Jeff Modesitt Explained

Jeff Modesitt
Number:82
Position:Tight end
Birth Date:1 January 1964
Birth Place:Terre Haute, Indiana
Death Place:Atlanta, Georgia
Height Ft:6
Height In:5
Weight Lbs:245
College:Delaware
Undraftedyear:1987
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:1
Pfr:ModeJe20

Jeffrey A. Modesitt (January 1, 1964 – August 3, 1990) was an American football tight end who played for one season in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 1987. He played in one game for the Buccaneers in 1987.

College career

Modesitt played college football for the University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens from 1984 to 1986. In 1985, he started six games and recorded 11 receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown. He started 12 games in 1986 and had 28 receptions for 456 yards and three touchdowns.[1] In his senior year, he was named an Associated Press honorable mention All-America, second-team All-Eastern College Athletic Conference, and second-team All-Yankee Conference player. He also earned the Vincent "Winnie" Mayer Outstanding Senior End Award in 1986.[2]

Professional career

Modesitt was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 15, 1987.[3] He was released before the start of the season on August 5, 1987,[4] but was re-signed and played in one game for the team in 1987.

He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts after the 1987 season, but was waived on July 27, 1988.[5] Modesitt was signed by the Cleveland Browns on August 1, 1988.[6] He spent the season on the team's injured reserve list due to a shoulder injury.[7]

Modesitt was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on March 23, 1989,[8] but was waived on May 26, 1989.[9]

Car accident

On December 19, 1989, Modesitt got into a car accident in Lawrenceville, Georgia, which killed Atlanta Falcons player Brad Beckman, who was the passenger in the car. Modesitt was the driver, and his car bumped into another car. Modesitt got out of the vehicle to survey the damage, and a tractor trailer rig hit his car, with Beckman still inside, and him.[10] Beckman was killed instantly, while Modesitt suffered a fractured pelvis, fractured elbow, fractured leg, concussion, and had to have a toe amputated.[1]

Death

Modesitt was shot and killed on August 3, 1990, in Atlanta, Georgia, outside a Waffle House restaurant. He was 26 years old.[1]

Notes and References

  1. News: Ex-Blue Hen Is Killed In Shooting . . August 4, 1990 . June 17, 2012.
  2. Web site: All-Time Honors . University of Delaware Athletics . June 17, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121013122900/http://www.bluehens.com/teams/football/info/honors.html . October 13, 2012 .
  3. News: Bucs' roster hits all-time high of 120 with four more signings . . May 15, 1987 . June 17, 2012.
  4. News: Nelson's Nose to Grindstone . . August 6, 1987 . June 17, 2012.
  5. News: Transactions . . July 27, 1988 . June 17, 2012.
  6. News: Deals . https://archive.today/20130131141504/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/55854175.html?dids=55854175:55854175&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+01,+1988&author=&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=DEALS&pqatl=google . dead . January 31, 2013 . . August 1, 1988 . June 17, 2012.
  7. News: Free Agent Swaps Mixed for Falcons . . April 9, 1989 . June 17, 2012.
  8. News: Cox Meets With Thrift, Keeps Trade Talk Alive . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . March 23, 1989 . June 17, 2012.
  9. News: Sports News Briefs; Car Crash Kills Falcon Tight End . . December 19, 1989 . June 17, 2012.
  10. News: 2nd Falcon in 4 weeks is killed in car accident . . December 19, 1989 . June 17, 2012.