He was the running back coach for the St. Louis Rams during their championship run in the late 1990s. He is currently the running back coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
Each month you can help decide which former sports great is recognized as the Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month by nominating your favorite athletes from the past. If you would like one of your favorites of the past to be honored as the Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month, please send me you nomination by e-mail.
A Look at Montgomery’s Touchdown Run Against the Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game:
Wilbert Montgomery needs to be inducted in the NFL Hall Of Fame!!!
Thats my dad……and i also agree that he should be inducted into the hall of fame
Absolutely, Brendan! I knew your dad in at Abilene Christian. He was the greatest running back ever there.
Wilbert Montgomery is my favorite running back,and I agree he should be inducted into the hall of fame.I feel your dad was the first running back who not only ran well,also was a great receiver.
You have a great dad Brendan. A great football player and even greater person.
His sponsor family lived next to us at Abilene Christian. I remember him and he took my sister and I for ice-cream! I think I still have a picture somewhere. I thought I was pretty cool getting to meet him! Great Memories! It is great to know he has done so well!
Your Dad played with the heart of a lion! much respect!
Absolutely" Go Wilbert!
If you’re still on the fence: grab your cleets and get to the track and start running a 8 minute miel down to a 56 minute mile in a period of just 3 weeks and which makes you’ll smile more knowing oyu are healthy and losing weight. Then you’ll know what is best for you.
I remember that well. I'll even forgive him for being a baltimore coach now 😉
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I seen this on Nathan and Stephanie Sloop should get death Penalty’In discussion’s called Open Letter to Stephanie Sloop’:-(
I PLAYED LIL LEAGUE WITH WILBERT AND WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST PLAYER TO THRU. I ALSO RACED HIM IN THE STREETS. VERY QUICK . A WELL BLESSED MAN. COLEMAN TIGERS
Wilbert without a doubt belongs in the nfl hall of fame! He is not only the most underrated RB in nfl History in my opinion he is the greatest Rb in Nfl History. The problem was all the injuries from his tough running style for a small back playing on that terrible Veterans stadium astro turf. No back in history has a better average per carry as compared to his Running back mates as does Wilbert he played on a so so run blocking line at best and for his last 3 seasons a horrible line,If Wilbert would of played for a tam like Miami his career average per carry would of been over 5.0 in a time when the average was 4.0.
When i say at the end of my comment the average was 4.0 i'm talkin about the nfl average prer carry from 1977-through 1984( Wilberts years with the eagles)the nfl average was just a nick under and rounded out to4.0 average per carry. Wilbert was also the eagles best reciever as said by Dick Vermeil, and had one of the best set on hands in the league. No doubt the best all around back if not the best period.
I remember his brother Cleo was my old coach in Brownwood,Texas. He is best coach and player but Wilbert is best halfback and should be become hall of fame. I am so happy both of them successful their future. God bless them.
my favorite when the browns were so so,better thanGreg Pruitt and also Dorsett to me because he fumbled less and caught passes better
Utterly composed content material, Really enjoyed examining.
Wisconsin boy who loved to watch Wilbert hit the hole and smash em good!he was one of my fav rb.hope he is healthy and hope he lives a long time.wilbert thank you for the great football sir. hof yes lets start a poll.god bless him and his family.chris from Milwaukee.
Wilbert Montgomery had two of the best years as a running back in NFL history. If I recall in the 1979 run up to the Super Bowl, he, personally, was responsible for like 60% of the teams all purpose yards ( he ran the ball on offense, caught the ball from RB position, returned punts, returned kickoffs…hell I think he threw the ball for a completion. I think his career was shortened by the beating he took that year. I always put him in the same category as Water Payton…heart, heart, and more heart. You just don't see players like that anymore. One of my all time favorites!!!!!