Tony Richardson - #49 - FB - Auburn - Profile

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS    

■ Earned third career Pro Bowl berth as FB in 2007 for MIN, following PB appearances in 2003-04 with KC.

■ Named AP All-Pro second-teamer in 2004, '07.

■ Named to USA Today's All-Joe Team in 2000, '01.

■ Named Sports Illustrated All-Pro in 1999, 2000.

■ Served as Chiefs' special teams captain in 1998.

■ Has blocked for 1,000-yard rusher six times since 2001 (Priest Holmes 3, Larry Johnson, Chester Taylor, Adrian Peterson).

■ Cleared path for Pro Bowl rushers Peterson (2007), Johnson (2005) and Holmes (2001-03).

■ Blocked for Johnson’s KC-record 1,750 rushing yards in 2005 and helped Holmes establish then-NFL-record 27 rushing TDs in 2003.

SEASON BY SEASON

2007 (MIN) Made third Pro Bowl appearance and start and had 11-yard reception in AFC's 42-30 loss. ... Helped Peterson set NFL record with 296 rushing yards in Week 9 vs. SD. ... Opened holes for Peterson's 224-yard rushing game in Week 6 victory at CHI.

2006 (MIN) Opened holes for Taylor to run for career-best 169 yards and rip off 95-yard TD run — longest play from scrimmage in Vikings history — in Week 7 at SEA. ... Had season-long 25-yard catch-and-run in Week 4 at BUF.

2005 (KC) Had season-long 22-yard reception in 37-3 triumph vs. CIN in season finale. ... Had two catches for 8 yards, including 6-yard TD that was his first scoring reception in three seasons, in Week 9 win vs. OAK.

2004 (KC) Earned second consecutive Pro Bowl start and had three carries for 6 yards and two catches for 7 yards in AFC's 38-27 loss. ... Had season-high six rushes (for 29 yards) and caught three passes as part of Chiefs offensive attack that set NFL record with eight rushing TDs in 56-10 Week 7 romp vs. ATL.

2003 (KC) Gained first Pro Bowl berth and start and gained 8 yards on three carries in AFC's 55-52 loss. ... Made first postseason NFL start and had 10-yard reception in AFC Divisional Game loss to IND. ... Paved way for Holmes to rush for three TDs three times — Week 16 at MIN, Week 15 vs. DET, Week 8 vs. BUF and Week 2 vs. PIT — en route to then-league-record 27 rushing TDs.

2002 (KC) Chipped in 3-yard TD run in 49-0 Week 13 rout vs. ARZ. ... Scored on 4-yard pass from Trent Green late in game to seal 20-10 Week 8 win vs. OAK. ... Bolted for 14-yard TD run in Week 7 vs. DEN.

2001 (KC) Scored game-winning TD on 1-yard run in 20-17 comeback in Week 15 vs. SD. ... Had career-high two rushing TDs, including 1-yard plunge for game-winning points with 1:28 left in 25-20 Week 8 triumph at SD. ... Hauled in career-long 47-yard reception and rushed for 3-yard TD in season-opening loss vs. OAK.

2000 (KC) Had career highs with 156 rushing yards and 23 carries with 28-yard TD and career-long 33-yard run in Week 16 win vs. DEN. ... Had career highs with eight receptions and 81 receiving yards in Week 11 at SF and matched receptions with eight catches for 56 yards four weeks later vs. CAR. ... Made first NFL start at HB in season opener vs. IND.

1999 (KC) Started 16th game in season for first time in career and ran for 70 yards in season finale vs. OAK. ... Had season-high 80 rushing yards and 96 YFS in Week 13 victory at DEN ... Had season highs of five receptions and 37 receiving yards in Week 12 at OAK.

1998 (KC) Picked up blocked punt and returned it 10 yards in Week 15 vs. DAL. ... Scored on 2-yard run and had three ST tackles and FF in Week 9 loss at Jets. ... Had first rushing TD of pro career on 1-yard run in Week 3 win vs. SD.

1997 (KC) Blocked for Marcus Allen on his final NFL rushing TD, 123rd of Hall of Fame career, in Week 17 vs. NO. ... Caught third TD pass of season, from 2 yards out, in Week 15 vs. OAK. ... Scored on 3-yard pass in Week 4 at CAR. ... His 1-yard TD reception put KC ahead to stay in Week 3 victory vs. BUF.

1996 (KC) Logged career-best four ST tackles in Week 4 win vs. DEN. ... Scored first NFL touchdown on first pro reception, 1-yarder, in Week 2 victory vs. OAK.

1995 (KC) Paved way for Allen's 100th career rushing TD in Week 8 at DEN. ... Made first NFL start Week 7 vs. NE. ... Made pro debut and had two carries for 3 yards in season opener at SEA.

1994 (DAL) Spent season on Cowboys' practice squad, practicing daily with likes of FB Daryl "Moose" Johnston, QB Troy Aikman and RB Emmitt Smith.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

■ Signed by Jets as unrestricted FA (MIN) 3/6/08.

■ Placed by MIN on IR 11/22/06.

■ Signed by MIN as unrestricted FA (KC) 3/21/06.

■ Re-signed by KC 3/15/04.

■ Placed by KC on IR 12/17/02.

■ Re-signed by KC 1/22/00.

■ Re-signed by KC 7/16/97.

■ Signed by KC as FA 2/28/95.

■ Signed by DAL to practice squad 8/30/94.

■ Waived by DAL 8/28/04.

■ Signed by DAL as undrafted FA 5/2/94.

BEFORE THE NFL

■ Racked up 162 carries for 715 yards and nine TDs during four seasons at Auburn.

■ Grabbed 44 passes for 395 yards and two TDs as senior.

■ Three-sport standout at Daleville HS in Alabama in football, basketball and track.

OFF THE FIELD

■ Selected by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to six-member Players' Advisory Committee in spring 2007, joining Donovin Darius, Jeff Saturday, Takeo Spikes, James Thrash and Troy Vincent.

■ Serves on NFLPA executive committee.

■ His "Dictionary Project” donated over 45,000 dictionaries to elementary school students in Kansas City area and was also active in Minneapolis.

■ Attended Wharton School of Business in 2008.

■ Continued to be active in NFL Entrepreneurship program, taking part in classes at Northwestern’s Kellogg School in 2007, his third year in the program after previously studying at Stanford and Harvard.

■ Named Pro Football Weekly’s Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian of the Year in 2003 and was voted NFL Good Guy in 2002, 2003 and 2004 by The Sporting News based on civic responsibility and character.

■ Chosen by teammates at Chiefs’ NFL Man of the Year nominee and NFLPA’s Byron “Whizzer” White Award nominee.

■ Born in Germany while his father, Sgt. Major Ben Richardson, was stationed there with U.S. Army.

■ Moved to the States permanently in seventh grade while father remained in Germany until his senior year in high school.

■ Sister, Shonn, is Staff Sergeant in U.S. Army.

■ After 2005 Pro Bowl, toured tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka as part of week-long relief effort.

■ Sponsors Rich In Spirit Foundation, which benefits Special Olympics and Athletes in Action.

■ Took advantage of opportunities presented through NFL Player Programs system to earn bachelor’s degree in education from Auburn in 2000 and MBA from Webster University in 2004.

■ Honored with 2005 Distinguished Citizen Award from National Conference for Community and Justice, dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism.

■ Annually hosted the Special Olympics Punt, Pass and Kick competition in Kansas City from 1999-2005.

■ Has an Italian Mastiff named Imani.