Tom Waddle

Not to be confused with Tom Waddell.
Tom Waddle
No. 87
Position: Wide Receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: (1967-02-20) February 20, 1967
Place of birth: Cincinnati, Ohio
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
College: Boston College
Undrafted: 1989
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • All Madden Team (1991)
  • Chicago Bears Leading Receiver (1991, 1992)
Career NFL statistics
Touchdowns: 9
Receiving yards: 2,109
Receptions: 173
Player stats at PFR

Gregory Thomas Waddle (born February 20, 1967) is a former American football player in the NFL. Waddle is currently a co-host of "Waddle and Silvy" on ESPN 1000, and a football analyst for WLS-TV in Chicago.[1] He also appears on Pro Football Weekly and NFL Network. He spent his entire six-year career with the Chicago Bears. He attended Boston College.

College career

Waddle was an outstanding receiver for the Boston College Eagles. He is currently third all-time in career receptions with 139, and amassed 1,956 yards and 6 touchdowns for BC. Waddle finished his collegiate career first on the school’s all-time list for receptions in a season with 70 in 1988, and is tied for first in all-time receptions in a single game with 13 against Notre Dame in 1988. Waddle's precise routes and excellent hands made him a standout receiver at the college level, earning him the honor of first-team All-East selection in 1988 and an appearance in the Japan Bowl. His achievements at BC resulted in his induction into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.[2] He also played alongside Doug Flutie's younger brother, Darren Flutie. Many people think that Waddle caught the famous "Hail Flutie" pass, but that ball was caught by Gerard Phelan. Waddle wore the same number as Phelan, and his relationship with the younger Flutie has added to this confusion.

Professional career

In 1989, the Chicago Bears signed Waddle as an undrafted free agent. During his first two years with the Bears, he struggled to make an impact as a receiver. Waddle lacked the size and speed to distinguish himself from other Bears wide receivers and remained on the lower rungs of the team's depth chart. He received a chance to start in 1991 after the Bears lost starters due to injuries. In a nationally televised Monday night game against the Jets, he made eight catches for 102 yards in an overtime win.[3] In Chicago's wild card playoff loss to Dallas (17-13), Waddle was the Bears' sole standout performer on the offensive side of the ball, catching nine passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. His performance established him as a mainstay in the Bears lineup and clinched him a spot on the famed All-Madden Team.[4][5]

In 1992, Waddle began the season as a starting wide receiver and became a fan favorite. In the opener against the Detroit Lions, he caught a last second game-winning touchdown pass from Jim Harbaugh. Later in a week 4 victory over the Falcons, he managed to outrun Deion Sanders into the endzone for a score. Waddle missed the final four games of the season because of injury.

After finishing the 1992 season with a record 5-11, coach Mike Ditka was fired and Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt was brought in to replace him.[4] After leading the Bears in receiving yards and receptions in 1993,[6] Wannstedt demoted Waddle in favor of faster receivers.[7] Later that year, he suffered a concussion and a partially torn knee ligament from an illegal hit by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Thomas Everett.[8] The following off-season, the Bears offered Waddle a choice between a guaranteed contract at the league minimum salary, and a more lucrative deal that would be dissolved if he were cut. He instead attended the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp, but elected to retire, as he felt that his lingering leg injuries no longer allowed him to compete at the professional level.[7]

Broadcasting career

Waddle in 2012.

Television

After retiring from football, Waddle began working on WFLD FOX 32 as the host of weekend football-oriented programs. Waddle covered previews and post-game shows for Bears games. During this time, he also began to work as a weekend and fill-in sports anchor. He later worked with Corey McPherrin to host and the Chicago Bears Gameday Live, Fox Kickoff Sunday and The Final Word.[9]

Waddle's joined WLS ABC 7 in August 2013 after his contract expired with WFLD.[1] Waddle is a regular contributor on the station's morning show, and continues to provide analysis on Bears-themed programming.[9]

Waddle also began working with the NFL Network in Los Angeles as a gameday analyst in 2007.[10] In 2013, he began working as a guest analyst for Colin Cowherd's "Colin's New Football Show.[11]

Radio

In 1997, Waddle began co-hosting Sports Central with David Kaplan weeknights. This partnership ended in 2007 with his move to WMVP ESPN Radio 1000.[9]

Waddle was paired with Marc "Silvy" Silverman and their show was expanded to four hours to include weekly an in-studio one-hour segments with WLS-TV sports anchor Mark Giangreco. During football season, Waddle and Silverman host "The Jay Cutler Show" on Mondays or Tuesdays following each Bears' game.[12]

On several occasions in 2008 and 2009, Waddle appeared as a fill-in host, alongside Mike Greenberg, on Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio. He and Silverman have also hosted The Scott Van Pelt Show.[9]

Other media

Waddle appears weekly during the football season on Pro Football Weekly. He writes a weekly article about the Bears for the Northwest Herald of McHenry County, Illinois.[13]

He is also a color commentator during CSN Chicago broadcasts of NIU Huskies Football and for a limited number of Chicago Rush games aired on the NFL Network.[14]

Personal life

Waddle lives in Lake Forest with his wife, Cara and 4 daughters. Waddle's wife Cara is the daughter of former Boston Patriots wide receiver and AFL Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti. His oldest daughter Georgia is a member of the Northwestern Wildcats soccer team.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Tom Waddle Joins WLS-TV". Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Tom Waddle '89". Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  3. ↑ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WaddTo00/gamelog//
  4. 1 2 "ITB: Waddle's record day". Chicago Bears. 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  5. ↑ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WaddTo00/gamelog//#stats_playoffs
  6. ↑ "1993 Bears season statistics". Pro-football reference.com. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  7. 1 2 "Tom Waddle, Bears WR 1989–1994".
  8. ↑ http://www.bearshistory.com/lore/tomwaddle.aspx
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Tom Waddle Joins WLS-TV As NFL Analyst". Chicagoland Radio and Media. 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
  10. ↑ Goldsborough, Bob (2013-07-15). "Retired Bear Tom Waddle lists Lake Forest home for nearly $4M". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
  11. ↑ Chozet, Tara (2014-09-02). "Colin's Football Show Opens Second Season with New Theme and Fresh Segments". ESPN. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
  12. ↑ "ESPN 1000 Announces New 'Jay Cutler Show'". Chicagoland Radio and Media. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  13. ↑ "Waddle: Bears should prevail, but it won't be easy". Northwest Herald. 2010-09-09. Retrieved 2015-02-28. Tom Waddle appears from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on the “Waddle and Silvy Show” on WMVP AM-1000. He writes a weekly column on the Bears for the Northwest Herald.
  14. ↑ "NIU FOOTBALL TEAM HEARS FROM NFL HALL-OF-FAMER RONNIE LOTT". Northern Illinois University. 2006-09-14. Retrieved 2015-02-28. Saturday's game will be carried on The Score and the remainder of the Huskie Radio Network, and will be televised by Comcast SportsNet with Dave Kaplan and Waddle providing the play-by-play and color analysis, respectively.
  15. ↑ http://www.nusports.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/waddle_georgia00.html
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