Darren McFadden, one of the SEC’s best RBs; Where is he now?
DALLAS (BVM) — From an early age, Darren McFadden seemed destined to have a prosperous football career.
McFadden was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and attended Oak Grove High School, where he was a three-sport athlete. However, it would ultimately be football that would help him become one of the most sought-after athletes in the country.
College career
A five-star recruit and with a Landers Award, which is given to the top high school football player in Arkansas, McFadden decided to continue his career at the University of Arkansas. He’d suit up in the white and cardinal from 2005-07.
During his three-year tenure, McFadden would win back-to-back SEC Offensive Player of the Year awards (2006-07), back-to-back Doak Walker awards (2006-07) and was named the Walter Camp Player of the Year in 2007.
McFadden currently holds Arkansas’ rushing record with 4,590 career yards. That also ranks third in SEC history. He is also one of the three SEC players in history to rush for 1,000 yards in his first three seasons. He’ll always be remembered as the top Arkansas Razorback football player.
NFL career
In the 2008 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders selected McFadden with the fourth overall pick. McFadden made his debut against the Denver Broncos, where he rushed nine times for 46 yards. He finished his rookie campaign with 499 rushing yards, four touchdowns and averaged 4.4 yards a carry, according to Pro Football Reference.
Following his first year, then head coach Lane Kiffin would be fired, and late Raiders owner Al Davis hired Tom Cable to take over head coaching duties. McFadden seemed to reap the benefit of this change, especially in 2010. At the start of the season, the Raiders faced off against the Tennessee Titans. And despite the loss, McFadden rushed 18 times for 95 yards. The pinnacle of McFadden’s season and career was reached when he came back from knee surgery and scored four TDs against the Denver Broncos. He also rushed for 165 yards that game and became only the fourth Raider to score four TDs in one game.
The 2010 season would be McFadden’s best year as a professional. He’d set career marks in rushing yards (1,157), receiving yards (506) and TDs (10 total). Along with those stats, McFadden also averaged 89 rushing yards per game and 5.2 yards a carry, which ranked in the top five among NFL running backs.
Despite having a career year, McFadden would never reach the levels of 2010 due to ongoing injury problems. McFadden suited up for the Raiders until 2015. He signed a two-year, $5.85 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
Through the first five games with his new team, McFadden rushed for a total of 129 yards. But in Week 7, he’d take over for an injured Joseph Randle. McFadden rushed for a season-high 152 yards and one TD. McFadden remained the lead back for the rest of the year and finished with the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL (1,089). Even with a tiny sliver of success, McFadden’s injuries would continue to plague him for the next two seasons. Ultimately, he was released by the Cowboys and would announce his retirement two days after being released.
In an episode with Byron Live Interviews, McFadden talked about what being labeled as injury-prone is like for a professional athlete.
“It would be like a pep talk to myself,” McFadden said. “Always telling myself, ‘Don’t worry about that stuff, you’re going to do you regardless [of what other people say].’”
Career earnings and net worth
Over his 10-year NFL career, McFadden made more than $49 million, according to Spotrac, and he’s currently worth $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Where is Darren McFadden now?
Away from the game, McFadden has become a family-oriented man. He and his wife, Tita, have had three children, and it seems like he’s enjoying being around his family and away from the game.
In 2019, McFadden would be recognized for his accomplishments on the field as he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and the following year, he was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
McFadden is one of the best running backs in SEC history. Whether one is a Razorback, Cowboy, or Raider fan, McFadden will be remembered as one of football’s premier running backs.
