Glyn Milburn

articleissues
unreferenced=May 2008
wikify=May 2008
expand=May 2008Infobox NFLretired


position=RB / Return specialist
number=22, 33, 24
birthdate=birth date and age|1971|2|19
Los Angeles, California
debutyear=1993
finalyear=2005
draftyear=1993
draftround=2
draftpick=43
college=Stanford
teams=
* Denver Broncos (1993-1995)
* Detroit Lions (1996-1997)
* Chicago Bears (1998-2001)
* San Diego Chargers (2001)
stat1label=Return Touchdowns
stat1value=3
stat2label=PR yards
stat2value=2,984
stat3label=KR yards
stat3value=9,788
nfl=MIL038374
highlights=
* Pro Bowl (x2) (1995, 1999)
* All-Pro in 1995 and 1999
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Glyn Curt Milburn (born February 19, 1971) was an American football player. He is currently the General Manager and the Director of Player Personnel for the Austin Wranglers in the Arena Football League. He holds the National Football League record for Most All Purpose Yards Gained in a single Game with 404 on December 10, 1995.

High School

Milburn starred at California football powerhouse Santa Monica High School, where his coach [Tebb Kusserow] was quoted as saying that Milburn played little on offense as a junior because "we believe in our program that the team belongs to the seniors." So, although Milburn ran for a 64-yard touchdown on his first carry as a junior, he was a fill-in at tailback for Mark Jackson, a two-year starter and a Times All-Westside selection in 1986. What Milburn learned from [Mark Jackson] is a tribute to Kusserow's seniors-first philosophy. Of Jackson, Milburn said: "He would tell me, `Next year will be your year. You're going to have to do it because they're going to be inexperienced and you have to show them. If you want to win, you have to do it yourself.'

As an All-Ocean League cornerback and part-time running back as a junior, has rushed for 1,770 yards and scored 29 touchdowns in leading Santa Monica to a 7-0 record, the No. 2 spot in the Southern Conference poll and No. 6 in The Times' Southern Section rankings. Milburn was a prep all-America selection in football by SuperPrep and USA Today (second team)...Earned California 'Offensive Player of the Year' honors from the Los Angeles Times and 'Best of the West' recognition from the Long Beach Press Telegram...Set state prep records for rushing yards (2,718) and rushing touchdowns (38) as senior...Earned three letters in football (as a RB and CB) and track, plus one in basketball.

Opposing coaches eventually placed him in the same class as Crespi's Russell White, considered by many to be the best running back in the state in 1988. Milburn averaged 202.5 yards per game rushing, White 169. His game-by-game yardage totals are 241, 157, 282, 383-which broke a 19-year-old school record-256, 242 and 209. That's an average of 252.9 a game. The 1,770-yard total was 264 better than the No. 2 rusher in the Southern Section, Sean Cheatham of Garden Grove Rancho Alamitos, who has played eight games. Also, Milburn averaged 8.6 yards a carry, has scored five touchdowns three times and has not scored fewer than three in his games. Milburn shredding the CIF rushing records by setting a Southern Section record with 2,718 yards rushing in a season, surpassing the 2,620 by Ryan Knight of Riverside Rubidoux in 1983.

As a senior he led the "Samohi" (Santa Monica High School) Vikings to an 8-0 mark until the last game of the regular season when Hawthorne, led by junior quarterback and future USC wide receiver Curtis Conway an Ocean League rival of Santa Monica's, became one of the few teams to slow down Milburn and the only one to beat Santa Monica who fell to season record of 9-1. Milburn's final high school contest was against Santa Ana High in the CIF Southern Section Conference Quarterfinals losing 42-26 as Milburn hit Santa Ana for 251 yards in 30 carries, his ninth straight 200-yard game, and rushing touchdown No. 38, fourth best ever in the nation.

Recruiting Process

Glyn Milburn would have liked to get and education from Stanford and play football for Oklahoma. But in an effort to initially please his family the star running back from Santa Monica High School chose Oklahoma. While Glyn Milburn was at Oklahoma, he worried about the attention given to football players. He said that's one reason he transferred to Stanford, where football is not king.

"I like blending into the student body, not sticking out as a football player," Milburn told Bay Area reporters. "People here aren't concerned with what you do. They're more interested in you as a person." Milburn said football players were, "put on a pedestal and made to believe you're something that you're really not" at Oklahoma. Milburn transferred to Stanford as the academic lure of the school was too good to pass up.

College career

Three-year starter and letterman (1990-92) for Stanford after beginning collegiate career at Oklahoma (1988)...Totaled 25 touchdowns and 6,363 yards - 2,387 rushing, 1,512 receiving, 1,161 on punt returns and 1,303 on kickoff returns - between the two schools, including 6,049 at Stanford...Sat out redshirt season in 1989 following transfer.

As a senior, ran for career-high 851 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per carry, caught 37 passes for 405 yards and two TDs, returned 15 kickoffs for 316 yards and averaged 17.3 yards on punt returns (34 for 589 yards)...Garnered first-team All-America recognition from Associated Press...In 1992, became first player in Stanford history to return three punts for TDs in one season, just one shy of NCAA record, and left with school's career record for punt return touchdowns (four)...Second-team all-conference choice in 1991 after averaging 137.6 all-purpose yards per game...Set school mark with 2,222 all-purpose yards in 1990...Received honorable mention on all-America teams of AP, United Press International and Football News.

Also a member of track team in first two years at Stanford and earned B.A. degree in public policy.

NFL career

2000: Posted a season-high of 175 kickoff return yards on seven returns at Min (9/3), including a long of 34...Gave Bears great field position vs NO (10/8) by returning six kickoffs for 169 yards with a season-long of 38 yards and three punts for 33 yards with a season-long of 25...Recorded 80 return yards on three kickoffs with a long of 36 in win vs TB (11/19)...Totaled 135 return yards at NYJ (11/26) with 90 yards coming on three kickoff returns...Produced 100 return yards on four kickoffs in win vs NE (12/10)...Passed Dennis Gentry on Bears career kick-return yardage list with two returns for 42 yards at SF (12/17) giving him 4,357 over his Chicago career...Returned four kickoffs for 87 yards in season-finale at Det (12/24). Games played-started: 16-0.

1999: Garnered second career Pro Bowl bid, the first Bear to be honored since 1994...Named first-team all-Pro as a kick returner by Associated Press and Football Digest...Earned second-team honors from College & Pro Football Newsweekly...Selected to the Pro Football Weekly and Football News all-NFC Team and The Sporting News all-Pro Team as punt returner...Led Bears with 1,426 yards on 61 kickoff returns and 346 yards on 30 punt returns...Rated 2nd in NFC with 11.5 yard punt return average and 8th in NFC with 23.4 yard KOR average...Also ranked fourth on team with 102 rushing yards on 16 attempts and sixth with 20 receptions for 151 yards...Totaled 2,025 all-purpose yards, the second-highest total in the League...Joined Walter Payton and Gale Sayers as only Bears in team history to eclipse 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season...Recorded season-high 54-yard punt return vs Sea (9/19)...Compiled season-best 157 KOR yards (39.3 avg.) at Oak (9/26), including season-long 93-yard return...Equaled career-high with seven kickoff returns (130 yards) at Was (10/31) while catching six passes for 59 yards...Broke free for 49-yard touchdown run on draw play at GB (11/7), the longest rushing TD of career...Earned sole start of season in five-receiver set vs Min (11/14)...Returned five kickoffs for 144 yards (28.8 avg.) vs GB (12/5).

1998: Set four single-game career-highs including most punt return yards (106), long punt return (93), most kickoff return yards (202) and longest kickoff return (94)...Only kick returner in NFL to finish among Conference top five in both punt and kickoff returns...Ranked 4th in NFC (8th in NFL) in punt returns with 11.6 yard average...Finished 5th in NFC (10th in NFL) in kickoff returns with 25.0 yard average...Returned two kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns, career firsts for each...First Bear to return a kickoff and punt for a TD in the same season since Ike Hill (1973)...Voted Pro Bowl alternate as kick returner...Returned kickoff 88 yards for first career touchdown return in Season Opener vs Jax (9/6); finished afternoon with 197 yards on five kick returns...Returned two punts for 106 yards including 93-yarder for a touchdown, the first of his career, at TB (9/20)...Set up game-winning drive with 47-yard kickoff return in fourth quarter at Ten (10/25)...Returned six kickoffs for 202 yards including career-long 94-yard touchdown return at GB (12/13)...Season-high two rushes for three yards and two catches for 19 yards vs Balt (12/20)...Signed three-year contract extension during middle of season (11/2).

1997: Played in all 16 regular-season games with one start for Detroit...Began year as club's third receiver, but became solely a return man later in season...Named an alternate to NFC Pro Bowl squad as kick returner...Finished season with five receptions for 77 yards (15.4 avg.)...Ranked sixth in NFC in KOR, averaging 23.9 yards on 55 runbacks, while finishing 10th in the conference in punt returns (47 for 433 yards)...Caught season-long 43-yard pass in opener vs Atl (8/31)...Season-high two receptions vs TB (9/7)...Lone start of season came at NO (9/21) as Lions opened game with three receivers...Season-long 40-yard punt return at TB (10/12)...Season-high 189 KOR yards (on five attempts) vs Chi (11/27)...Returned five kickoffs for 140 yards (28.0 avg.) in Wild Card playoff loss at TB (12/28).

1996: Served primarily as kick returner while playing in all 16 games in first season with Detroit after being acquired in off-season trade...Set club single-season record for most kickoff return yards (1,627) and most kickoff returns (64)...Finished fourth in NFC (fifth in NFL) with 25.4-yard kickoff return average...Had longest punt return of season (33 yards) vs Atl (10/6), setting up Lions' first TD...Season-long 65-yard KOR vs NYG (10/27); also averaged season-high 35.8 yards per return in game...Compiled season-high 148 kickoff return yards on five runbacks (29.6 avg.) at SD (11/11)...Joined Lions in April 12 trade with Denver.

1995: Named to AFC Pro Bowl squad as kick return specialist in final season with Broncos...Saw action in all 16 games as a return man, wide receiver and tailback...Led NFL with 27-yard kickoff return average, returning 47 for 1,269 yards...Also averaged 11.4 yards on 31 punt returns, third in AFC and fifth in NFL...Along with the Redskins' Brian Mitchell, one of only two players to rank among top five in the NFL in both kickoff and punt return average...Named first-team all-Pro as kick returner by The Sporting News...Second-team all-Pro honors from Associated Press and College & Pro Football Newsweekly...All-AFC pick of Pro Football Weekly and Football News...Earned AFC 'Special Teams Player of the Week' honors for performance against SD (11/19), when he totaled 177 yards on four kickoff returns (44.3 avg.)...Opened game against Chargers with 86-yard kickoff return...Recorded 178 KOR yards (seven returns) at Hou (11/26)...Set NFL record with 404 total yards vs Sea (12/10) as he rushed career-high 18 times for career-best 131 yards (7.3 avg.), his only 100-yard rushing performance as a pro...Also caught five passes for 45 yards, returned five punts for season-high 95 yards and brought back five kicks for 133 yards (26.6 avg)...Accounted for 193 total yards at Phi (11/12), when he had five kickoff returns for 140 yards (28.0 avg.), caught four passes for 23 yards and rushed twice for 30 yards...Made only start of season at tailback at KC (12/17), replacing injured Terrell Davis, and totaled 114 all-purpose yards.

1994: Played in all 16 games with three starts...Compiled 1,818 all-purpose yards, including 201 rushing on 58 attempts, 549 receiving on career-high 77 receptions, 793 yards on 37 kickoff returns and 379 yards on 41 punt returns...77 catches were most by an NFL running back in '94 and most ever in one season by a Broncos RB...Finished sixth in AFC with 9.2-yard punt return average...Set career-highs for receptions (nine) and receiving yards (85) vs LA Rai (9/18)...Posted 202 total yards and scored on 20-yard reception at LA Rams (11/6)...Scored first rushing TD of pro career at SF (12/17).

1993: Played in all 16 games, starting two...Put together solid rookie season, gaining 1,125 total yards...Rushed for 231 yards on 52 attempts, caught 38 passes for 300 yards and three TDs, averaged 10.6 yards on 40 punt returns (fifth in AFC and eighth in NFL) and returned 12 kickoffs for 188 yards...Accounted for 148 all-purpose yards in first NFL game at NYJ (9/5), including career-long 50-yard reception, a 36-yard punt return and a 25-yard touchdown catch...Caught season-high eight passes at KC (9/20)...Gained season-high 173 total yards vs Min (11/14) and 129 all-purpose yards in postseason vs LA Rai (1/9/94)...Originally drafted in the second round (43rd overall) by Denver.

Signed by the Chargers as a free agent on Nov. 15, 2001, Glyn Milburn is one of the most prolific kick returners in NFL history and a veteran of nine NFL seasons, including three in Denver (1993-95), two in Detroit (1996-97) and the last four in Chicago (1998–2001). He returned six kickoffs for 152 yards (25.3 avg.) and four punts for 33 yards (8.3 avg.). He also caught three passes for nine yards while adding three carries for three yards.

Since starting his NFL career in Denver as a second round draft pick (43rd overall) in 1993, Milburn has played in all 16 regular season games in every season up until this year. Including the 2001 season before he signed with the Chargers, his career totals included nine starts in 132 games played, 407 kickoff returns for 9,788 yards (24.0 avg.) and two touchdowns, and 287 punt returns for 2,845 yards (9.9 avg.) and one touchdown.

When he signed with the Chargers, Milburn ranked third on the NFL's all-time kickoff return yardage list with 9,788 yards behind Brian Mitchell (11,304 as of Nov. 15, 2001) and Mel Gray (10,250). Prior to joining the Chargers, Milburn had caught 170 passes for 1,322 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 183 carries for 817 yards and two touchdowns. In all, Milburn had amassed 14,772 combined yards on kickoff returns, punt returns, rushing and receiving before signing with San Diego. Milburn played in four games with the Bears in 2001 before being released on Oct. 17, 2001.

Personal life

He is a second cousin to Rod Milburn, the 1972 Olympic Games 100-meter hurdles champion. Rod Milburn, won a gold medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. Participated in the Presidential Inauguration Committee in 1996, his efforts included on-site work the day that President Clinton was sworn in for second term...Community oriented, among the groups he has been involved with are Special Olympics, the American Diabetes Foundation, United Way, Kiwanis Club, Optimists Club, Athletes in Action Kappa Alpha Psi and Champions for Christ.