Darren Perry
Darren Perry, born December 29, 1968 in Chesapeake, Virginia, is an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was a standout free safety in the NFL. A product of Penn State, Perry played with the Steelers, San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints
Coaching
Perry was hired as the Steelers assistant defensive backs coach in 2003. Promoted to defensive backs coach prior to the 2004 season, Perry was instrumental with the rapid development of the Steelers’ two outstanding safeties, All-Pro Troy Polamalu and Chris Hope.
Prior to returning to Pittsburgh, Perry spent the 2002 season as Cincinnati Bengals’ safeties coach under his former defensive coordinator, Dick LeBeau.
NFL career
An eighth round draft pick (203rd overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft, (the first for Steelers head coach Bill Cowher), Perry played seven seasons (1992-98) with the Steelers and started the first 110 games of his career, including the postseason. Largely unheralded, the 5'11", 200 lb. rookie picked off six passes, becoming the first rookie since 1955 to lead the team in interceptions. The pairing of Perry with Pro-Bowler Rod Woodson in the secondary created one of the NFL’s most effective and durable safety duos. His 32 career interceptions from 1992-98 are tied for seventh in Pittsburgh history.
Perry signed with the San Diego Chargers in 1999 and rounded out his playing career in 2000 with the New Orleans Saints, having played in 139-of-141 possible games, missing only two games in 1997 due to a groin injury. He started 13 postseason games, including Super Bowl XXX. He had a career total of 35 interceptions.
In 1997, Perry was selected as the recipient of the Pro Football Writers’ “Chief Award”, presented annually to the member of the Steelers’ organization who best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media. He was also named the winner of the 1992 “Joe Greene Great Performance Award”, given to the outstanding Steelers rookie.
College
Perry was named a first team Football Writers All-American and graduated as Penn State's second leading all-time interceptor with 15. The Nittany Lions culminated a 11-2 season with a win in the Fiesta Bowl versus Tennessee. Perry’s 299 interception return yards and 3 interceptions for touchdowns are school records. Perry had six interceptions his senior year and returned two for touchdowns.
Degree: Bachelor of Science, 1993, Penn State University Smeal College of Business,
High school
As a quarterback at Chesapeake, Virginia’s Deep Creek High School, Perry passed for 23 touchdowns and 2,790 yards.
Personal
In 1992, he began Intercept for Care, wherein Perry made a $500 donation to Chesapeake Care for every interception he made. Chesapeake Care is a program in which doctors, nurses, dentists and volunteers donate services to those without medical insurance in Chesapeake, Virginia. Perry later convinced others to match his contribution, making each of his interceptions worth as much as $2,500 apiece. By 1996 the program had helped over 9,000 patients.
Perry and his wife Errika have four children: Danielle, Dominique, Dedriana and Devan. They live in Chesapeake, Virginia in the off-season.
Trivia
- Darren Perry appeared on the cover of the November 26, 1990 issue of Sports Illustrated following Penn State’s defeat of then #1, Notre Dame.
- Returned a punt for 8 yards in 1996, his only punt return as a pro.
