C.J. Spiller Is Leaving the NFL to Become a Football Coach
After a successful career in the NFL, C.J. Spiller has decided to move on and pursue coaching. He spent six years with the Buffalo Bills and was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in 2010. He rushed for over 3,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, and added 24 receptions for 158 yards last season.
Spiller’s family life has been filled with tragedy. He has lost several close friends and family. His mother had already given birth to an older son, and she had two other sons with three different last names. After Spiller’s birth, his mother moved to Miami, and his father was mostly absent.
After a strong college football career, Spiller was drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2010 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the Bills and made one Pro Bowl appearance. He then split the 2016 season between the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks, before finishing his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
After Spiller’s junior season, many predicted he would be selected in the first round. However, he chose to return for his senior year and set even more Clemson records. In addition to his stellar football career, Spiller earned a degree in sociology, was named Academic All-ACC, and was on the dean’s list.
Spiller’s success at Clemson earned him the ACC single-season and career records for all-purpose yards. He finished his career with 7,588 yards, which ranked third in the FBS. He also finished his career as the sixth-leading player in the Heisman Trophy race.
After his playing career, Spiller went on to become a graduate assistant under former Clemson coaches Tony Elliott and Dabo Swinney. In 2020, Spiller was promoted to running backs coach. He was later elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. However, despite his NFL career, Spiller remains popular even after his college years.
While playing for the Tigers, Spiller was a part of the all-purpose duo with Marshall Faulk and Darnay Scott. He set an FBS record for kickoff returns and was a finalist for the 2009 Doak Walker Award. Despite his injuries, he still managed to win the Heisman Trophy and become one of the top rushing players in the league.
