Major Everett Major Donel Everett ( born January 4 , 1960 in New Hebron , Mississippi ) is a former professional running back and American football player in the National Football League for 5 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles , Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons . [ ₁ ] [ ₁₁ ] High school . Everett attended New Hebron High School . The Golden Bears went 11 - 1 his senior year , winning the 1977 - 78 Mid - South Conference Championship led by coach John A . Flynt . Everett was named All Conference running back and All Conference defensive back . Everett also played basketball in high school , as a senior they upset top ranked Monticello Red Devils of the Lawrence County Tournament by a last minute 18 footer from the corner by Greg Lee . Everett also ran track in high school . As a senior he helped the New Hebron High Track Team win the Mid - South Conference Championship , state semifinals and state running the 100 yard dash , 110 high hurdles , 180 low hurdles , 440 relay and 880 relay teams . College . In 1983 , Everett graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton , Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics . For the Mississippi College Choctaws , Everett was a Kodak Small College All American pick , a three year All Gulf South Conference pick , and a two time MVP selectee . [ ₂ ] Topped by a career best 307 yard game versus Delta State , Everett went on to set a school mark with 3 , 316 yards rushing , a school mark for TD ’ s with 35 , and also caught 43 passes for 458 more yards . [ ₃ ] USFL . Everett was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 13th round as the 149th pick . A tribia question , " Who was the first player that was in a USFL camp and made a NFL team " , answer , Major Everett . After Everett was chosen in the 1983 USFL Draft , he reported to the Birmingham Stallions camp , but did not want to play , because his mother had a heart attack the day he was to report to camp . After a week in camp , the Birmingham Stallions release Everett and he went into the NFL as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles . Professional Life . Everett signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles in May , 1983 . As a rookie in 1983 , he quickly built a reputation as a special teams player extraordinaire under legendary Special Teams Coach Frank Gansz with 42 tackles and 275 yards on 14 kickoff returns . In 1984 , his teammates named him as Special Teams Captain after the career ending injury to teammate Bill Cowher . During that season , he played in every game leading the Eagles with 42 special teams tackles and three kick off returns for 40 yards . In 1985 , Everett had 32 special teams tackles and was selected as the NFC Alternate to the Pro Bowl for Special Teams . Additionally , Everett received the Philadelphia Eagles Outstanding Special Teams Award in 1983 , 1984 , and 1985 . Everett was instrumental in redefining the special teams role in professional football , helping to raise the profile of special teams players . [ ₄ ] In 1986 , Everett joined Coach Marty Schottenheimer ’ s Cleveland Browns in week eight and contributed with 18 special teams tackles and a fumble recovery under Special Teams Coach Bill Cowher . Everett had three special teams tackles in the exciting AFC Championship game dubbed “ The Drive ” against the Denver Broncos that season . [ ₅ ] [ ₆ ] Everett completed his professional career with the Atlanta Falcons in 1987 where he played on all specialty units , even forcing a fumble from Herschel Walker that led to a touchdown in a victory over the Dallas Cowboys . [ ₁₁ ] POST - NFL CAREER . Everett is President and Founder of Maj Thirty Nine , Inc . , a real estate investment and development firm . In 1995 , Everett established The Major Everett Foundation [ ₉ ] and remains active in the National Football League Players Association . Major and his wife , Valarie , actively participate in NFL events for retired players and their spouses in the Atlanta and Philadelphia areas . [ ₁₀ ] Also , he supports many philanthropic efforts in the community where needed , particularly benefiting youth and educational opportunities , and health and wellness initiatives . Personal life . Born and raised in New Hebron , MS , as one of eight children ( five brothers and two sisters ) of Carlie and Velmon Everett . In April , 1984 , the town of New Hebron recognized his accomplishments with a Major Everett Day . Major Everett married Valarie Barrett in May , 1988 ; they have two sons Major Everett , II ( b . 1991 ) and C . Myles Everett ( b . 1994 ) . Major also has a son , Brian Gale ( b . 1979 ) . The Everett ’ s share their time between Mississippi , Georgia and Pennsylvania .