Travis Jervey

Travis Richard Jervey (born May 5, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a running back on the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons. With the Packers, he won Super Bowl XXXI over the New England Patriots and participated in the 1998 Pro Bowl.

Travis Jervey
No. 32, 36
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1972-05-05) May 5, 1972
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:222 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High school:Wando
(Mount Pleasant, South Carolina)
College:The Citadel
NFL Draft:1995 / Round: 5 / Pick: 170
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:503
Return yards:843
Touchdowns:2
Player stats at PFR

Football career

Early years

Jervey attended Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and played collegiately at The Citadel in neighboring Charleston, where he was the backup to Everette Sands for three years.[1] Jervey also considered playing for Hawaii, but that program only offered him a partial scholarship.[1] During his senior season, Jervey set a school record with a 96 yard run against VMI in the Oyster Bowl.[2] Jervey was later inducted into both The Citadel and South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.[1]

Green Bay Packers

Jervey was a fifth round pick (170th overall) of the Packers in the 1995 NFL Draft;[3] lead scout John Dorsey suggested taking Terrell Davis with the pick but general manager Ron Wolf was worried about Davis' injury history and took Jervey instead.[4] In the 1996 season, Jervey participated in the "NFL's Fastest Man" competition and placed fourth.[5] After playing exclusively at running back in college, Jervey began playing on special teams with the Packers and made the 1998 Pro Bowl as a special teams player.[1] In 1998, Jervey started five games in place of the injured Dorsey Levens before sustaining a broken ankle.[6] As his rookie contract was up after 1998, the Jacksonville Jaguars originally offered Jervey a three-year contract but later rescinded; he re-signed on a one-year deal with the Packers.[4]

San Francisco 49ers

In 1999, he signed a four-year free agent contract with the 49ers worth $6 million.[7] While still recovering from a broken ankle, Jervey claimed to take testosterone shots, but the league said Jervey took steroids and suspended him for four games.[4] In the 2000 season, Jervey returned kicks for the 49ers, but his season came to an early end after he suffered a broken collarbone against the St. Louis Rams.[8] After reportedly taking a pay cut prior to the 1999 season, Jervey would not negotiate a lower level of compensation for the 2000 season and was released on March 19 in what was viewed as a move to save salary cap space.[9]

Atlanta Falcons

Jervey signed with the Atlanta Falcons on May 1, 2001.[10] He played in every game that year, mostly on special teams.[11] He was re-signed for the 2002 season,[12] but a torn anterior cruciate ligament ended his season in late October.[13] His 2003 season with the Falcons was derailed by a neck sprain sustained late in the season.[14]

Personal life

While playing for the Packers, Jervey lived with teammate LeShon Johnson in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The two owned a pet lion named Nala after previously being dissuaded from owning a monkey.[15] He was arrested for speeding in his Ferrari and marijuana possession in February 1998, but the marijuana charges were later dropped when it was determined that law enforcement misidentified a substance in his car.[16][17] Jervey is married.[1] He is an avid surfer, and previously held land in Dominical, Puntarenas when he wintered in Costa Rica to ride waves.[1]

Jervey returned to football in a one-off coaching appearance for the American team in the 2015 Medal of Honor Bowl.[18]

Notes
  1. Slater, Darryl (May 13, 2013). "Jervey's journey 'so ridiculous'". The Post and Courier. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  2. "Rushing Records" (PDF). The Citadel Athletics. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  3. "1995 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  4. Rivard, Raymond (8 August 2016). "Green Bay Packers: Travis Jervey – an unusual #32". Lombardi Ave. FanSided. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  5. Turney, John (February 20, 2014). "NFL's Fastest Man Competition". Pro Football Journal. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  6. "FOOTBALL; Packers' Jervey Out for Season". New York Times. November 11, 1998. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  7. Maxymuk, J. (2003). Packers by the Numbers: Jersey Numbers and the Players who Wore Them. Prairie Oak Press. p. 145. ISBN 9781879483903. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
  8. Smith, Michelle (October 31, 2000). "Team's supreme when it comes to penalty yards". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved October 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "49ers waive running back Travis Jervey". Tulare Advance-Register. March 19, 2001. Retrieved October 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Falcons sign veteran RB Thomas". The Tennessean. May 2, 2001. Retrieved October 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Falcons Sign Weary, Re-Sign Jervey". Midland Reporter-Telegram. April 8, 2002. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  12. Pasquarelli, Len (April 9, 2002). "Falcons, Jervey agree to one-year deal". ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  13. "Ex-Packer Bradford having career year". Stevens Point Journal. October 27, 2002. Retrieved October 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Winkeljohn, Matt (December 23, 2003). "Dedication shows in victory". Atlanta Constitution. Retrieved October 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Bricker, Charles (January 21, 1998). "From Green Bay to Surf City". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  16. "Packers' RB Arrested on Drug Charge". Associated Press. February 18, 1998. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  17. "PLUS: PRO FOOTBALL; Charges Dropped Against Jervey". New York Times. February 21, 1998. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  18. "IOP's Jervey to coach in Medal of Honor Bowl". Moultrie News. January 1, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
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