Players

  Darren Sproles is no longer one of the best-kept secrets in the NFL. Relegated mostly to special teams his first three seasons, Sproles showed the league what he could do when called upon to fill in for an injured LaDainian Tomlinson in 2008.

  Not that Sproles minds playing special teams. He ranked eighth in the NFL in both kickoff and punt returns in 2008 and was one of only two NFL players to rank in the Top 10 in both categories. His return efforts included a franchise-record-tying 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Week 2 at Denver. But when Michael Turner moved on to Atlanta as a free agent in March 2008, the door opened for Sproles to take the reins as Tomlinson’s backup. Sproles was solid as a runner in the regular season, but really shined in the playoffs when Tomlinson was sidelined with a groin injury. His 22-yard touchdown run in overtime in the Bolts’ AFC Wild Card Playoff win over the Indianapolis Colts sent the Chargers to the divisional round for the second-consecutive season and marked the second year in a row that he played a big role in ending Indianapolis’ season. Sproles ended up finishing this past year’s playoff contest with 328 all-purpose yards, the second-most in a postseason game in team history (including AFL), and third-most in NFL playoff history. A week later in the Divisional Playoffs at Pittsburgh, he accounted for another 274 all-purpose yards, giving him a two-game postseason NFL record total of 602 yards.

  Sproles was ticketed to become an unrestricted free agent in 2009, however the Chargers opted to protect themselves by designating him as the team’s franchise player.

  Sproles’ rise to prominence is even sweeter because there was a time when some thought the NFL career of the former Kansas State product was in jeopardy. After a stellar rookie year in 2005, Sproles broke his ankle in the first preseason game of 2006. It was an injury that caused him to miss the entire season. Despite the naysayers, Sproles fought his way back and regained his job as the Chargers’ top return man. He performed so well in 2007 that he was named as a second alternate to the AFC Pro Bowl squad. Sproles finished that season ranked fifth in the NFL in kickoff return average (27.2 ypr) and seventh in punt return average (9.5). His breakout game, however, came in yet another meeting with the Colts on a rainy night in San Diego. That night, Sproles electrified a national-television audience on NBC’s Sunday Night Football by returning a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns to help lead the Bolts to a 23-21 win over the defending Super Bowl Champions. He became only the ninth player in NFL history to return a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the same game. At the end of that 2007 campaign, his teammates honored him with the Ed Block Courage Award in recognition of the way that he battled back from injury.

  In addition to rehabbing the ankle, Sproles devoted himself to improving his game during his year-long absence from the field. Following his rookie season, Sproles spent the offseason with a member of the Chargers’ equipment staff feeding him punts through the team’s JUGS machine. Sproles would spend as many as four days a week on the field and estimates that he fielded close to 2,000 punts. Since then, he’s become one of the NFL’s most consistent at fielding punts.

  Coming out of Kansas State, Sproles was one of the most prolific runners and all-purpose performers in college football history. He set nearly every school record imaginable - 23 in all -  and he is regarded by many as the best player in the 110-year history of Kansas State football.  Sproles plays the game with a heavy heart and an angel on his shoulder. On April 25, 2004, he lost one of his greatest supporters when his mom, Annette, died at the age of 41 after a five-year battle with cancer. To honor their late mother, Darren and his brother, Terence, wear charms that read “RIP Mom.”

  The loss of his mother is one reason that Sproles is an active participant in the San Diego community. Last November he hosted a “Thanksgiving with Darren Sproles” dinner for patients and their families at San Diego’s Rady Children’s Hospital.

  Sproles further honored his mother when he bypassed potential NFL riches following his junior season and returned to Kansas State to complete his degree in criminal justice. In college, school officials arranged for him to work with a speech pathologist because he was uncomfortable and stuttered during interviews. He also spoke with basketball great and San Diego native Bill Walton, who had a stuttering problem many years ago and is now an NBA analyst. Sproles lends his name and support to the Stuttering Foundation of America.

  Sproles recently got engaged and will soon be married to Michel Hunt.

  Darren’s nickname is “Tank,” which came from his family because he weighed 10 pounds at birth. The first time Tank picked up a football in a game at the age of 9, he ran 80 yards for a touchdown in a Pop Warner game.

  Darren still maintains close ties to Gene Wier, his former high school coach at Olathe North High School. During the summers while he was in college, Darren would return to his alma mater to volunteer at football camps and lift weights with the players. Darren has said that he would like to coach high school football after his playing career comes to an end.

  TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fourth-round choice (130), April 24, 2005…signed four-year contract, July 26, 2005...signed one-year contract, April 28, 2009.

 2009: Finished week 1 vs Oakland with 246 all-purpose yards and scored a winning 5-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left in the game. Received game ball from coach Norv Turner. Started in week in place of RB LaDainian Tomlinson and had 124 yards receiving and finished the day with 278 all-purpose yards including an 81 yard touchdown pass play. It was the ninth best all-purpose yardage day in team history. Week 6 on Monday Night Football, became the team's all-time leader in career combined punt and kickoff return yards (5,262), passing the legendary Leslie "Speedy" Duncan, who racked up 5,037 yards from 1964-70. This 77-yard touchdown return was the third in his career. 58-yard touchdown reception from Philip Rivers during week 7 win over the Chiefs. Selected as one of the 50th greatest Chargers in team history for special teams in week 12. Ignited a game-opening touchdown drive with a 45-yard kickoff return on the first play of the game in week 15 vs. the Bengals. It was his longest return since September 20. Had a career-high three touchdowns against the Tennessee Titans during week 16 contest. Recorded one receiving touchdown and two rushing touchdowns on the night.

  2008: Pro Bowl second-alternate…Chargers Special Teams POY…AFC ST POM and Chargers Alumni ST POM for September…Special Teamer of Week by USA Today’s Jarrett Bell after 317 total yards Wk 2 at Denver to become only 23rd NFL player since 1970 to record more than 300 combined net yards in non-OT game...scored on team-record-tying 103-yard kickoff return (Keith Lincoln vs. New York Titans, Sept. 16, 1962) and 66-yard catch…total was seventh-highest in NFL history and third-highest in team history...set up GW FG with 67-yard KOR late in 4Q Sept. 28 at Oakland…career-high two rec. TDs vs. Oakland Dec. 4 (eight and 18 yards)…helped ice win in TB Dec. 21 with 32-yard TD rec. for 34-24 lead in mid-4Q...TD preceded by season-long 43-yard PR…221 total yards vs. Buccaneers to run season total to 2,053…season-high 115 yards rushing with two TDs (rush and rec.) in 52-21 win over Denver to clinch AFC West…SI.com Offensive POW after winning Jan. 5 AFC Wild Card Playoff game vs. Indy with 22-yard TD run on first drive of OT…was second rush TD of game for new playoff high and also tied team playoff record…played majority of game in place of injured Tomlinson (groin) and recorded second-consecutive 100-yard game and first in playoffs…328 all purpose yards vs. Colts was second-most in team postseason history (AFL included) and third-most in NFL playoff game (KC’s Ed Podolak, 350 in 1971 OT playoff game vs. Miami and Chargers’ Keith Lincoln, 329 in Jan. 5, 1964 AFL Championship Game vs. Boston)…biggest play of night was perhaps 13-yard catch-and-run on third-and-11 in OT to sustain GW drive...also set up game-tying FG drive in very late 4Q with 26-yard PR…team playoff-record 62-yard TD catch late in 4Q and accounted for 274 all-purpose yards in Jan. 11 AFC Divisional Playoffs at Pittsburgh…also made first-career start at RB in place of Tomlinson…274-yard game vs. Steelers following 328-yard effort vs. Indianapolis for two-game postseason total of 602 was new NFL two-game record (500, Minnesota’s Anthony Carter in 1987).

 2007: Pro Bowl second-alternate…Ed Block Courage Award after returning from broken ankle in 2006… ST POW by AFC and USA Today.com, and Pro Football Weekly’s NFL POW after KOR (89 yards) and PR (45) for TD Nov. 11 vs. Indianapolis on NBC’s SNF…both TDs in 1Q...team’s first KOR TD since 2004 and first PR TD since 2001…ninth player in NFL history to score on KOR and PR in same game…second player to do so in same quarter (Bobby Mitchell vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 23, 1958)…took over for Tomlinson in 3Q of Dec. 16 game vs. Detroit and rushed for team-high 122 yards and first two career rush TDs…combined with Tomlinson’s 116 yards and two TDs, marked first time in team history two running backs had 100 yards in same game and first time two RBs had at least 116 yards and two scores in same game since Tank Younger and Dan Towler of Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 24, 1954 vs. Chicago…was first time two Chargers running backs had two rush TDs each in same game since James Brooks and Chuck Muncie at Cleveland on Dec. 5, 1982…averaged career-best 46.7 yards per KOR at Oakland Dec. 30, setting up second-half FGs with returns of 61 and 54 yards…gave Chargers 21-17 lead over Indianapolis on final play of 3Q in AFC Divisional Playoffs at Indy with 56-yard TD catch and run on screen.

 2006: Spent season on “Reserve-Injured” after suffering broken ankle on PR during Aug. 12 preseason opener vs. GB.

 2005: Season-long 58-yard KOR in 4Q vs. NY Giants Sept. 25 led to TD and 42-23 lead…INA Week 6 at Oakland (ankle)…50-yard KOR set up FG for final points in 31-26 win over NY Jets Nov. 6.

 COLLEGE: KSU-record 48 total TDs and 45 rush TDs…North offensive MVP in ’05 Senior Bowl…KSU Offensive MVP 2003-04 and co-MVP in ’02…unanimous All-Big 12 in ’04…Big 12 POY by CFN in ’03 after leading nation with school-record 1,986 rush and 2,735 all-purpose yards…fifth in Heisman voting, third in AP POY voting and runner-up for Doak Walker Award in ’03…All-America by AP, SI and NFL Draft Report in ’03…first RB and 10th in KSU history named first-team All-America by AP…also unanimous first-team all-conference…Big 12 ST POW after KU game and Offensive POW after Missouri game in ’03… 323 scrimmage yards, including 60-yard TD catch in ’03 Big 12 Championship Game vs. top-ranked Oklahoma …second-team All-Big 12 in ’02…finished career at KSU with 4,979 rush yards, 80 rush TDs, 609 rec. yards, two TD catches, 846 KOR yards, 378 PR yards, one PR TD and 6,812 all-purpose yards…played at K-State from 2001-04…speech  pathology degree.

  PERSONAL: Born in Waterloo, Iowa…Kansas POY by USA Today and Kansas Hall of Fame POY as senior at Olathe North (Kan.) HS…Thomas A. Simone Trophy as top big-class FB player in KC metro area…KC Star POY in ’99 and ’00…two-time all-state, all-metro and All-Sunflower League…as senior, led Olathe North to fourth Kansas 6A state title in five years…rushed for 5,230 yards and 79 touchdowns during prep career.