Jon Vaughn

Infobox NFLretired


width=
caption=
position=RB/KR
number=24
birthdate=birth date and age|mf=yes|1970|03|12
city-state|Florissant|Missouri, United States
deathdate=
debutyear=1991
finalyear=1994
draftyear=1991
draftround=5
draftpick=112
college=Michigan
teams=
* New England Patriots (1991-1992)
* Seattle Seahawks (1993-1994)
* Kansas City Chiefs (1994)
stat1label= Rushes
stat1value= 207
stat2label= Yards
stat2value= 846
stat3label= Touchdowns
stat3value= 9 (4 rushing)
pfr=VaugJo00
dbf=VAUGHJON01
highlights=
*1992 NFL Kickoff return average champion
*1990 Big Ten Offensive Football Player of the Year
*Michigan Career yard per carry Record (min 200 attempts) (1990–)
*MSHSAA record 100 metres (1988-2007)
*MSHSAA record 200 metres (1988-2002)
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Jonathan Stewart Vaughn (birth date and age|mf=yes|1970|3|12 in city-state|Florissant|Missouri) is a former professional American football player who played running back and served as a kick returner in the National Football League (NFL) for 4 seasons from 1991 to 1994 for the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. In his most productive season, he led the 1992 Patriots in rushing and led the NFL in kickoff returns with a 28.2 yards per return average on twenty returns.cite web|url=http://www.patriots.com/alumni/index.cfm?ac=alumnibiosdetail&bio=2293|title=Alumni: Alumni Bios Detail|accessdate=2007-12-24|publisher=New England Patriots] Vaughn was the tenth NFL player to accumulate four kickoff return touchdowns during his career and the second to accumulate kickoff return touchdowns for three different teams.cite web|url=http://news.steelers.com/MediaContent/2007/11/13/11/Steelers_notes_for_Jets_game_84713.pdf|title=Steelers News|publisher=Steelers.com|accessdate=2007-12-25|year=2007|month=November] Vaughn measured height|ft=5|in=9|abbr=mos|wiki=yes and convert|203|lb|kg|lk=on during his NFL playing days. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=VAUGHJON01|publisher=databaseSports.com|accessdate=2007-10-15|title=Jon Vaughn]

Prior to declaring himself eligible for the NFL Draft despite remaining eligibility, Vaughn had starred in the Big Ten Conference for the University of Michigan Wolverines earning Co-Big Ten Offensive Football Player of the year honors for the 1990 Big Ten Champions during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. Vaughn had established new University of Michigan standards in 200-yard games and yards per carry. He had also previously been a record setting Missouri high school sprinter who for nearly two decades held both the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) 100 metre and 200 metre records.

Early life

Vaughn was both born and raised in Florissant and attended Florissant McCluer North High School. Vaughn's 1988 Missouri State High School 200 meter dash record time of 21.28 seconds stood until 2002. [cite web|url=http://www.mtccca.org/top_50_by_class_200.htm|title= 1980-2006 Missouri State Track Meet Top 50 per Classification (200 meters)|publisher=mtccca.org|date=2007-10-26|accessdate=2007-12-12] [cite web|url=http://www.komu.com/satellite/SatelliteRender/KOMU.com/ba8a4513-c0a8-2f11-0063-9bd94c70b769/3183a4f4-c0a8-2f11-01f6-069e68ccf2af|title=Super Mario|accessdate=2007-12-12|publisher=KOMU-TV8 and the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia|date=2007-11-11] His State meet 100 metres time of 10.44 seconds stood until 2007 as the Missouri High School record.cite web|url=http://www.mtccca.org/top_50_by_class_100.htm|title= 1980-2006 Missouri State Track Meet Top 50 per Classification (100 meters)|publisher=mtccca.org|date=2007-10-26|accessdate=2007-11-20] cite web|url=http://examiner.net/stories/060907/spo_060907077.shtml|title=Mitchell's records confirmed heading into AAU state finals|publisher=The Examiner|accessdate=2007-11-20|date=2007-06-09|author=Althaus, Bill] Note that Terry Scott who is the track coach at Raytown South High School ran a 10.3 seconds in 1981, but the time was clocked by hand and the handheld adjustment is .24 seconds.

College

Vaughn had a short collegiate career for the University of Michigan Wolverines, but he played for back-to-back Big Ten Conference Champions. [cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1989fbt.htm|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|accessdate=2007-10-15|date=2007-03-31|title=1989 Football Team] He accumulated rushing statistics in only sixteen NCAA games for the Wolverines over the course of two seasons.cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php|accessdate=2007-10-16|publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan|title=M Go Blue - University of Michigan Athletics Official Site] However, in his redshirt sophomore 1990 season he was selected Co-Big Ten Offensive Football Player of the year (along with University of Iowa Hawkeyes players Nick Bell and Matt Rodgers) by the conference's coaches when he started 11 of 12 games.cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1990fbt.htm|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|accessdate=2007-10-15|date=2007-03-31|title=1990 Football Team] Vaughn, who wore #25 for the Michigan Wolverines football program in 1989 and 1990, played running back after redshirting as a defensive back who wore #46 in 1988. [cite web|url=http://141.211.39.65/allroster/fbsearch.htm|accessdate=2007-11-04|date=2003-08-25|title=Bentley Historical Library -- -- U of M Football Rosters|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan]

Vaughn has claims to several important distinctions in University of Michigan Football history. First, he continues to hold the University of Michigan career yards per attempt record (minimum 200 attempts).cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/document_file/fbl-2007spring-records1.pdf|title=Record Book|accessdate=2007-12-27|date=2007|publisher=University of Michigan & Host Interactive] Second, he opened the 1990 season by posting 201 rushing yards on September 15, 1990 against University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and following it up with 288 rushing yards against the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins on September 22, 1990 at the Big House. [cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=440|title=Versus Notre Dame September 15, 1990|publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan|work=M Go Blue - University of Michigan Athletics Official Site|accessdate=2007-10-15] [cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=443|title=Versus UCLA September 22, 1990|publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan|work=M Go Blue - University of Michigan Athletics Official Site|accessdate=2007-10-15] This feat made him the first Michigan back to rush for 200 yards in consecutive games, a feat not duplicated until Mike Hart did so in 2004. [cite web|url=http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2004/10/26/Sports/Daniel.Bremmer.Hart.Playing.Like.A.Heisman.Candidate-1426155.shtml|title=Daniel Bremmer: Hart playing like a Heisman candidate|publisher=The Michigan Daily |author=Bremmer, Daniel|date=2004-10-26|accessdate=2007-10-15] His third claim is that the 288-yard effort ranks third on the All-time Michigan single game rushing yards list (behind Ron Johnson's 347 yards in 1968 against the Wisconsin Badgers and Tshimanga Biakabutuka's 313 yards against the Ohio State Buckeyes in 1995).cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php|accessdate=2007-11-12|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page| publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan] In addition to these claims, his 1416 yards rushing that season still ranks 13th on the Michigan All-time single season rushing list. During that redshirt sophomore season he paired with freshman Ricky Powers who set the Michigan freshman rushing record later broken by Hart and who tied with Vaughn for a team-high five 100-yard rushing games although accumulating far fewer total yards than Vaughn.cite web|url=http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1144&CID=690607|accessdate=2007-10-15|publisher=STATS LLC|title=Top 5 freshman impacts of the last 20 years|author=Spath, Michael|date=2007-07-12]

During the 1990 season Vaughn was closely watched in the press. NCAA football rushing averages are calculated on a per game basis. Since Vaughn started the season with two 200-yard efforts, he was atop the rushing charts well into the season. He entered Michigan's seventh game the weekend of October 28, 1990 as the nation's leading rusher. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDF123DF93BA15753C1A966958260|title= College Football: Midwest; Flowers Nets 208 for Nebraska|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2007-12-12|date=1990-10-28] Entering the eighth week he was averaging over 144 yards per game and was still second in the nation and first in the Big Ten. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD61230F937A35752C1A966958260|title= College Football: Southwest/Midwest; Houston Goes to 8-0 A|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2007-12-12|date=1990-11-04] He only gained a total of 94 yards in his ninth, tenth and eleventh games combined and entered Michigan's bowl game as #11 in the nation. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7DD1131F932A05751C1A966958260|title= A Long Day's Wait for No. 1|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2007-12-12|date=1990-12-31] He ran for 128 yards in his final game and ended the season as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the year. He also ended the season eleventh in the nation in rushing and second in the Big Ten with 112.4 yards per game.

Oddly, despite his eventual professional success as a kickoff returner, he never returned kickoffs in college. In 1990, Desmond Howard and Derrick Alexander shared the kick return duties. In 1989, Desmond Howard and Tony Boles shared the role.

Professional football

He entered the 1991 National Football League Draft after his redshirt sophomore season, [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE4DB173CF93BA25752C0A967958260|title= SPORTS PEOPLE: COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Vaughn to Enter N.F.L.|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2007-11-18|date=1991-01-18] which began with him as the nation's leading rusher through the end of October. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDF123DF93BA15753C1A966958260|title= College Football: Midwest; Flowers Nets 208 for Nebraska|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2007-11-18|date=1990-10-28] The season trailed off as Powers got much of the late season workload with four consecutive 100-yard efforts in Michigan wins. Vaughn was one of a relatively small class of underclassmen, headlined by Ragib "Rocket" Ismail to be approved in the NFL's second class of players allowed to declare themselves eligible for the draft despite remaining amateur eligibility.cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE1DC173FF936A35751C0A967958260|title= N.F.L. Has 29 Players Listed for Early Draft|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2007-11-18|date=1991-02-05|author=Eskenazi, Gerald] In addition to Vaughn, other headliners among the underclassmen were Herman Moore, Todd Marinovich and Rob Carpenter (who also played for the 1991 Patriots). John Vaughn was drafted with the first pick of the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?lg=nfl&yr=1991|title=1991 NFL Player Draft|accessdate=2007-11-18|publisher=databaseSports.com] Coach Dick MacPherson used him sparingly from scrimmage in his rookie year as Leonard Russell was the featured back for the 1991 Patriots.cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NWE&lg=nfl&yr=1991|title=1991 New England Patriots|accessdate=2007-11-18|publisher=databaseSports.com] However, he had 34 kickoff returns, including one touchdown for an average of 21.1 yards in 1991. He also completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Marv Cook against the Houston Oilers on September 22, 1991 in what would be the Patriots only non-quarterback touchdown pass until Dave Meggett repeated the feat during the 1997 NFL season. [cite web|url=http://search.boston.com/local/Search.do?s.tab=globe&s.sm.query=%22Jon+Vaughn%22&s.ypsearch=&s.yplocation=&col=&when=&qf=&qn=&qc=&qs=&s.si%28simplesearchinput%29.sortBy=-articleprintpublicationdate&s.dateRange=|title=Meggett and Brown Throw Off The Defense|accessdate=2007-12-24|date=1997-11-24|publisher=NY Times Co.|work=Boston Globe|author=Greenidge, Jim]

Although his totals were modest in New England, he led the team in rushing yards in 1992 with 451 yards on 113 carries. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NWE&yr=1992&lg=nfl|title=1992 New England Patriots|accessdate=2007-11-18|publisher=databaseSports.com] In addition, he had 20 kickoff returns for an average of 28.2 yards, including another return touchdown. This second kickoff return touchdown was the last by a Patriot until Derrick Cullors repeated the feat in 1997 against the Buffalo Bills. [cite web|url=http://search.boston.com/local/Search.do?s.tab=globe&s.sm.query=%22Jon+Vaughn%22&s.ypsearch=&s.yplocation=&col=&when=&qf=&qn=&qc=&qs=&s.si%28simplesearchinput%29.sortBy=-articleprintpublicationdate&s.dateRange=|title=A Flying Cullors Passes A Big Test|accessdate=2007-12-24|date=1997-11-10|publisher=NY Times Co.|work=Boston Globe|author=Ryan, Bob] Vaughn had his first 100-yard rushing game in 1992 with 110 yards on 20 carries on November 22 in a 24–3 win against the New York Jets at home.cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/VaugJo00_biggames.htm|title=Jon Vaughn (big games)|accessdate=2008-01-22|publisher= Sports Reference, LLC.|work= Pro-Football-Reference.com] In 1992, Vaughn had six fumbles on only 113 carries and 13 receptions, and five of the fumbles were lost to the other team. [cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/jonvaughn/profile?id=VAU454050|title=All-Time Players: Jon Vaughn (profile)|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC|accessdate=2008-01-12|date=2007]

After two seasons in New England, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for an undisclosed draft pick. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0DD1038F934A1575BC0A965958260|title= N.F.L. TRAINING CAMP REPORT|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2007-11-18|date=1993-08-27] During the 1993 NFL season, his workload was modest in the backfield with Chris Warren and John L. Williams, [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=SEA&yr=1993&lg=nfl|title=1993 Seattle Seahawks|accessdate=2007-11-18|publisher=databaseSports.com] but when he got the chance to play for the 1993 Seahawks he rose to the occasion with a career best 131 yards on 26 carries. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7D91F3AF934A15751C1A965958260|title= PRO FOOTBALL; Hear the Cold Wind Blow: Pack Is Back in Playoffs|accessdate=2007-11-18|date=1993-12-27|publisher=The New York Times Company] This was Vaughn's second and last 100-yard rushing game.

Vaughn spent most of the 1994 NFL season with the Seahawks, but he was released after having three fumbles on only twenty-seven carries. However, in December he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E02E5D71130F932A35751C1A962958260|title= Transactions|accessdate=2007-11-18|date=1994-12-01|publisher=The New York Times Company] In 1994 he did not accumulate statistics from the line of scrimmage either for the Seahawks or for the Chiefs, however he returned kickoffs for both teams and recorded a kick return touchdown for each,cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/jonvaughn/careerstats?id=VAU454050|title=All-Time Players: Jon Vaughn (career stats)|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC|accessdate=2007-11-26|date=2007] including a 91-yard runback against the Miami Dolphins for the Chiefs in 1994. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E5DE1F39F930A25751C1A962958260|title= PRO FOOTBALL; Shula and Dolphins on Wheels All Night|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2007-11-18|date=1994-12-13|author=Nobles, Charles]

Over the course of his NFL career he ran back a total of 4 kickoffs for touchdowns. This ranked him tenth (2 short of the record six) in NFL history through the 2006 NFL season. [cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/history/randf/records/indiv/kickreturns|title=Individual Records: Kickoff Returns|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC|accessdate=2007-12-17|date=2007] He had been in a three-way tie for eight upon his retirement before the 1995 NFL season. His kickoff return touchdowns for three different teams tied Ron Smith for the NFL record, which was broken during the 2007 NFL season by Allen Rossum who posted a touchdown return for his fourth different team. In 1991, Vaughn averaged 21.1 yards per return on 34 returns, which ranked 10th among those with 1.2 returns per game. [cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=0&statisticCategory=KICK_RETURNS&season=1991&seasonType=REG|title=Statistics All NFL Kick Returns 1991 Regular Season|accessdate=2007-11-28|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC|date=] In 1992, Vaughn posted a 28.2 averaged on 20 returns to lead the National Football League (Deion Sanders was second at 26.7).cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=0&statisticCategory=KICK_RETURNS&season=1992&seasonType=REG|title=Statistics All NFL Kick Returns 1992 Regular Season|accessdate=2007-11-28|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC|date=] Despite his success as a kick returner, he was released during training camp in 1995. [cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=KC&p_theme=kc&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=%22Jon%20Vaughn%22%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22Jon%20Vaughn%22)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no
title=Chiefs make changes in return game|accessdate=2007-12-23|date=1995-08-23|publisher=the McClatchy Company|work=The Kansas City Star |author=Pulliam, Kent]

Career statistics

;100-Yard Games N.B.: Home team is in bold.

ee also

*Lists of Michigan Wolverines football rushing leaders

Notes

External links

* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=VAUGHJON01 Jon Vaughn] at [http://www.databasefootball.com Databasefootball.com]