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Top 25 Players in AFL History: #19 Darryl Hammond

April 19, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release


CHICAGO - Continuing its countdown of the 25 Greatest Players in AFL History, the Silver Anniversary Committee has announced its selection for the 19th Greatest Player in AFL History: Darryl Hammond.

Deemed too slow for receiver and too small for a defender by the NFL, Hammond made his Arena Football debut in 1991 with the Albany Firebirds. After playing both wide receiver and strong safety in college, the transition to "Ironman football" in the AFL appeared seamless for the former Virginia Cavalier.

His understanding of multiple positions on both sides of the ball enabled Hammond to make an immediate impact for the Firebirds, recording five interceptions in his rookie season - good for the second-highest total in the AFL in 1991. He also ranked second on the team with 48 tackles on defense and 27 receptions for 254 yards and seven touchdowns on offense.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Hammond continued to thrive in Albany for the next three seasons, but earned his first All-Arena selection in 1995 as a member of the St. Louis Stampede. That year, he led the team with 80 receptions for 979 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also boasted a career-high 36 rushing yards and three scores on the ground to go along with 49 tackles, four interceptions, one sack and a fumble recovery. He was named First-Team All-Arena again the following year.

In 1997, Hammond joined the expansion Nashville Kats. He won his first "Ironman of the Game" award that year after recording seven catches, 77 receiving yards, five tackles and an interception in a home victory over the New York Dragons.

Hammond earned All-Arena honors for a third time in 1999. The following year, he was named to the All-Ironman team for the first time. That was also the year Hammond and the Kats made their first trip to the ArenaBowl falling to the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XIV 41-38. Hammond had three catches for 88 yards, two touchdowns and two tackles in the game.

The 2001 season may have been Hammond's finest, recording 60 receptions for 708 yards 10 touchdowns, 36 tackles and two interceptions. Despite missing two late season games due to injury, Hammond was named All-Ironman and the Kats appeared in the ArenaBowl for the second consecutive year.

Hammond moved with the Kats to Georgia in 2002 as they were rebranded the "Georgia Force." He spent two seasons with the team before spending a year in Austin as a member of the Wranglers. In 2005, he moved back to Nashville for the relaunch of the Kats, where he spent the final two years of his AFL career. Hammond is one of only two players to have played for the Kats in all six seasons of the franchise's existence.

Hammond retired in 2006 after 16 years of service and 186 Arena Football games played, an impressive feat for any man, but particularly incredible considering not only his willingness to learn new positions and acceptance of different roles for the betterment of the team, but also the fact that as a 24-year-old rookie, Hammond worked another job - driving a forklift at a Ben & Jerry's plant - to make ends meet. Hammond was a player who did whatever it took - on and off the field - to succeed.

25 Greatest Players in AFL History

19. Darryl Hammond

20. Alvin Rettig

21. Durwood Roquemore

22. Chris Jackson

23. Ben Bennett

24. Clevan Thomas

25. Gary Mullen

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