# Hugh Douglas (American football)
**Hugh Douglas** (Hugh Lamont Douglas, born 1971 in [Mansfield, Ohio](https://www.edgepedia.org/mansfield-ohio)) is a former [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) defensive end who played ten NFL seasons with the [New York Jets](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-jets), Philadelphia Eagles, and Jacksonville Jaguars, and is best known for his Eagles career from 1998 to 2002 and 2004, during which he made three Pro Bowls and recorded 54.5 sacks.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DougHu00.htm) • [2](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/halloffame/hugh-douglas) He is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame (2022) and the Black College Football Hall of Fame (2010), and after retirement he became a Philadelphia sports-talk radio host.[3](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/spadaro-trent-cole-hugh-douglas-eagles-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022) • [4](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/hugh-douglas-hbcu-black-history-month-philadelphia-eagles-rooted-in-strength) • [5](https://philadelphiasportshalloffame.org/athlete/hugh-douglas/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971, Mansfield, Ohio; 6-2, 281 lbs (188 cm, 127 kg)[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DougHu00.htm) |
| College / draft | Central State (OH); first-round pick, 16th overall, New York Jets, 1995 NFL Draft[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DougHu00.htm) • [6](https://admin.profootballarchives.com/drafts/1995nfldraft.html) |
| Rookie honors | 1995 AP and PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year with the Jets[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DougHu00.htm) |
| Eagles career | 1998-2002 and 2004; three Pro Bowls (2000-02), first-team All-Pro (2000), 54.5 sacks[2](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/halloffame/hugh-douglas) |
| Peak season | 2000: career-high 15 sacks, NFL-leading 21 tackles for loss, only career interception[2](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/halloffame/hugh-douglas) |
| Career totals | 138 games, 80.0 sacks, 15 forced fumbles[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DougHu00.htm) |
| Honors | Eagles Hall of Fame (2022); Black College Football Hall of Fame (2010); not elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame[3](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/spadaro-trent-cole-hugh-douglas-eagles-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022) • [4](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/hugh-douglas-hbcu-black-history-month-philadelphia-eagles-rooted-in-strength) • [1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DougHu00.htm) |
## College career
Douglas played at Central State University, a Historically Black University in Wilberforce, Ohio, from 1991 to 1994. He recorded 42 sacks in 32 games over a three-year career, was a two-time NAIA All-American, and led his team to an NAIA Division I national championship during his sophomore year.[4](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/hugh-douglas-hbcu-black-history-month-philadelphia-eagles-rooted-in-strength) • [7](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/hugh-douglas-philadelphia-eagles-black-college-hall-of-fame) He later described his practice battles there against teammate Erik Williams, a future three-time All-Pro offensive tackle, as formative, saying the one-sided matchups pushed him into the weight room and onto the track to improve.[4](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/hugh-douglas-hbcu-black-history-month-philadelphia-eagles-rooted-in-strength)
## New York Jets (1995-1997)
The Jets selected Douglas with the 16th overall pick of the 1995 draft, a pick acquired from Arizona.[6](https://admin.profootballarchives.com/drafts/1995nfldraft.html) As a rookie he played 15 games with 10 sacks and was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and the Pro Football Writers Association Defensive Rookie of the Year.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DougHu00.htm) He spent three seasons with New York before being traded.[2](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/halloffame/hugh-douglas)
## Philadelphia Eagles (1998-2002, 2004)
**Trade and first season.** Philadelphia acquired Douglas in a trade during the 1998 offseason, sending second- and fifth-round draft picks to the Jets.[3](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/spadaro-trent-cole-hugh-douglas-eagles-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022) In his first Eagles season he had 12.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, including 4.5 sacks in a single game against the [San Diego Chargers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-diego-chargers) on October 18, 1998, which tied Clyde Simmons' franchise record for sacks in a game and earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors.[2](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/halloffame/hugh-douglas) • [8](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/where-are-they-now-de-hugh-douglas-3566777)
**Peak years under Reid and Johnson.** Douglas took his game to a new level after [Andy Reid](https://www.edgepedia.org/andy-reid) became head coach and Jim Johnson defensive coordinator in 1999, fitting the Eagles' attacking defensive scheme.[3](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/spadaro-trent-cole-hugh-douglas-eagles-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022) In 2000 he made his first [Pro Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-bowl) with a career-high 15 sacks, led the league with 21 tackles for loss, notched his only career interception, was named first-team All-Pro, and finished third in AP Comeback Player of the Year voting.[2](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/halloffame/hugh-douglas) In 2001 he added 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 47 tackles; in 2002 he made his final Pro Bowl with 12.5 sacks, 53 tackles, and an NFL-leading 20 tackles for loss.[2](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/halloffame/hugh-douglas) His 1999 season was cut to four games by injury, with two sacks.[2](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/halloffame/hugh-douglas)
**Final seasons.** Douglas signed with Jacksonville as an unrestricted free agent in March 2003 and spent one season with the Jaguars, then returned to Philadelphia for 2004, recording three sacks in a rotation role and helping the Eagles reach [Super Bowl XXXIX](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-xxxix), which they lost.[9](https://www.jaguars.com/news/jaguars-sign-douglas-edwards-5846420) • [2](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/halloffame/hugh-douglas) • [1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DougHu00.htm) He retired before the 2005 season.[10](https://playfootball.nfl.com/news-events/news-and-features/nfl-legend-hugh-douglas-learned-teamwork-sacrifice-and-loyalty-on-the-youth-football-field/)
## Legacy in Philadelphia
Douglas's 54.5 sacks rank sixth in Eagles franchise history; at the end of his Eagles tenure following the 2004 season he stood third on the franchise list behind Clyde Simmons and [Reggie White](https://www.edgepedia.org/reggie-white).[4](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/hugh-douglas-hbcu-black-history-month-philadelphia-eagles-rooted-in-strength) He was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2022 alongside fellow edge rusher Trent Cole, with the two honored at halftime of a November 27, 2022 game against Green Bay.[3](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/spadaro-trent-cole-hugh-douglas-eagles-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022) He has not been elected to the [Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-football-hall-of-fame); Pro Football Reference's Hall of Fame Monitor scores him at 38.50, 76th among defensive ends, against an average of 102.38 for Hall of Fame defensive ends.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DougHu00.htm)
## Broadcasting and personal life
After retiring, Douglas moved into broadcasting with roles at 610 WIP, ESPN, and as a co-host of the 94WIP Mid-Day show in Philadelphia.[5](https://philadelphiasportshalloffame.org/athlete/hugh-douglas/) He lives in Atlanta and remains a commentator on SportsRadio 94WIP.[4](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/hugh-douglas-hbcu-black-history-month-philadelphia-eagles-rooted-in-strength) His son Hugh, who attended [Morehouse College](https://www.edgepedia.org/morehouse-college) in Atlanta, died in a car accident in 2023.[4](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/hugh-douglas-hbcu-black-history-month-philadelphia-eagles-rooted-in-strength)
## References
1. [Hugh Douglas Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College, Pro-Football-Reference](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DougHu00.htm)
2. [Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame: Hugh Douglas](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/halloffame/hugh-douglas)
3. [Spadaro: Trent Cole, Hugh Douglas a perfect pair for the Eagles' Hall of Fame Class of 2022](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/spadaro-trent-cole-hugh-douglas-eagles-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022)
4. [Hugh Douglas: 'Humbling' to be part of HBCU's proud history](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/hugh-douglas-hbcu-black-history-month-philadelphia-eagles-rooted-in-strength)
5. [Hugh Douglas, Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame](https://philadelphiasportshalloffame.org/athlete/hugh-douglas/)
6. [1995 NFL Draft, Pro Football Archives](https://admin.profootballarchives.com/drafts/1995nfldraft.html)
7. [Black College Hall of Fame To Induct Hugh Douglas](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/hugh-douglas-philadelphia-eagles-black-college-hall-of-fame)
8. [Where Are They Now: DE Hugh Douglas](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/where-are-they-now-de-hugh-douglas-3566777)
9. [Jaguars sign Douglas, Edwards](https://www.jaguars.com/news/jaguars-sign-douglas-edwards-5846420)
10. [NFL Legend Hugh Douglas Learned Teamwork, Sacrifice, and Loyalty on the Youth Football Field](https://playfootball.nfl.com/news-events/news-and-features/nfl-legend-hugh-douglas-learned-teamwork-sacrifice-and-loyalty-on-the-youth-football-field/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Defensive ends › Retired and historical defensive ends*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license