| Derrick Gainer | |
| Position: | Running back |
| Number: | 39 |
| Birth Date: | August 15, 1966 |
| Birth Place: | Plant City, Florida, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 11 |
| Weight Lbs: | 235 |
| High School: | Plant City (FL) |
| College: | Florida A&M |
| Draftyear: | 1989 |
| Draftround: | 8 |
| Draftpick: | 205 |
| Pastteams: |
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| Highlights: |
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| Statlabel1: | Games played |
| Statvalue1: | 34 |
| Pfr: | GainDe00 |
Derrick Luther Gainer (born August 15, 1966) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Raiders, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Florida A&M University. He won two Super Bowls back-to-back with Dallas over the Buffalo Bills.
Gainer attended Plant City High School. He received All-conference recognition as a senior running back. He accepted a football scholarship from Florida A&M University.
He suffered a knee injury during his sophomore season and had arthroscopic knee surgery.[1] As a junior, he posted 235 rushing yards.
As a senior, he led the team with 126 carries for 627 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns. He also led the Mideastern Athletic Conference in total touchdowns with 11.[2] He finished his college career with 222 carries for 1,132 yards (5.1-yard avg.).
Gainer was selected by the Los Angeles Raiders in the eighth round (205th overall) of the 1989 NFL draft. Although officially it is recorded that the Raiders waived him before the start of the season, it was actually his decision to leave the team.[3] On September 9, he was signed to the practice squad.[4] He was released on November 29.
On December 13, 1989, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns to their practice squad.[5] In 1990, he made the regular season roster and played in all 16 games as a backup fullback, while leading the team with 18 special teams tackles. In the season opener he had 10 carries for 32 yards. His first start came in the second game against the New York Jets in place of an injured Kevin Mack, but he suffered a knee injury in the second half of the game. He was released on August 26, 1991.[6]
In February 1992, he was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Raiders. On September 2, he was cut to make room for quarterback Vince Evans.[7] He was later re-signed, making the team over Napoleon McCallum, only to be released once again on September 16, to make room for linebacker Tom Benson.[8]
On October 15, 1992, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys to help on the special teams units, where he had 2 tackles.[9] On November 23, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a strained right hamstring. He was re-activated on December 28.
After Curvin Richards was released for fumbling in the last regular season game against the Chicago Bears, Gainer was also used to backup Emmitt Smith during the playoff run to Super Bowl XXVII. In the playoff 34–10 win against the Philadelphia Eagles, he entered the fourth quarter, rushing for 29 yards and scored the last touchdown.[10] He had 2 carries for one yard in relief of Smith during the Super Bowl.
In 1993, he got the opportunity to compete with rookie Derrick Lassic for the starting running back job, while Smith was in a contract holdout. He was the fourth-string running back and appeared in 11 games, making 3 special teams tackles. On May 10, 1994, he was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders in exchange for past considerations.[11]
On August 28, 1994, Gainer was released by the Los Angeles Raiders.[12]