Todd Lyght

Todd Lyght
No. 41, 24
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1969-02-09) February 9, 1969
Place of birth: Kwajalein, Marshall Islands
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
College: Notre Dame
NFL Draft: 1991 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions: 37
INT yards: 462
Touchdowns: 4
Player stats at NFL.com

Todd William Lyght (born February 9, 1969) is a former professional American football player and current defensive backs coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Lyght played in the NFL for 12 seasons from 1991 to 2002, finishing with 37 interceptions and 4 touchdowns. His best year as a pro came during the 1999 season with the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams, with whom he intercepted six passes for 112 yards and one touchdown and was named to the 1999 All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams.[1]

Early years

Born in Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, Lyght attended Powers Catholic High School in Flint, Michigan where he lettered twice as a wide receiver and defensive back. As a senior, he served as a team captain and caught 38 passes for 877 yards with nine touchdowns, and also intercepted 19 passes.[1] Lyght also lettered three times in track and field.

College career

Lyght played collegiate football for the University of Notre Dame, where he was a two-time consensus All-American (1989 and 1990).[2] He was a three-year starter at cornerback and was voted as a team captain his senior season.

He had more playing time in 1987 than any other freshman, making 29 tackles, causing one fumble, breaking up two passes and making one interception. Lyght was named a starter for his sophomore season, and led team in tackles in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl win over West Virginia. That victory capped an undefeated season for Notre Dame, leading to a #1 ranking in both the AP and coach's polls. As a result, the 1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was named the consensus national champion.

As a junior in 1989 he intercepted eight passes (two shy of school record) and registered 47 total tackles (27 solo). He ranked eighth in final NCAA standings in 1989 for interceptions and was a finalist for 1989 Jim Thorpe Award. Lyght finished his college career with 161 tackles; caused one fumble; broke up 20.5 passes; had 11 interceptions for 55 return yards and one TD.[2] He also played in 1991 Hula Bowl.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Lyght was considered to be among the top players available in the 1991 NFL Draft. He measured 6-foot and 185-pounds and ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash in pre-draft workouts, and was considered by some[3] to be the best athlete available. Rams defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher had Lyght rated as the top defensive player in the draft.[3]

Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams

Lyght was a first-round pick, fifth overall, of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1991 NFL Draft. He was the second cornerback drafted, following third overall pick Bruce Pickens. On August 16, 1991, after a training camp holdout, Lyght signed a five-year $5.6 million deal that made him the second-highest paid player on the Rams.[4] As a rookie in 1991, Lyght started the last eight games of the season at left cornerback after battling several early-season injuries. In 1992 he missed four games after dislocating his shoulder versus Miami On September 20. He was named the NFC Defensive Player of Week after posting nine tackles and two interceptions against the New England Patriots on September 13. In 1993, Lyght tied for team lead with two interceptions but suffered a knee injury in pregame drills on November 21 and was subsequently placed on injured reserve.

In 1994 he made most of first injury-free season; was fourth on team with 84 tackles (72 solo) and led team with 14 passes defensed. He scored the Rams first touchdown of season with 74-yard fumble return against the Arizona Cardinals on September 4. In 1995 the Rams moved to St. Louis, where he started 16 games at left cornerback and finished second on the team with a then-career-high of four interceptions.

On April 14, 1996, Lyght signed a new five-year $10.5 million contract with $4 million guaranteed in bonus and salary. That season Lyght established career-highs in tackles (105), interceptions (5) and pass breakups (19) and added 10 special teams tackles. In 1997 he started all 16 games at cornerback and participated on special teams; he finished third on team in tackles with 107 and second in passes defensed with 23, along with four interceptions, one sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The next season, 1998, he again started all 16 games at left corner and played on special teams finishing fifth on team in tackles with 87, first in pass defensed with 20, along with three interceptions, 1½ sacks, and three forced fumbles.

In 1999 Lyght earned his first Pro Bowl selection was as a first-team All-Pro as well. He recorded 65 tackles and had 6 interceptions, 2½ sacks, 15 passes defenses and one forced fumble.[1] He scored his fourth career touchdown on a 57-yard interception return versus the Carolina Panthers on November 14, 1999. He also recorded 22 tackles, had one interception and deflected 5 passes in the playoffs as the Rams went on to win Super Bowl XXXIV. He also blocked a field goal attempt in the Super Bowl.

Detroit Lions

On April 12, 2001, Lyght signed a two-year $2.5 million contract with the Detroit Lions.[5] He had a fine season with the Lions in 2001, starting 16 games and making 59 tackles and intercepting four passes, one he returned for a touchdown. In 2002 he played in 16 games and started 14, making 99 tackles and picking off two passes. On December 29, 2002, Lyght set an NFL record for being the oldest player to return a blocked field goal for a touchdown (33 years, 323 days). It was the sixth defensive touchdown in Lyght's career (along with four touchdowns off of interceptions and one from a fumble recovery).

Lyght retired from the NFL following the 2002 season.[6]

Statistics

Year Team Games Combined Tackles Tackles Assisted Tackles Sacks Forced Fumbles Fumble Recoveries Fumble Return Yards Interceptions Interception Return Yards Yards per Interception Return Longest Interception Return Interceptions Returned for Touchdown Passes Defended
1991 LOS 12 0 0 0 0.0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
1992 LOS 12 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 3 80 27 39 0 0
1993 LOS 9 43 40 3 0.0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 9
1994 LOS 16 85 73 12 0.0 0 1 0 1 14 14 14 0 13
1995 STL 16 81 71 10 0.0 1 0 0 4 34 9 29 1 11
1996 STL 16 82 69 13 0.0 0 0 0 5 43 9 25 1 19
1997 STL 16 85 72 13 1.0 2 2 0 4 25 6 13 0 16
1998 STL 16 66 53 13 1.5 2 0 0 3 30 10 17 0 11
1999 STL 16 65 53 12 2.5 1 0 0 6 112 19 57 1 13
2000 STL 14 53 47 6 1.0 1 0 0 2 21 11 21 0 8
2001 DET 16 59 53 6 0.0 0 1 0 4 72 18 59 1 9
2002 DET 16 99 84 15 0.0 0 0 0 2 31 16 31 0 17
Career 175 718 615 103 6.0 7 6 0 37 462 12 59 4 126

[7]

Coaching career

Lyght began a career in coaching in 2009, following several years of working in private business and as a football analyst on radio. His first position was as an assistant football coach at Bishop Gorman High School in Summerlin, Nevada. While on staff, the team won back-to-back state championships in 2009 and 2010.

In 2011, Lyght joined the staff at the University of Oregon as a defensive intern under head coach Chip Kelly. Lyght was initially contacted about the open position by Ducks defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti, who happened to be an assistant coach with the Rams during Lyght's playing days.[8]

Lyght was named assistant defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL in 2013.[9] The hiring reunited him with Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, who had departed Oregon for the Eagles following the 2012 season.

Following the 2014 season, Lyght was hired by Vanderbilt to be their cornerbacks coach.[10]

In February 2015, Lyght was hired by the University of Notre Dame to replace Kerry Cooks as defensive backs coach.[11]

Personal

Lyght established a series of scholarships at St. Mary's Elementary (Alexandria, Va.), Powers Catholic High School, and the University of Notre Dame.[12] In 1995, he donated $50,000 to the United Negro College Fund as part of NFL's Golden Circle.[1]

Lyght and his wife Stefanie have two children, son Logan and daughter Luca.

References

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