Lucky Whitehead
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1992)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Lucky Whitehead
| image = 2024, 13, Lucky Whitehead.jpg
| caption = Whitehead with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
| current_team =
| position = Wide receiver
Kick returner
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|6|2}}
| birth_place = Manassas, Virginia, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 177
| high_school = Osbourn
(Manassas, Virginia)
| college = Florida Atlantic
| undraftedyear = 2015
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2016}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2017}})
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2019|2020}})
- BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2021|2023}})
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2024}})
| status = Retired
| cflstatus = American
| highlights =
- Grey Cup champion (2019)
- CFL All-Star ({{CFL Year|2021}})
- CFL West All-Star ({{CFL Year|2021}})
- First-team All-Conference USA (2014)
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 9
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 64
| statlabel3 = Rushing yards
| statvalue3 = 189
| statlabel4 = Return yards
| statvalue4 = 1,151
| statlabel5 = Total touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 2
| cflstatseason = 2024
| cflstatlabel1 = Receptions
| cflstatvalue1 = 248
| cflstatlabel2 = Receiving yards
| cflstatvalue2 = 3,192
| cflstatlabel3 = Rushing yards
| cflstatvalue3 = 118
| cflstatlabel4 = Total return yards
| cflstatvalue4 = 1,099
| cflstatlabel5 = Total touchdowns
| cflstatvalue5 = 16
| cfl = lucky-whitehead/163481
| pfr = WhitLu00
}}
Rodney Darnell "Lucky" Whitehead Jr.{{Cite news |title=Cowboys release Lucky Whitehead after missed arraignment on shoplifting charge |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/07/24/an-arrest-warrant-reportedly-has-been-issued-for-cowboys-wide-receiver-lucky-whitehead/ |access-date=July 25, 2017 |newspaper=Washington Post}} (born June 2, 1992) is an American former professional football wide receiver and kick returner who played for three seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and five years in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has been a member of the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and BC Lions. He is a Grey Cup champion after winning with the Blue Bombers in 2019 and was named a CFL All-Star in 2021. He played college football at Florida Atlantic.
Early life
Whitehead was born in Manassas, Virginia on June 2, 1992. He attended George C. Round Elementary and Osbourn High School where he played wide receiver and cornerback on the football team, while being named All-Conference as a senior.
College career
Whitehead first attended Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, where he played wide receiver and return specialist for the Bulldogs, receiving All-American and All-Conference honors. In 2013, he transferred to Florida Atlantic University to play for the Owls where he registered 284 all-purpose yards. As a senior, Whitehead was the team's slot receiver, registering 76 receptions, which led the conference, for 706 yards and six touchdowns, 21 carries for 210 yards and two touchdowns, and a 24.7-yard average on kickoff returns. He had a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown in his last college game against the Old Dominion Monarchs.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 9 1/2
| weight = 179
| dash = 4.39
| ten split = 1.54
| twenty split = 2.54
| shuttle = 4.18
| cone drill = 6.89
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 1
| bench = 20
| arm span = 32
| hand span = 8 7/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=129882&DraftYear=2015 |title=2015 Draft Scout Lucky Whitehead, Florida Atlantic NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=September 29, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/48130 |title=Rodney Whitehead 2015 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=September 29, 2022}}
}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
==2015 season==
Whitehead was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2015 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=Lucky Whitehead hopes No. 13 is lucky |date=June 17, 2015 |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4743116/lucky-whitehead-hopes-no-13-is-lucky |access-date=February 5, 2016}} He made the team as one of the players that was looked upon to replace the departed Dwayne Harris special teams production. Although wide receiver Cole Beasley was the assigned punt returner early in the season, because he provided better ball security, Whitehead was given opportunities until earning the returner role for the final six games. He only averaged 5.8 yards per attempt as a punt returner, but showed glimpses as a kickoff returner (28.3 yards avg.), like his 79-yard kickoff return against the Philadelphia Eagles or his key 46-yard kickoff return against the Washington Redskins to set up the game-winning field goal with 14 seconds left.{{Cite web |title=Cowboys WR Lucky Whitehead making big plays on offense, special teams |date=December 9, 2015 |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4747886/lucky-whitehead-making-big-plays-for-offense-special-teams |access-date=February 5, 2017}} Whitehead was used on offense with special runs designed for him. In the sixth game of the season against the New York Giants, he set a franchise record for a wide receiver with four rushing attempts. He finished the 2015 season with 10 rushes for 107 yards and six receptions for 16 yards.{{Cite web |title=Lucky Whitehead 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitLu00/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=July 27, 2017 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}
==2016 season==
In the preseason opener, which was the first NFL game in Los Angeles since 1994,{{Cite web |last=Farmer |first=Sam |date=August 10, 2016 |title=Rams expand Coliseum capacity for Dallas, Seattle games - LA Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-tickets-cowboys-seahawks-20160810-snap-story.html |access-date=July 27, 2017 |website=Los Angeles Times}} against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Whitehead returned the opening kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. In addition, he had one catch for six yards and one rushing attempt for 11 yards. In Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers, Whitehead caught a career-long 35-yard reception from quarterback Dak Prescott,{{Cite web |date=October 17, 2016 |title=Whitehead Logs First Reception of 2016 On Crucial Third Down |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/whitehead-logs-first-reception-of-2016-on-crucial-third-down-417101 |access-date=July 27, 2017 |publisher=Dallas Cowboys}} as well as a season-long 26 yard run.{{Cite web |title=Lucky Whitehead 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitLu00/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=July 27, 2017 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} Whitehead experienced problems during the season, like his critical fumble during a run against the Minnesota Vikings. The next week after being late to team meetings on the Saturday before the trip to New York, he was subsequently left home, fined and de-activated against the New York Giants.{{Cite web |title=Cowboys WR Lucky Whitehead apologizes to teammates |url=http://www.espn.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/75003/cowboys-wr-lucky-whitehead-apologizes-to-teammates |access-date=February 5, 2016}} Whitehead remained more effective as a runner out of the backfield than at wide receiver, and was inconsistent as a return specialist. He shared the returner role with Beasley and running back Lance Dunbar, especially in critical situations, when better ball security was required.{{Cite web |title=Whitehead Has Flashed Potential, But Remains Inconsistent |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/star-evaluation-whitehead-has-flashed-potential-but-remains-inconsistent-428301 |access-date=February 5, 2016}} He had a total of three fumbles, losing two.
==2017 season==
On July 24, 2017, it was revealed that Whitehead was facing misdemeanor petty larceny charges stemming from an arrest in June having stolen $25 of goods from a Wawa convenience store in Prince William County, Virginia and skipped court summons. Later that day after the team's first training camp practice, he was released by the Cowboys.{{Cite web |last=Phillips, Rob |date=July 24, 2017 |title=Cowboys Release Lucky Whitehead Following Reports Of WR's June Arrest |url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2017/07/24/cowboys-officially-release-lucky-whitehead-following-news-wr%E2%80%99s-june-arrest |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024175821/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2017/07/24/cowboys-officially-release-lucky-whitehead-following-news-wr%E2%80%99s-june-arrest |archive-date=October 24, 2017 |website=DallasCowboys.com}}{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2017 |title=Cowboys cut Lucky Whitehead after reported arrest |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000821636/article/dallas-cowboys-cut-lucky-whitehead-after-arrest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727032751/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000821636/article/dallas-cowboys-cut-lucky-whitehead-after-arrest |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 27, 2017 |website=NFL.com}} The charges were dropped and he was cleared by the police when it was determined the next day that the charges were based on mistaken identity.{{Cite web |date=July 26, 2017 |title=Police say Lucky Whitehead was misidentified; arrested man gave false information |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20154184/prince-william-county-police-confirm-lucky-whitehead-was-misidentified |website=ESPN.com}}
=New York Jets=
On July 26, 2017, Whitehead was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets.{{Cite web |last=Allen, Eric |date=July 26, 2017 |title=Jets Claim WR-KR Lucky Whitehead |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-claim-wr-kr-lucky-whitehead-19051214 |website=NewYorkJets.com}} On August 16, 2017, it was revealed that Whitehead would undergo surgery for a fractured foot he suffered in practice, with an estimated recovery time of four to six weeks.{{cite web | last=Patra | first=Kevin | title=Injuries: Lucky Whitehead to have surgery on foot | website=NFL.com | date=2017-08-16 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/injuries-lucky-whitehead-to-have-surgery-on-foot-0ap3000000830333 | access-date=2025-02-01}} He was waived/injured on September 2, 2017 and was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Lange, Randy |date=September 2, 2017 |title=Jets Reduce to 53 with 23 Player Moves |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-Reduce-to-53-with-23-Player-Moves/cc228adf-8efd-4ebf-9482-5cd637b6b638 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207085306/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-Reduce-to-53-with-23-Player-Moves/cc228adf-8efd-4ebf-9482-5cd637b6b638 |archive-date=December 7, 2017 |website=NewYorkJets.com}} He was released by the team on September 11, 2017. He was re-signed to the Jets' practice squad on November 24, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Allen, Eric |date=November 24, 2017 |title=WR-KR Lucky Whitehead Added to Practice Squad |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/WR-KR-Lucky-Whitehead-Added-to-Practice-Squad/849c42fb-50a0-43a7-81ec-c7299a9423d8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221011151/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/WR-KR-Lucky-Whitehead-Added-to-Practice-Squad/849c42fb-50a0-43a7-81ec-c7299a9423d8 |archive-date=February 21, 2018 |website=NewYorkJets.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on December 30, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg, Ethan |date=December 30, 2017 |title=Jets Place RB Forté on Injured Reserve |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-place-rb-forte-on-injured-reserve-20162649 |website=NewYorkJets.com}} On August 26, 2018, Whitehead was waived/injured by the Jets and was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Lange, Randy |date=August 26, 2018 |title=Jets Sign QB John Wolford |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-qb-john-wolford |website=NewYorkJets.com}} He was released on August 31, 2018.
= Winnipeg Blue Bombers (first stint)=
Whitehead signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on May 9, 2019.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-09 |title=Bombers sign receiver Lucky Whitehead |url=https://www.bluebombers.com/2019/05/09/bombers-sign-receiver-lucky-whitehead/ |access-date=2019-06-28 |website=Winnipeg Blue Bombers |language=en}} He had a breakout performance in Week 3 of the 2019 regular season, catching 7 passes for 155 yards with two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=2019-06-27 Game Tracker - Edmonton Eskimos vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2568) |url=https://www.cfl.ca/games/2568/ |access-date=2019-06-28 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}} Whitehead finished the year with 52 catches for 521 yards and two touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and one kickoff return for a score in 15 regular season games. He was on the injured list during the Blue Bombers' playoff run, but was part of the 107th Grey Cup championship team. He did not play in 2020 following the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season and became a free agent in 2021.
= BC Lions =
On the first day of free agency in 2021, Whitehead signed with the BC Lions on February 9, 2021.{{Cite web |title=Feelin' lucky {{!}} Lions land free agent playmaker Lucky Whitehead |date=February 9, 2021 |url=https://www.bclions.com/2021/02/09/feelin-lucky-lions-land-free-agent-playmaker-whitehead/ |access-date=2021-02-09 |publisher=BC Lions |language=en}} On October 4, 2021, the Lions announced that Whitehead would undergo surgery after breaking his hand in during a Week 9 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. At the time of the injury Whitehead was second in the league in receiving yards with 665, trailing only Kenny Lawler.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-04|title=Lucky Whitehead surgery BC Lions - TSN.ca|url=https://www.tsn.ca/lucky-whitehead-surgery-bc-lions-1.1702189|access-date=2021-10-06|website=TSN|language=en}} The injury kept him out of the lineup for three weeks and two games as he returned for the October 30 matchup against the Toronto Argonauts. He finished with 60 receptions for 932 yards and four touchdowns in just 12 games played as he was named a CFL All-Star for the first time in his career.{{cite web|title=Stars aligned: 2021 CFL All-Stars announced |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/12/15/stars-aligned-2021-cfl-stars-announced/ |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=December 15, 2021}} On February 13, 2024, Whitehead's contract with the Lions expired and he became a free agent.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2024/ |title=Transactions – Football player trades and signings |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=July 5, 2024}}
= Winnipeg Blue Bombers (second stint) =
On July 8, 2024, it was announced that Whitehead had signed with the Blue Bombers.{{cite web|title=Blue Bombers add receiver Lucky Whitehead to practice roster |url=https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/07/08/blue-bombers-add-receiver-lucky-whitehead-to-practice-roster/ |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=July 8, 2024}} He played in 10 regular season games in 2024 where he recorded 14 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown, three carries for 11 yards, 47 punt returns for 524 yards, and 22 kickoff returns for 477 yards.{{cite web|title=Blue Bombers add receiver Lucky Whitehead to practice roster |url=https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/07/08/blue-bombers-add-receiver-lucky-whitehead-to-practice-roster/ |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=July 8, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://static.cfl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024-GN-Gm-95-Wpg-vs-Tor-GC111-1.pdf |title=111th Grey Cup notes |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=November 25, 2024}} Whitehead played in both post-season games, including the 111th Grey Cup where he returned four punts for 48 yards and five kickoffs for 101 yards, but also had a costly fumble in the Blue Bombers' 41–24 defeat to the Toronto Argonauts.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cfl.ca/games/6486/winnipeg-blue%20bombers-vs-toronto-argonauts/#playbyplay |title=Play-by-Play, 111th Grey Cup |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=November 17, 2024}} After becoming a free agent in the following offseason, Whitehead announced his retirement from professional football on February 14, 2025.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2025/ |title=Transactions – Football Player Trades and Signings |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=February 13, 2025}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.cfl.ca/fa25/ |title=Official 2025 Free Agent Tracker |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=February 13, 2025}}
Personal life
Whitehead was given the nickname "Lucky" by his cousin.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Nate |date=October 1, 2014 |title=Lucky Whitehead lives up to nickname for FAU |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fau-owls/fl-fau-lucky-whitehead-1002-20141001-story.html |access-date=September 25, 2016 |website=Sun Sentinel}} In July 2017, Whitehead posted on Instagram that his dog, Blitz, was stolen and held for ransom.{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Rob |date=July 17, 2017 |title=Cowboys WR Lucky Whitehead Says Dog Was Stolen, Being Held for Ransom |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2722155-cowboys-wr-lucky-whitehead-says-dog-was-stolen-being-held-for-ransom |access-date=July 18, 2017 |website=Bleacher Report}} The following day, Whitehead posted on Snapchat, confirming that Blitz was safely returned to him.{{Cite web |date=July 18, 2017 |title=Lucky Whitehead posts stolen dog Blitz is 'home safely' |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20092654/lucky-whitehead-dallas-cowboys-posts-stolen-dog-home-safely |access-date=July 18, 2017 |website=ESPN}} Whitehead said that he refused to write a check for $10,000, as the perpetrator had initially demanded, but agreed to pay an undisclosed amount of money after making sure Blitz was okay.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.bluebombers.com/players/lucky-whitehead/163481/ Winnipeg Blue Bombers bio]
- [http://www.fausports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/lucky_whitehead_843494.html Florida Atlantic bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909211720/http://www.fausports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/lucky_whitehead_843494.html |date=September 9, 2015 }}
- [http://www.dallascowboys.com/team/players/roster/lucky-whitehead Dallas Cowboys bio]
- {{Twitter|luck2fastt|Lucky Whitehead}}
{{107th Grey Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitehead, Lucky}}
Category:American football return specialists
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Canadian football wide receivers
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Dean Bulldogs (junior college) football players
Category:Florida Atlantic Owls football players
Category:New York Jets players
Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
Category:Sportspeople from Manassas, Virginia