Lions Re-Sign WR/KR Eddie Drummond

Allen Park, Mich.- The Detroit Lions announced today that they have re-signed WR/KR Eddie Drummond to a four-year deal. Additional contract terms were not disclosed.

Drummond enters his fifth NFL season as one of the NFL's premier kick returners. He is one of two players in NFL history (Chiefs KR Dante Hall, 2003) to have two punt return and two kickoff return touchdowns in a single season (2004). Last season, Drummond finished with 1,077 kickoff return yards on 49 kick returns (22.0 avg).

In 2004, Drummond had a career season while garnering 1,092 kickoff return yards with two touchdowns on 41 returns (26.6 avg) and 316 punt return yards with two touchdown on 24 returns (13.2 avg) en route to being named to the 2005 Pro Bowl. He was also selected to the 2005 Associated Press All-Pro team. Drummond's season was highlighted by consecutive performances at Jacksonville (11/14) and at Minnesota (11/21) when he became the first player in NFL history to score three consecutive touchdowns for his team via punt and kickoff returns after he returned two punts for touchdowns (55, 83) in the fourth quarter vs. the Jaguars before returing the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown vs. the Vikings. He was on the verge of breaking several NFL records for a kick returner but suffered a shoulder injury (vs. Indianapolis, 11/25/04) that eventually landed him on the reserve/injured list December 22.

Drummond, who originally joined the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2002, currently ranks third in team annals in career kickoff return yards (3,677) and kick returns (151). He is tied with Jack Christiansen (4) for the most combined kick returns for touchdowns, and is one of four players (Mel Gray, 3; Ron Jessie, 2; Terry Fair, 2) in franchise history to return two-or-more kickoffs for touchdowns in a single season.

As a senior at Penn State, Drummond started five games at wide receiver before being switched to the tailback position midway through the season. He finished his collegiate career with the Nittany Lions with 71 receptions for 1,134 yards and five touchdowns in addition to 40 rushing attempts for 272 yards and one touchdown.

Drummond was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., but played high school football at the Linsly School in West Virginia where he set school records with 5,729 all-purpose yards, including 3,901 career rushing yards. He was named the Gatorade and USA Today Player of the Year in West Virginia after rushing for 1,105 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior.

DRUMMOND'S CAREER RETURN STATISTICS   Punt Returns Kick Returns

Year Team G/S PR Yds Avg Lg TD KR Yds Avg Lg TD
2002 Det 9/0 18 138 7.7 73t 1 40 1,039 26.0 91 0
2003 Det 6/0 12 151 12.6 57t 1 21 469 22.3 38 0
2004 Det 11/1 24 316 13.2 83t 2 41 1,092 26.6 99t 2
2005 Det 12/0 26 157 6.0 38 0 49 1,077 22.0 48 0
Totals 38/1 80 762 9.5 83t 4 151 3,677 24.4 99t 2