Rich Stephens
| No. 62, 77[1] | |
|---|---|
| Position | Offensive lineman |
| Personal information | |
| Born | November 1, 1965 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | June 22, 2025 (aged 59) Cedar Hill, Missouri, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 310 lb (141 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Northwest (Cedar Hill) |
| College | Tulsa |
| NFL draft | 1989: 9th round, 250th overall pick |
| Career history | |
| |
* Offseason or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Richard Scott Stephens (November 1, 1965 – June 22, 2025) was an American professional football offensive lineman who played for the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Early life
[edit]Richard Scott Stephens was born on November 1, 1965, in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] He attended Northwest High School in Cedar Hill, Missouri.[1]
College career
[edit]Stephens enrolled at the University of Tulsa to play college football. He was a member of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane from 1985 to 1988.[1]
Professional career
[edit]Stephens was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the ninth round, with the 250th overall pick, of the 1989 NFL draft.[1] He signed with the team on July 19.[1] He was released on August 29 after the third game of the 1989 preseason.[1]
Stephens was signed to the practice squad of the Washington Redskins on September 27, 1989.[1] He was released on October 17, 1989.[1]
The New York Jets signed Stephens to their practice squad on October 23, 1989.[1] He was released on October 31, 1989.[1]
Stephens started all ten games for the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football (WLAF) during the 1991 WLAF season.[1] The Surge finished the year with a 3–7 record.[2]
Stephens signed with the Los Angeles Raiders on May 29, 1991.[1] He was later released on August 26 after the final game of the 1991 preseason.[1]
Stephens played in all ten games for the Surge for the second straight year in 1992.[1] They went 8–2 in the regular season and later won World Bowl '92.[3]
Stephns was signed by the Raiders again on June 9, 1992.[1] He was released on August 31 and signed to the practice squad on September 2.[1] He was promoted to the active roster on October 24 but did not play in any games during the 1992 NFL season.[1][4] Stephens played in all 16 games, starting one, as a offensive tackle and guard in 1993.[5][1] He also appeared in two playoff games in a reserve role.[5] He was on the Raiders active roster for the third straight season in 1994 but did not play in any games.[6] Stephens played in 13 games, starting one, for the newly-renamed Oakland Raiders in 1995.[5] He had surgery on August 18, 1996, to repair a broken bone below his knee.[7] He was placed on injured reserve.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Stephns died on June 22, 2025, in Cedar Hill, Missouri.[1][9]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Rich Stephens". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "1991 Sacramento Surge (WLAF)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "1992 Sacramento Surge (WLAF)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Transactions". The News Journal. October 26, 1992. pp. C6. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Richard Stephens". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Raiders Roster". The Everett Herald. December 18, 1994. pp. 4C. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ Farmer, Sam (August 18, 1996). "Raiders' O-line goes from bad to worse". The Modesto Bee. pp. C2. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Hostetler: One rough-and-ready QB". The Modesto Bee. November 4, 1996. pp. C6. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ Fink, Mitch (June 24, 2025). "Rich Stephens, former Raiders offensive lineman, dead at 59". New York Post. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- 1965 births
- 2025 deaths
- American football offensive tackles
- American football offensive guards
- Tulsa Golden Hurricane football players
- Cincinnati Bengals players
- Washington Redskins players
- New York Jets players
- Sacramento Surge players
- Los Angeles Raiders players
- Oakland Raiders players
- Players of American football from St. Louis