Thomas Alfred Maddox (born September 2, 1971) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons, most notably with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also played one season each for the New Jersey Red Dogs of the Arena Football League (AFL) and the Los Angeles Xtreme of the XFL. In the XFL's only season, Maddox was the league's most valuable player (MVP) while leading the Xtreme to victory in the league's championship.
Maddox played college football for the UCLA Bruins and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL draft. His first four seasons with the Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants saw limited playing time and minimal success, resulting in him being out of the NFL by 1997. Maddox became an insurance agent before pursuing a professional comeback in the AFL and XFL between 2000 and 2001. His MVP season with the latter saw him lead the league in passing yards and touchdowns, while being the only quarterback to start all 10 regular season games.
Following his XFL success, Maddox signed with the Steelers the same year. He became the team's starting quarterback during the 2002 season, helping lead them to the playoffs and earning Comeback Player of the Year. Maddox lost his starting position to rookie Ben Roethlisberger in 2004, although he was part of the team that won Super Bowl XL. He was released by Pittsburgh after the championship, leading to his final professional retirement. Maddox is one of four players on the Xtreme's championship-winning team who were also on a Super Bowl-winning team.
Early life Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Maddox graduated from L. D. Bell High School at Hurst, Texas in 1989. At L. D. Bell, Maddox lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. As a senior, he was team captain, and was named the Southwest Texas Offensive Player of the Year, District Most Valuable Player, and the Area Most Valuable Player.
College career Maddox played two seasons (1990–1991) of college football as quarterback at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1990, he completed 182 of 327 (55.7%) of his passes for 2,682 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. The Bruins went 5–6 in 1990. The following season, Maddox led UCLA to a 9–3 record and the 1991 John Hancock Bowl title with a 209-for-343 (60.9%) completion rate for 2,681 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. In his two years with UCLA, Maddox became the first Pac-10 player to pass 5,000 yards by sophomore year. In a Friday night news conference on January 31, 1992, Maddox announced his intention to declare for the 1992 NFL draft, reading from a prepared statement: "While I fully understand that another year or two at UCLA would be enjoyable and beneficial to my development, I feel that it is time for me to stand on my feet as a man and take on the opportunities offered by the NFL." Maddox also announced his upcoming marriage and further explained: "Playing in the NFL has been a dream of mine since childhood, and it's a gut feeling that the time is now right."
Professional career
Denver Broncos
1992 Maddox was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (25th overall) of the 1992 NFL draft. Covering the draft for television, Joe Theismann commented that Maddox should have stayed at UCLA for another year. Maddox was expected to succeed John Elway as starting quarterback. His selection by the Broncos did not sit well with Elway since the Broncos had greater needs at several other positions, which Elway felt should have been addressed with their first pick.
As a rookie, Maddox served under coach Dan Reeves. Maddox took his first snaps during the Week 6 (October 6) game against the Washington Redskins, completing 2-of-8 passes for 10 yards and one interception in the 34–3 loss. In that game, Maddox became the youngest NFL quarterback to complete a pass since Elmer Angsman in 1946. Maddox took over the week 11 (November 15) game after Elway left with a shoulder injury, and he led the Broncos to a 27–13 victory over the New York Giants.
Maddox would start the following four games from weeks 12 through 15, all losses. In his week 12 debut start, a 24–0 loss to the Los Angeles Raiders, Maddox went 18-of-26 (69.2%) for 207 yards and two interceptions (both by Terry McDaniel), was sacked four times, and committed three fumbles (including one lost). Maddox only learned that he would start three hours before kickoff. The Los Angeles Times account of the game reported: "Every time Denver moved the ball, Maddox would be pressured, sacked or simply dropped the ball." The following week, in a 16–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Maddox threw his first touchdown pass professionally, connecting with wide receiver Mark Jackson.
1993 Under coach Wade Phillips, Maddox played all games in 1993 as the placekicker's holder. On Week 14 (December 5), in a 13–10 loss to the San Diego Chargers, Maddox completed one pass for one yard to linebacker Dave Wyman in a fake field goal attempt.
Los Angeles Rams (1994) On August 27, 1994, the Los Angeles Rams traded a fourth-round 1995 NFL draft pick to the Broncos and acquired Maddox, as the salary cap forced the Broncos to trade him. Initially, Maddox was the Rams' third-string quarterback behind Chris Miller and Chris Chandler. With the Rams in 1994, Maddox played in five games as placekick holder and played as quarterback in two of those games. In an 8–5 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Week 5 (October 2), Maddox was 7-for-15 in completed passes for 86 yards and 2 interceptions. In Week 12 (November 20), Maddox completed 3 out of 4 passes for one 55-yard drive to set up a field goal. This drive included a career-long 39-yard pass to Todd Kinchen. The Rams finished the 1994 season 4–12 and would move to St. Louis next season.
New York Giants 1995 Three days after the St. Louis Rams released him, Maddox signed as a free agent with the New York Giants on August 30, 1995, playing again under coach Dan Reeves. Maddox served as Dave Brown's backup and played all 16 games as the placekick holder. In three games, Maddox replaced Brown as quarterback. Maddox replaced an injured Brown in the second half of the Week 7 (October 15) game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Although Maddox completed his first pass, Maddox finished 6-for-23 for 49 yards, three interceptions, and one sack in the 17–14 loss. In the Week 12 (November 19) game, again against the Eagles, Maddox took over for Brown, late in the fourth quarter. Maddox was sacked once for four yards and lost one fumble.
1996 In the Giants' 24–17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first exhibition game of 1996, Maddox played during the second half. In that game, Maddox fumbled his first snap from the line of scrimmage, and the Jaguars recovered that fumble. Maddox would repeat this mistake twice but would lead the game-winning drive.
Maddox started the second exhibition game of 1996, but the Giants lost that game 37–27 to the expansion Baltimore Ravens. Maddox was 5-of-10 for 42 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two fumbles. The Giants released Maddox on August 20, 1996.
Atlanta Falcons and hiatus from football (1997–1999) Maddox again joined coach Dan Reeves, this time with the Atlanta Falcons. However, Maddox was released after training camp on August 18, 1997. In an August 16 preseason game against Washington, Maddox threw for 35 yards, completing 4-of-11 passes. He also threw an interception to end a potential game-winning drive, and the Falcons lost 35-31.
On November 17 of that year, Maddox became an insurance agent with Allstate based in Dallas. In 1999, NFL Films did a feature on Maddox. Excerpt from the 1999 feature on Maddox at 1:30. While in Dallas, Maddox continued practicing football regularly and was a volunteer coach for his alma mater L. D. Bell High School.
New Jersey Red Dogs (2000) After getting a phone call from the New Jersey Red Dogs of the Arena Football League in 1999, Maddox sold his insurance office and joined the team. With the Red Dogs, Maddox completed 284-of-490 passes for 3,800 yards, 64 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Los Angeles Xtreme (2001) Maddox became the starting quarterback for the XFL team Los Angeles Xtreme during the first week of the season, despite the team using its first pick in the XFL draft on quarterback Scott Milanovich. Maddox made an impact in his time in the XFL. He was the only quarterback of the league to start all 10 regular season games, led the league in passing yards, touchdowns, rushed for two touchdowns, and led the Xtreme to the Million Dollar Game, also known as the "Big Game At The End." The Xtreme defeated the San Francisco Demons with a score of 38–6. Maddox was named the XFL MVP in 2001. The XFL folded after its inaugural 2001 season.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2001 Maddox signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2001 as backup to Kordell Stewart. His first game action was in Week 7 (October 29) in a 34–7 win over the Tennessee Titans, in which Maddox completed one 57-yard pass to Troy Edwards. In the final game of the season on Week 17 (January 6, 2002), Maddox completed 6-of-8 passes for 97 yards, a touchdown pass to Bobby Shaw, an interception, a sack, and an eight-yard rush. The 2001 Steelers finished 13–3 and first in the American Football Conference Central Division and lost the AFC Championship game to eventual Super Bowl XXXVI champion New England Patriots.
2002 In Week 4, Maddox replaced Kordell Stewart at quarterback and led a come from behind win against the Cleveland Browns. With 2:02 left in regulation, Maddox ended a seven-play, 84-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress to tie the game. Steelers coach Bill Cowher officially named Maddox the starter on October 2, 2002. Maddox started his first NFL game since 1992 against the New Orleans Saints, which was a 32–29 loss. He went 22-for-38 passing, Maddox threw for 268 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He was sacked four times for 24 yards and lost a fumble. In Week 6 (October 13), Maddox won in his third start with the Steelers in a 34–7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Maddox was 16-for-25 for 216 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and two sacks.
The Steelers played a Monday Night Football game on Week 7 with a 28–10 win over the Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Peyton Manning. Maddox passed 25-for-33 for 305 yards, three touchdowns and led the Steelers to touchdowns for the team's first three drives. Since an 0–2 start under Kordell Stewart, the Steelers had gone 4–1 under Maddox.
In Week 10 (November 10), the Steelers tied against the Atlanta Falcons, 34–34, the first tied NFL game since 1997. Maddox passed for 473 yards on 28-for-41 passing with four touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked once for three yards and rushed twice for seven yards. On the final play of overtime, Maddox completed a 50-yard pass to Plaxico Burress as time expired that ultimately came up one yard short of what would have been the game-winning touchdown. Maddox left the Week 11 (November 17) game, a 31–23 loss to the Tennessee Titans, in an ambulance after being tripped by Lance Schulters. Kordell Stewart played the following game in Week 12 (November 24), a 29–21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, while Maddox recovered from his injuries. Coach Bill Cowher chose to start Stewart the following game. Pittsburgh would win that Week 13 (December 1) game over the Jacksonville Jaguars 25–23. Maddox returned as starter in Week 14 (December 8), but the Steelers lost to the expansion team Houston Texans 24–6 as Maddox went down with six sacks and lost a fumble and had 30-for-57 passes for 325 yards and ended the game with a 55.1 quarterback rating. Aaron Glenn, Texans cornerback, returned two Maddox interceptions for 70 and 65 yards. Maddox, however, would lead the Steelers to victories in the final three games of 2002.