Larry Centers Larry Eugene Centers ( born June 1 , 1968 ) is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for 14 seasons , mostly for his first team , the Phoenix / Arizona Cardinals ( 1990 – 1998 ) . Centers then played for the Washington Redskins ( 1999 – 2000 ) , Buffalo Bills ( 2001 – 2002 ) , and finally was a member of the New England Patriots for the ( 2003 ) season , when the team won their second Super Bowl . He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1995 , 1996 , and 2001 . Early life . Centers played little league football during his elementary school years and advanced to the middle school and high school levels showing the talent which earned him a scholarship invitation to nearby Stephen F . Austin State University , among others , as he approached graduation from high school in Tatum , Texas . College career . Centers originally began his career at Stephen F . Austin as a wide receiver . He broke a finger on his left hand and switched position to running back . he was a two - time all - Southland Conference pick and set a school record for rushing yards in his senior season . Professional career . Phoenix / Arizona Cardinals . After graduating from Stephen F . Austin State University , Centers was drafted by the Phoenix Cardinals in the 1990 NFL Draft . He saw limited playing time in his first two seasons but had an excellent season in his third year , rushing for 139 yards and catching 50 passes for 417 yards . The role of the fullback as a ball carrier was starting to diminish as the NFL game evolved during the 1990s . Yet , Centers ' s offensive numbers only increased as the years went by , especially his receptions . He caught 66 passes in his third NFL season , then 77 the year after that . In 1995 , Centers had one of the greatest seasons of any fullback , recording a whopping 101 receptions for 962 yards . As of 2010 , the 101 receptions are the most in a single season for a running back . He also rushed for 254 yards , scored four touchdowns , and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time . Unfortunately , his team was not successful despite his contributions ; they finished the 1995 season with a 4 - 12 record . Centers had another spectacular season in 1996 , recording 99 receptions for 766 yards and seven touchdowns , while also gaining a career high 425 yards , and he scored two touchdowns on the ground . In 1996 , Centers was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row , but once again his team had a disappointing season , finishing with a 7 - 9 record . Centers continued to be a major contributor to the Cardinals , recording 123 receptions and 386 rushing yards over the next two seasons . In his final year with Arizona ( 1998 ) , the team had recorded a 9 - 7 record and made the playoffs as a wild card . The Cardinals made it all the way to the divisional playoffs before being eliminated in a 41 - 21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings . Washington Redskins . In 1999 , Centers signed with the Redskins and had another superb season , recording 69 receptions . During a crucial game against the 49ers , Centers caught a 33 - yard touchdown pass in overtime , which made the Redskins the NFC Eastern division champs for the first time since 1991 . The Redskins finished the season with a 10 - 6 record but were eliminated in the divisional playoffs by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , 14 - 13 . The next year , 2000 , was another fine Centers season for Washington ' s offense . He caught 81 passes for 600 yards , rushed for 103 yards , and used his blocking to help running back Stephen Davis achieve star numbers , 1 , 318 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns . However , the Redskins recorded only an 8 - 8 record that year and did not make the playoffs . Buffalo Bills . In 2001 , Centers signed with the Bills and made it to his third Pro Bowl appearance , catching another 80 passes , this time for a total of 620 yards , with 160 yards rushing and four touchdowns . New England Patriots . After spending another year with Buffalo , Centers joined the Patriots in 2003 . By this time , 35 - year old Centers ' role as a receiver ( along with ball carrier ) had greatly diminished . He recorded 19 receptions for 106 yards and rushed for 82 yards . Still , his blocking contributions as part of the Patriots offense allowed him to earn a Super Bowl ring ; New England finished the season with a 14 - 2 record and went on to defeat the Carolina Panthers 32 - 29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII . Centers retired before the start of the 2004 season . NFL stats . In his 14 NFL seasons , Centers rushed for 2 , 188 yards , caught 827 passes for 6 , 797 yards , returned five punts for 30 yards , returned 33 kickoffs for 617 yards and scored 42 touchdowns ( 14 rushing / 28 receiving ) . Centers ' s 827 receptions are currently the second most by any non - wide receiver in NFL history , with tight end Tony Gonzalez having surpassed his mark in 2008 . Because NFL fullbacks are now almost exclusively used as blockers , Centers may be remembered as the greatest pass receiving fullback ever , and one of the last to be used as a ball carrier . Personal life . Centers has five children , Brittani , Larry II , Devin , Sydni , and Kennedi . Larry II plays football at Texas State University in San Marcos , TX . Devin plays football for Utah State University in Logan , UT .