His seven total returns for touchdowns (5 kickoff return and 2 punt returns) ranks third all-time in team history. Gray is the franchise's all-time leader in career kickoff returns (216), career kickoff return yards (5,478), career kickoff returns for touchdowns (5), most kickoff returns for touchdowns in a season (3, 1994), highest kickoff return average in a season (28.36, 1994) and career punt return yards (1,427). In six seasons with the Lions (1989–94), Gray played in 84 games and returned 216 kickoffs for 5,478 yards (25.4 avg) and registered five touchdowns, and he returned 132 punts for 1,427 yards (10.8 avg) and had two touchdowns. However, Gray was an integral part of a dominant Lions' special teams group that proved to be instrumental to the team's success during that era. The Lions were in contention for the NFC Central title each season during the early 1990s-teams that featured the running back Barry Sanders. Gray is most recognized for his time with the Detroit Lions. The game lasted 4 hours, 3 minutes, went to 3 overtimes and became the longest pro football game in football history.Īfter the USFL folded in August 1986, Gray joined the New Orleans Saints who drafted him in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL players. In 1984, Gray scored the game-winning touchdown in the divisional playoffs against the Michigan Panthers. He was later traded to the Los Angeles Express. Gray was selected by the Chicago Blitz in the 7th round (133rd overall) of the 1984 USFL Draft and immediately moved from tailback to wide receiver. He only returned two kicks during his time at Purdue. Gray rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in each of the two seasons with the Boilermakers and was named 2nd team all- Big Ten in 1983. He made an immediate impression on the staff and the previous season's top 2 tailbacks were moved to other positions to accommodate for Gray becoming the feature back. Gray then chose to attend Purdue over Pittsburgh who was also heavily recruiting him. He was nominated first-team all- Jayhawk Conference and all-American. He was the leading scorer in Junior College football and third in rushing. In his sophomore season, Gray became the feature back and rushed for 1,397 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. He shared the backfield with future Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Pro Bowler Mike Rozier. In his freshman season, he was part of a backfield that helped lead the team to an 11-0 record and a #2 ranking in the NJCAA poll. Upon graduation, Gray enrolled at Coffeyville Community College. He was named to the All-Peninsula District Track Team for the 200 meter dash as a senior and tied his school record in the 100 meter dash as a sophomore. Gray was a standout athlete at Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Virginia. He holds the record for being the first, second, and third-oldest player to return a kickoff for a touchdown (33 years, 276 days 33 years, 235 days and 33 years, 221 days). Gray is widely considered to be one of the greatest return specialists of all-time in the NFL. Gray attended Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he was teammates with future NFL players Lawrence Taylor and Ron Springs. He began his professional career for the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (USFL), following his college football career as a running back at Purdue. He played with the New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, Houston/Tennessee Oilers and Philadelphia Eagles. Melvin Junius Gray (born March 16, 1961) is an American former professional football player who was a kickoff returner in the National Football League (NFL). Houston / Tennessee Oilers ( 1995– 1997).
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