Steve Bird

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1960)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Steve Bird

| current_team =

| position =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|20}}

| birth_place = Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 11

| weight_lb = 171

| high_school = Corbin (Corbin, Kentucky)

| college = Eastern Kentucky

| draftyear = 1983

| draftround = 5

| draftpick = 130

| pastteams =

St. Louis Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1983|1984}})
San Diego Chargers (1984)
Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|1985}})*
Edmonton Eskimos ({{CFL Year|1985}})
Montreal Alouettes ({{CFL Year|1986}})
Detroit Lions (1987)*
Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1987}})*

| pastcoaching =

Eastern Kentucky (1987–1989)
Wide receivers coach
Kentucky (1990–1991)
Graduate assistant
Tennessee (1992)
Graduate assistant
Pittsburgh (1993–1995)
Wide receivers coach & kickers coach
Kent State (1996)
Tight ends coach
Tulane (1997–1998)
Wide receivers coach
Middle Tennessee (1999–2000)
Wide receivers coach
West Virginia (2001–2004)
Passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach
Eastern Kentucky (2005)
Tight ends coach
Eastern Kentucky (2006)
Wide receivers coach
Bowling Green (2007–2008)
Special teams coordinator & outside receivers coach
South Florida (2009–2011)
Offensive assistant
South Carolina State (2013–2017)
Special teams coordinator & wide receivers coach
South Carolina State (2018–2020)
Special teams coordinator & running backs coach
South Carolina State (2021–2022)
Special teams coordinator & wide receivers coach
South Carolina State (2023)
Special teams coordinator & running backs coach

| statlabel1 = Punt returns

| statvalue1 = 20

| statlabel2 = Yards

| statvalue2 = 136

| statlabel3 = Average

| statvalue3 = 6.8

| pfr = B/BirdSt20

}}

Steven L. Bird (born October 20, 1960) is an American football special teams coordinator for South Carolina State. He played college football for Eastern Kentucky where he was named to the First-Team All-OVC and won two Division I-AA national championship games in 1979 and 1982. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1983 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cincinnati Bengals and the Edmonton Eskimos and Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

After the end of Bird's playing career he joined his alma mater as a wide receivers coach. He coached for Kentucky, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Kent State, Tulane, Middle Tennessee, and West Virginia before returning to Eastern Kentucky for a third time as an offensive assistant. After a stint with Bowling Green and South Florida he joined South Carolina State for the longest tenure of his career since 2013 as the team's special teams coordinator.

College career

Bird was a three-year starter at wide receiver for Eastern Kentucky and played in four consecutive Division I-AA national championship games (1979–82);{{Cite web |title=Competition Meets Compassion |url=https://www.alumni.eku.edu/s/1763/index.aspx?sid=1763&gid=2&pgid=1311&cid=2899&ecid=2899&crid=0&calpgid=61&calcid=1078 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.alumni.eku.edu |language=en}} the Colonels won in 1979 and 1982.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-20 |title=EKU football heading to postseason for first time since '14 |url=https://www.lex18.com/sports/eku-football-heading-to-postseason-for-first-time-since-14 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=LEX 18 News - Lexington, KY (WLEX) |language=en}} Bird was a first-team All-OVC choice in 1982 when he was also selected to the I-AA All-American team by Kodak, The Sporting News and the Associated Press. He was also chosen as the OVC’s Male Athlete of the Year for 1982–83.{{Cite web |title=Male Athletes of the Year |url=http://ovcsports.com/sports/2012/6/14/GEN_0614122450.aspx |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=ovcsports.com |language=en}} In 1982, he led the OVC with 63 receptions for 1,056 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Eastern Kentucky Hall of Fame in 2010.{{Cite web |title=Steve Bird (2010) - Hall of Fame |url=https://ekusports.com/hof.aspx?hof=66&path=&kiosk= |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Eastern Kentucky University Athletics |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=EKU Athletics Inducts 13 Individuals Into Hall of Fame |url=https://ekusports.com/news/2010/10/8/GEN_1008103409 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Eastern Kentucky University Athletics |date=October 8, 2010 |language=en}}

Professional career

= St. Louis Cardinals =

Bird was drafted 130th overall in the fifth round in the 1983 NFL draft to the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL).{{Cite web |title=1983 National Football League Draft {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site |url=https://contests.profootballhof.com/news/1983-national-football-league-draft/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=contests.profootballhof.com |archive-date=February 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227213205/https://contests.profootballhof.com/news/1983-national-football-league-draft/ |url-status=dead }} He was also drafted in the eleventh round by the Washington Federals of the United States Football League (USFL) in the 1983 USFL Draft,{{Cite web |title=1983 USFL Drafts - USFL (United States Football League) |url=http://www.usflsite.com/83draft.php |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.usflsite.com}} but he opted to play for the Cardinals. He made his professional debut in the first week of the season against the New Orleans Saints but did not record any stats. He made his first kick and punt returns against the San Francisco 49ers in week three as the team lost 27–42. Four days after his 23rd birthday in a 20–20 tie with the New York Giants he tallied the highest amount of returns in his career as he had four kick returns for 88 yards and five punt returns for 32 yards.{{Cite web |title=Steve Bird |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BirdSt20/gamelog/1983/ |access-date=February 27, 2023 |website=pro-football-reference.com}}

In week one of 1984 Bird started the season off breaking the 100-yard return yards barrier as he had 103 kick return yards in five attempts.

On October 24, 1984, he was released by the Cardinals.{{Cite web |title=The St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday released wide receiver Steve... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/10/24/The-St-Louis-Cardinals-Wednesday-released-wide-receiver-Steve/2463467438400/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=UPI |language=en}}

= San Diego Chargers =

On November 3, 1984, following Bird's release from the Cardinals he signed with the San Diego Chargers.{{Cite news |date=1984-11-03 |title=Transactions |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/03/sports/transactions-057287.html |access-date=2023-02-27 |issn=0362-4331}} He made his debut for the Chargers in week ten against the Indianapolis Colts as he returned two kicks for fifteen yards and one punt for four yards in his final game in the NFL.

= Cincinnati Bengals =

In 1985, Bird signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. On August 20, 1985 he was released.{{Cite news |date=1985-08-20 |title=Transactions |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/20/sports/transactions-202891.html |access-date=2023-02-27 |issn=0362-4331}}

= Edmonton Eskimos =

In 1985, Bird signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played in two games for the Eskimos, recording three catches for 33 yards and he also continued his role as a punt and kick returner.{{Cite web |title=Steve Bird NFL and CFL Stats and Bio - Pro Football Archives |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerb/bird00400.html |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.profootballarchives.com}}

= Montreal Alouettes =

In 1986, Bird signed with the Montreal Alouettes. He appeared in five games for the Alouettes where he recorded a career-high seventeen receptions for 228 yards while also not returning kicks and punts.

= Philadelphia Eagles =

On August 12, 1987, Bird returned to the NFL and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.{{Cite web |title=NFL Training Camp Roundup - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/08/12/NFL-Training-Camp-Roundup/9211555739200/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=UPI |language=en}} He was released prior to the season and did not play for them.

Coaching career

= Early years =

Following Bird's playing days he joined his college team, Eastern Kentucky, as a wide receivers coach.

From 1990 and 1992 he was a graduate assistant for Kentucky and Tennessee, working mostly with the offense and the receivers.{{Cite web |title=Steve Bird - Assistant Football Coach (WR's/Special Teams) - Football Coaches |url=https://www.scsuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/steve-bird/730 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=South Carolina State University Athletics |language=en}}

In 1993, he joined Pittsburgh as their wide receivers coach, before joining Kent State in 1996 as a tight ends coach.{{Cite news |date=1996-06-27 |title=TRANSACTIONS |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/27/sports/transactions-046230.html |access-date=2023-02-27 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=Kent State 2019 Record Book |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/kentstatesports.com/documents/2018/9/13/2018_Football_record_book.pdf |access-date=February 27, 2023 |page=43 |archive-date=February 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227213159/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/kentstatesports.com/documents/2018/9/13/2018_Football_record_book.pdf |url-status=dead }} He would have stints with Tulane and Middle Tennessee as wide receivers coaches,{{Cite news |date=1999-02-12 |title=TRANSACTIONS |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/12/sports/transactions-310930.html |access-date=2023-02-27 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |date=1998-12-08 |title=Tulane names Georgia assistant as new coach Scelfo will lead Green Wave in bowl vs. BYU |url=https://www.deseret.com/1998/12/8/19416951/tulane-names-georgia-assistant-as-new-coach-br-scelfo-will-lead-green-wave-in-bowl-vs-byu |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} West Virginia as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach,{{Cite web |title=Football Coaches |url=https://wvusports.com/sports/football/coaches/2001 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=West Virginia University Athletics |language=en}} and Eastern Kentucky as a tight ends then receivers coach.{{Cite web |title=Football All-Time Assistant Coaches |url=https://ekusports.com/sports/2009/8/10/FOOTBALL_0810093913.aspx?id=57 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Eastern Kentucky University Athletics |language=en}}

In 2007, he joined Bowling Green as a special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach before becoming an offensive assistant for South Florida in 2009.{{Cite web |title=HIS REALLY BIG CHANCE |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2010/11/16/his-really-big-chance/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Holtz Officially Announces USF Coaching Staff |url=https://247sports.com/college/south-florida/Article/Holtz-Officially-Announces-USF-Coaching-Staff-104690970/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Bulls247 |language=en-US}}

= South Carolina State =

In 2013, Bird was hired by South Carolina State to be their special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=THOMAS GRANT JR , T&D Senior Sports |title=Pough changes in coaching staff reflect new priorities for SCSU football |url=https://thetandd.com/sports/pough-changes-in-coaching-staff-reflect-new-priorities-for-scsu-football/article_ee947718-f40f-11e2-967a-0019bb2963f4.html |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=The Times and Democrat |date=July 23, 2013 |language=en}}

In 2018, Bird moved from coaching the wide receivers to coaching the running backs while also maintaining his special teams duty.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-22 |title=Pough hires new coaches to SC State staff |url=https://www.abccolumbia.com/2018/07/22/pough-hires-new-coaches-to-sc-state-staff/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=ABC Columbia |language=en-US}}

In 2021, Bird returned to coaching the wide receivers and special teams.

Personal

His father, Jerry Bird, played basketball at Kentucky.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Angela Turner Staff |title=Basketball legend Jerry Bird dies at 83 |url=https://www.thetimestribune.com/news/basketball-legend-jerry-bird-dies-at-83/article_93bbc142-6aa9-11e7-8fd3-47a733dfd997.html |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=The Times-Tribune.com |date=July 17, 2017 |language=en}}