- Steve Freeman
NFL player
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1953|5|8|mf=y
Birthplace=Lamesa, Texas
DateOfDeath=
Position=Defensive back
College=Mississippi State
DraftedYear=1975
DraftedRound=5 / Pick 117
DatabaseFootball=FREEMSTE01
years=1975-1986
1987
teams=Buffalo Bills Minnesota Vikings Steven Jay Freeman (born
May 8 ,1953 in Lamesa,Texas ) is a formerAmerican football defensive back .After playing
college football atMississippi State University , he was selected by theNational Football League 'sNew England Patriots in the1975 NFL Draft . However, he was released by the Patriots before the start of the regular season, and eventually signed with theBuffalo Bills . Freeman spent 12 season with Buffalo, compiling 23 career interceptions and three touchdowns. In 1980 alone, he intercepted seven passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. He spent his last NFL season, 1987, with theMinnesota Vikings after being traded by the Bills.After retiring as a player, Freeman became an American football official, working in
college football 'sSoutheastern Conference and NFL Europe before joining the NFL in 2001 as a back judge. As an official, he wears the uniform number 133 and is on the officiating crew headed by refereeTerry McAulay .One of Freeman's teammates in Buffalo was linebacker
Jim Haslett , who later became head coach of theNew Orleans Saints . Despite the fact the two men were teammates for several seasons, Freeman was not prohibited from working Saints games during Haslett's six-year tenure as the Saints coach from 2000-2005. While in the SEC, Freeman was prohibited from working Mississippi State games, as league rules do not allow officials to work games involving their alma mater.Freeman currently resides in
Mississippi and is married and have three children. Freeman's son, Brad, was a four-year letterman on the Mississippi State baseball team and helped the Bulldogs reach theCollege World Series in 1997 and 1998.External links
*cite web | url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/AlumniSpotlightSteveFreeman.jsp | title=Where Are They Now: Steve Freeman | publisher= [http://www.buffalobills.com BuffaloBills.com] | date=2003-03-12 | accessdate=2006-12-28
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.