#23 Derrick Tyrone Gaffney was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and played wide receiver for Doug Dickey‘s Florida Gators from 1974 to 1977. Derrick’s older brother, Don, was the starting QB (and first black starting QB for the Gators) from 1973 to 1977 (although they were both somewhat limited by the wishbone offense). Years later, Derrick’s son, Jabar Gaffney, and his nephew, Lito Shephard, would wind up playing on the same Florida Gator teams in 2000 and 2001. In a victory over Rice University in 1977, Derrick’s 99-yard touchdown reception from Cris Collinsworth tied an NCAA record and remains the SEC record for longest touchdown reception in history. Not bad for a receiver playing out of a wishbone rushing attack catching a pass from a player who later converted to receiver.
Derrick was an eighth-round pick for the New York Jets in the 1978 NFL draft. He played for the Jets from 1978 to 1984, took a break from football, and played one more season for them in 1987 before fully retiring from football. He finished his NFL career with 156 receptions for 2,613 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Derrick was an eighth-round pick for the New York Jets in the 1978 NFL draft. He played for the Jets from 1978 to 1984, took a break from football, and played one more season for them in 1987 before fully retiring from football. He finished his NFL career with 156 receptions for 2,613 yards and 7 touchdowns.
